Business Development Manager - Apprenticeships and Skills

Location: NSC, London SE1

Contract: Full time, 1-year Fixed Term One Year (initially)

Salary: £35k + PRP (Performance Related Pay)

Closing Date: 1st May 2026

Marine Society have an exciting new role! Help us to grow our rapidly expanding apprenticeships and adult skills programmes to meet growing industry demand. We're looking for a confident, self‑starter individual who can engage key stakeholders and employers in the maritime industry and increase our reach and reputation.

You’ll be expected to have a good understanding of the maritime sector training needs and have a demonstrable track record in sales and recruitment. A working knowledge of government funded training programmes is helpful but not essential.

This role could support a secondment for the right individual. Subject to success in the role, we hope to make this permanent after one year.

The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is the leading maritime charity for youth development and lifelong learning. We are a vibrant and growing charity inspiring young people to achieve their potential through challenge and nautical adventure and also enabling seafarers and maritime professionals to realise their potential through learning and career development. Working with our employees, cadets, and volunteers, we have built a strong vision and five‑year Future Ready strategy to meet the growing demand for what we provide, both for young people, seafarers and maritime professionals - and the thousands who aspire to be the sea cadets and marine professionals of the future.

It is also about equipping them to achieve their potential and thrive in a rapidly changing world, while growing our charity to benefit even more people - including those from under‑represented or marginalised groups.

This new role is to support the growth of Marine Society apprenticeship and adult skills provision. This is a strategic, outward‑facing role requiring a confident astute individual who can engage key stakeholders and employers in the maritime industry to recruit new entrants and existing employees onto Marine Society programmes.

• To grow the apprenticeship and adult skills provision in line with agreed annual recruitment and financial targets
• To develop and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective employers and learners, proactively identifying new apprenticeship and learning opportunities within the maritime industry. To secure repeat business with apprenticeship employers through cultivating long‑term relationships
• To work with the Director of Maritime Training and Development to devise a sales and marketing strategy to grow the apprenticeship and adult skills provision. To support the tendering process to ASF devolved areas and work with subcontractor partners
• To collaborate with the Apprenticeship Operations Manager and Maritime Lead Trainer to convert identified leads and share industry intelligence
• To assist the Digital Marketing Coordinator to write targeted social media posts and marketing campaigns, ensuring market visibility and lead generation. To build a library of promotional literature and good news stories
• To maintain accurate records of business development leads and pipeline activity within the CRM system and to routinely report on these
• Attend relevant external boards, fora and industry bodies, as directed in order to promote maritime apprenticeships and training including;
  Maritime Skills Alliance, Workboat Association, MNTB apprenticeship committee and Port Skills and Safety
• To attend industry trade fairs and careers events to represent Marine Society. These include;
  National Apprenticeship Week, Seawork, International Boat Show
• To research and monitor market trends, employer needs and competitor activity to inform business development strategy

• Minimum 2 years' experience working in a recruitment, sales or commercial role with a proven track record of achieving financial targets
• Knowledge of the maritime sector including roles, ranks and certifications in the near‑coastal sector
• Excellent customer service skills with the ability to build trust and credibility with clients and stakeholders
• Strong commercial acumen and…