Business Development Lead; Careers & Employability

Business Development Lead (Careers & Employability)

Location:

- England (Hybrid)

This is a full-time permanent role (35 hours per week)

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced and commercially focused Business Development Lead (Careers & Employability) to drive the growth of our Careers and Employability work in the UK and internationally.

This is a senior business development role with responsibility for identifying, developing and securing high-value, profitable and strategically important opportunities.

Working closely with our Head of Careers, Employability & Progression, operational teams and Business Development colleagues, you’ll take ownership of opportunities throughout the full business development lifecycle. From market analysis and early positioning through to solution design, partnership development, bid writing and mobilisation, you’ll play a key role in ensuring Education Development Trust is well positioned for future growth.

What you’ll be doing

Leading the development of our Careers and Employability growth strategy across the UK and globally.

Identifying and qualifying new business opportunities and future funding opportunities.

Undertaking market analysis to understand clients, competitors, markets and potential partners.

Leading opportunities and bids from end to end, including solution design, stakeholder engagement, partnership development, bid writing and commercial considerations.

Ensuring submissions meet or exceed client requirements and represent high-quality, commercially viable solutions.

Building effective relationships with external organisations, clients and partners, including leading partnership discussions and negotiations.

Representing EDT externally and supporting our positioning within the Careers and Employability sectors.

Working collaboratively across Business Development, Careers and Employability and operational teams.

Supporting the effective handover and mobilisation of successful new contracts.

Line managing and developing the Business Development Manager, as well as supporting junior colleagues across the wider team.

Contributing to wider Business Development opportunities and improvement projects where required.

Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position. Candidates must already have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.

This role will require the successful candidate to go through an basic DBS check.

Salary & Benefits

Benefits include:

2 days of paid volunteering per year (pro rota)

Life Assurance

Discounted gym memberships

Cycle to work scheme.

Access to training portal to help support your own CPD

EDT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults whom we work with and come into contact with around the world. All applicants are subject to thorough screening and successful candidates are subject to the relevant level of criminal record checks with national police authorities or the UK’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This will be at minimum a basic DBS check.

EDT is a proud Disability Confident Leader. We take practical steps to ensure that disability inclusion is not only part of our values but part of our everyday actions. We are committed to creating a working environment where disabled employees are supported, valued, and empowered to thrive in their role. If you are disabled or require specific adjustments during the application process, please do let us know how we can support you.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Company:
Education Development Trust

Salary: from £60,000 a year

Hours:

Full-time

Location:

England

Working pattern:
Hybrid - 2 days remote

Job type:
Permanent

Posting date: 30 Oct 2026

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