Bid development manager jobs in Birmingham

The National Youth Agency is looking for a Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager
Contract: 12-month fixed term (Maternity leave cover)
Hours: Full-time - 37 hours per week
Salary: £43,054 per annum (dependent on experience and qualifications)
Location: Home-based in England with occasional travel for meetings, workshops, and team activities. Head Office is in Leicester.

What we do

As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.

We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work

About the Role

We are looking for an entrepreneurial and proactive Business Development Manager to develop relationships and opportunities with new clients, drive income generation and to grow the reach of the charity.

This role leads on securing new business opportunities across tenders, grants, consultancy, training, and government contracts, managing the process from initial research through to submission and handover. It focuses on building and maintaining relationships with partners across the public, voluntary, and private sectors, while promoting the NYA’s services and quality framework.

Key Responsibilities

As a Business Development Manager, you will:

• Seeking and attracting new opportunities for the NYA to work with public sector, voluntary sector, and private sector partners.
• Identifying and assessing prospects across tenders, grants, commercial proposals and government frameworks/contracts.
• Developing win themes, evidence, pricing assumptions (where applicable) and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to develop bids.
• Managing clarifications, presentations/interviews and negotiation stages with commissioners/funders/clients.
• Keeping pipeline and plans up to date and reporting progress/risks against targets.
• Developing relationships with and maintaining existing relationships with clients and funders.
• Taking bids through to close including final agreements and contract sign off.
• Promoting NYA products, resources, consultancy services and training offer.
• Delivering market research, developing business strategies and pitches, managing projects, and identifying new business opportunities.
• Working as part of the wider Business Development Team to achieve income targets
• Working with our youth work specialists and Programmes and Research teams and reporting to the Head of Business Development.

Why Work for NYA?

• NYA operates as a people-focused organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.
• NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.
• A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.
• NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.
• We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.

Closing date: 5pm Friday 26th June 2026
Please note: we reserve the right to close this vacancy early
Interviews: Week commencing 6th July 2026 (subject to change)

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer. 

At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.

We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.

Please note: We use AI detector software, so applications or CV’s with high levels of AI generated content may be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance.

No agencies please.

Bid Development Lead

£33,509 (full time equivalent) £26,807 pro rata for 30 hours per week

Birmingham Mind Offices, Albert House, Birmingham (Hybrid)

Part-Time

Permanent

Hours: 30 Hours per week

If you’re driven to make a real difference in mental health and have experience in securing new funding in the voluntary sector, we want to hear from you. Join us at Birmingham Mind - the city’s leading independent mental health charity - as our new Bid Development Lead and help us shape the future of our services.

You’ll play a key part in our Business Development Department, supporting the Director of Business Development to write high-quality bids, manage re-tenders, develop business cases and drive new income opportunities. You’ll lead on Trusts and Grants Fundraising, build partnerships across the NHS and voluntary sector, work with other Local Mind Associations and help shape innovative service models for Birmingham Mind.

Key Responsibilities:

· Lead and support bid writing and tender applications (with a value up to £500k p.a.)

· Monitor tender portals for new opportunities and manage relationships with funders, commissioners, and partners in the voluntary sector

· Support income generation strategies for the charity, including fundraising and training as well as developing business cases for new projects

· Attend external events to grow partnership opportunities

About You:

You’re someone who brings energy, initiative, and a sharp eye for detail to everything you do. With at least two years’ experience in business development, bid or grant writing, or contract management, you know how to get results. You care deeply about making a difference in mental health and enjoy working alongside others to create positive change.

Apply now to help us deliver “Better Mental Health for All” in Birmingham.

Benefits include an attractive defined contribution pension scheme, PayCare which offers employees affordable cover for a range of healthcare treatments, an Employee Assistance Programme which includes free counselling and a comprehensive training programme.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK for a minimum of 12 months. We are not a registered sponsor and therefore are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

We are very proud of our diverse workforce and actively encourage applications from people that come from minority communities.

Our people are key to the success of the organisation, and we are recognised as both a Mindful Employer as well as achieving Gold standard success in Investors in People. We welcome applications from people who have experienced mental health difficulties

The closing date for this advert is Thursday 11th June 2026

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 22nd June 2026

Our client is a charity that works directly with, and for unpaid carers, providing personalised information, advice and tailored support making it easier for those caring for someone else to continue living their lives to the fullest. With a committed, dedicated staff team and clear plans to scale reach, support and impact, this charity lives its values by being positive, collaborative and ambitious in all it does.

