Head of Business Development

Head of Business Development

Help us create and secure opportunities that change children's lives.

At Barnardo's, we believe every child and young person should be safe, happy, healthy and hopeful.

For more than 150 years, we have worked alongside children, young people and families across the UK. Today, our services, partnerships and influencing work help children and families facing some of the toughest challenges. These include poverty, poor mental health, care experience, exploitation, family support, disadvantage and uncertainty about the future.

We are now looking for a Head of Business Development to lead a function that plays a vital role in making this work possible. This is a senior leadership role for someone who wants to use their business development, commissioning, bid or partnership experience to create practical routes to impact. You will help Barnardo's identify, shape and secure high‑quality opportunities that improve the lives of children, young people and families.

As Head of Business Development, you will lead Barnardo's Business Development function.

The role is hybrid working from a Barnardo's Hub/office or home address with regular travel required across the UK.

You will set the standards, systems and ways of working that help us pursue the right opportunities in the right way.

• Lead a UK‑wide Business Development function.
• Oversee our commissioned pipeline.
• Strengthen how we qualify and prioritise opportunities.
• Support high‑quality bids, tenders and proposals.
• Improve governance, learning and quality assurance.
• Use data, market intelligence and commissioner insight to support better decisions.
• Work across Barnardo's to shape opportunities that are credible, deliverable and sustainable.

You will work closely with senior colleagues across children's services, finance, legal, service design, partnerships, fundraising, policy, data and digital. Together, you will make sure opportunities are aligned with our strategy, service priorities, financial sustainability and risk appetite.

This role has a clear growth dimension, but the purpose is broader than income. It is about helping Barnardo's create and secure opportunities that allow more children, young people and families to get the support they need.

You will also help us develop a more connected approach to opportunity development. This includes commissioned services, grant‑funded opportunities, strategic partnerships and social investment where these can strengthen our impact.

Are you an experienced business development, commissioning, bid or partnership leader?

We are looking for someone with strong experience in business development, public service commissioning, bid management, partnerships, tendering or a comparable field. You will understand how to lead opportunities from early intelligence through to decision‑making, proposal development and submission.

You will know how to balance ambition with risk, quality, deliverability and financial sustainability.

You will also be able to lead people well. The role requires someone who can set clear expectations, build confidence, support learning and help a skilled team continue to develop its practice.

You do not need to have followed one particular career path. You may come from children's services, wider public services, health, social care, education, housing, the voluntary sector, local government, consultancy, business development or another relevant environment. What matters is that you can bring strategic judgement, strong bid and commissioning insight, and a clear commitment to improving children's lives.

This is an opportunity to lead business development in an organisation with UK‑wide reach, deep local relationships and a clear purpose. You will be joining Barnardo's at a time when children, young people and families need ambitious, practical and sustainable support. You will help us work with commissioners, funders, partners and colleagues to shape services and opportunities that make a real difference.

If you want to use your skills to help change childhoods and change lives, we would like to hear from you.