Head of Partnerships

Head of Partnerships

Children’s Social Care & Education | Growth, New Business & Strategic Partnerships

Salary:
Up to £70,000 per annum

Location:

Hybrid / Office-Based with Extensive Travel

The Opportunity

Diamond Search Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a leading organisation operating across children’s social care and education in the appointment of a Head of Partnerships.

This is a high-profile, strategic role for an experienced business development, partnerships or commercial professional who can identify new opportunities, build influential senior-level relationships and create new routes to sustainable growth.

This is not simply a traditional business development or placement-led role. The successful candidate will be responsible for opening doors, developing strategic relationships, identifying emerging markets and helping shape the organisation’s future growth strategy.

You will operate as a senior ambassador externally, developing relationships with Local Authorities, senior commissioners, Mayors, Combined Authorities, education leaders, charities, health partners, families and other key stakeholders.

Working closely with the Commercial Director and Head of Business Development, you will help turn strategic relationships and market intelligence into tangible commercial opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Growth & Market Development

Identify and develop strategic growth opportunities across children’s social care and education.

Identify emerging markets, services, commissioning models and revenue opportunities.

Monitor changes across social care, education, health and wider public services and translate these into potential growth opportunities.

Identify opportunities arising from government policy, funding changes, legislation and regional commissioning developments.

Develop strategies for entering new geographical markets.

Identify opportunities before they develop into conventional placement or commissioning activity.

Develop innovative propositions and new routes to market.

Strategic Partnerships

Build and maintain long-term strategic partnerships with Local Authorities, schools, colleges, charities, parent groups, forums and other relevant organisations.

Identify organisations and stakeholders where strategic relationships could create mutual value.

Develop partnership models that support sustainable growth and positive outcomes for children, young people and families.

Build relationships beyond traditional commissioning contacts to understand wider local and regional priorities.

Explore collaborative working, strategic alliances, joint ventures and innovative service delivery models.

Ensure partnerships align with strategic, commercial and organisational objectives.

Senior External Relationships

You will develop high-level relationships with:

Local Authority senior leaders and Directors

Senior commissioners and decision-makers

Mayors and Combined Authorities

Regional and emerging commissioning bodies

Education leaders

Schools, colleges and education providers

Charities and voluntary sector organisations

Advocacy and community organisations

Parents and families where appropriate

Other strategic stakeholders

You will act as a senior relationship owner and ambassador, representing the organisation at strategic meetings, conferences, forums, events and partnership discussions.

New Business Development

Lead new business development at a strategic level.

Identify where the organisation should grow, why it should grow and who it should partner with.

Generate opportunities through strategic relationships rather than relying solely on existing demand.

Identify new services, geographical markets and customer groups.

Develop and manage a strategic pipeline of growth opportunities.

Work alongside the Head of Business Development to progress opportunities.

Contribute to business cases, proposals and commercial propositions.

Assess opportunities against strategic fit, commercial potential, risk and organisational capacity.

Policy & Commissioning Intelligence

Maintain a strong understanding of government policy and developments affecting children's social care and education.

Monitor legislation, funding, commissioning…