We’re looking for an imaginative, resourceful, and resilient Developments Officer to join our Business Development team, located at our Head Office in Islington. £30,000 - £40,000 per annum depending on experience, working 35 hours per week. Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You’ll feel at home here. Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren’t token gestures - we’ve thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day. Our benefits include: Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service Free DBS Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card Fully paid induction programme and further training ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes Healthcare Cashplan through our partner Healthshield Cycle to work scheme Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support Online wellbeing resources A generous pension – we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply) Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff’s commitment and contribution Look Ahead supports thousands of people across London and the South East with a diverse range of needs, helping them to make individual choices, achieve goals and take control of their own lives by providing tailor-made support, care and accommodation services. To support this we are seeking a highly motivated individual to work within Business Development Directorate. The principal objectives of the role will be to: Focus on the development of a new offer for Look Ahead’s homelessness directorate Play a vital role as Look Ahead seeks to deliver ambitious growth targets and new services of the highest quality by supporting with proposal development and, where needed, tendering. The postholder will be expected to work closely with other members of the wider Business Development Directorate, operational colleagues and central service teams to support delivery of annual growth targets circa £4-5M (reviewed annually). This is a hybrid role with a minimum of two days in the office or services. This role is also available on a 6-month trial secondment for internal applicants. All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship. What you’ll do: This is a combined admin and development role, with approximately 50% of the role supporting and coordinating tenders through: Managing dedicated Inbox and actioning daily tender alerts Background research to gather intelligence Reviewing and sharing summaries of opportunities Completing Selection Questionnaires Managing Portals used for tendering Supporting the team to complete full tender submissions Managing the tender process; meetings, deadlines and clarification questions Where needed, support with the development and writing of tenders Manage the contracts register To secure the support and input of the operational management teams to deliver the agreed business development plan. To prepare inter departmental project plans and coordinate project planning meetings in accordance with scheduled timeframes and deadlines for new projects. To support new development activity for designated projects and ensure of their timely follow up. To liaise with the Service Managers and property support functions to ensure that new developments are available to the agreed specification, furnished and ready on time. To ensure new services are handed over to operations in accordance with current internal process. To support with identifying and proposing realistic new business or services across the region including complex financial modelling and internal reporting processes. To assist with the timely compilation of statistics, reports and management information. Any other duties requested from time to time, as might reasonably be required, commensurate with the role. This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead About you: A genuine interest in housing and social care and a commitment to Look Ahead’s mission Imaginative and resourceful – able to contribute to the development of new ideas for services Good interpersonal skills with the ability to work well with internal and external stakeholders Works well as part of a team Has a practical and logical mind and excellent organisational skills Excellent prioritisation skills, particularly in terms of working under pressure and responding to multiple and competing demands on time Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments Excellent attention to detail Flexibility – able to be flexible to the needs of the role Experience of working with numbers and complex calculations Resilient, positive and always acts with integrity and professionalism What you’ll bring: Essential: Eligible to live and work in the UK Excellent writing skills including the ability to critically research and analyse relevant information and to be able to write compelling and persuasive reports Business development experience including completing tender documentation Able to write clearly and persuasively and articulate innovative ideas Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office, word, excel, PowerPoint Numerate Able to work flexibly, including assisting other staff in the Business Development Team with their work when priorities dictate. Desirable: Specific knowledge of learning disabilities mental health, and complex needs would be a distinct advantage Experience of new models of care in the homelessness sector About us: Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us. We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values: We focus on Excellence and innovation. We are Caring and Compassionate. We are Inclusive and Trusted. We work in Partnership and are One-Team. Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role. We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date. We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.