Business Development Manager

Hybrid - predominantly home-based with occasional travel

Permanent

22.5 - 30 hrs hours per week (negotiable, 3-4 days a week)

£39,000 - £45,000 (pro-rata for part-time hours)

Reporting to the Director of Income and Engagement, you will identify, assess and manage contract and funding opportunities. You'll lead the development of compelling, high-quality and cost-effective bids and proposals (including re-securing existing contracts), coordinating bid plans and bid teams to ensure a consistent approach. You will also support mobilisation of new contracts and services and build relationships with commissioners, funders and partners. Using insight, outcomes data and carers' feedback, you'll strengthen bids, inform service improvement and support the development of innovative service models that improve outcomes for carers.

To be successful in this role, you will bring a strong track record of securing new contracts and re-securing existing contracts, with experience of commissioning and procurement processes in health, social care or the voluntary sector. You'll have proven experience of leading bid development activity and bid teams, producing high-quality, persuasive proposals to tight deadlines, alongside strong senior stakeholder engagement skills with commissioners, funders and partner organisations. You'll bring a good understanding of health and care systems (including Local Authority and Integrated Care System priorities and pressures), plus experience of service design and improvement, working collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams and people with lived experience.

How to apply

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process then please contact Femke Vorstman at Prospectus.

If you feel you meet some of the criteria but not all, we really hope you'll enquire and learn more. Prospectus can advise and support on each part of the role and hopefully your application, so we look forward to hearing from you.

In order to apply please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will arrange for a meeting to brief you on the role. You'll then have all the information you need to formally apply. To formally apply, you will need to complete a supporting statement (max. 2 sides of A4) by COB on Monday 8 June. . Interviews will be held on Monday 15 June and Friday 19 June. 

Our client is a charity that works directly with, and for unpaid carers, providing personalised information, advice and tailored support making it easier for those caring for someone else to continue living their lives to the fullest. With a committed, dedicated staff team and clear plans to scale reach, support and impact, this charity lives its values by being positive, collaborative and ambitious in all it does.

Business Development Manager

Hybrid - predominantly home-based with occasional travel

Permanent

22.5 - 30 hrs hours per week (negotiable, 3-4 days a week)

£39,000 - £45,000 (pro-rata for part-time hours)

Reporting to the Director of Income and Engagement, you will identify, assess and manage contract and funding opportunities. You'll lead the development of compelling, high-quality and cost-effective bids and proposals (including re-securing existing contracts), coordinating bid plans and bid teams to ensure a consistent approach. You will also support mobilisation of new contracts and services and build relationships with commissioners, funders and partners. Using insight, outcomes data and carers' feedback, you'll strengthen bids, inform service improvement and support the development of innovative service models that improve outcomes for carers.

To be successful in this role, you will bring a strong track record of securing new contracts and re-securing existing contracts, with experience of commissioning and procurement processes in health, social care or the voluntary sector. You'll have proven experience of leading bid development activity and bid teams, producing high-quality, persuasive proposals to tight deadlines, alongside strong senior stakeholder engagement skills with commissioners, funders and partner organisations. You'll bring a good understanding of health and care systems (including Local Authority and Integrated Care System priorities and pressures), plus experience of service design and improvement, working collaboratively with multi-disciplinary teams and people with lived experience.

How to apply

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process then please contact Femke Vorstman at Prospectus.

If you feel you meet some of the criteria but not all, we really hope you'll enquire and learn more. Prospectus can advise and support on each part of the role and hopefully your application, so we look forward to hearing from you.

In order to apply please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will arrange for a meeting to brief you on the role. You'll then have all the information you need to formally apply. To formally apply, you will need to complete a supporting statement (max. 2 sides of A4) by COB on Monday 8 June.

Today, 12 children and young people will be diagnosed with cancer. We’ll stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.  ​

• Directorate: Innovation, Policy & Systems Change
• Reporting into: Associate Director of Research, Learning and Systems Change
• Colleagues reporting into role: No direct reports at present. However, coaching and managing of volunteers and/or consultants is expected. 
• Location: You can be home-based anywhere in the UK, with travel for meetings. You can also choose to work from our Bristol or London offices.
• Closing date: Monday 8 June at 12 midday
• Interview dates: Monday 15 June and Tuesday 16 June (please tell us in your application if you cannot attend interview on one of these days)

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. And that impact can be felt by entire family. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer.

We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise well-being. And we stop at nothing to make their voices heard and their unique needs understood, so they can get the right care and support at the right time.

About the role

We’re looking for a Head of Research & Evidence to join our ambitious Research, Learning & Systems Change Team. 

Young Lives vs Cancer has a strong and growing commitment to changing the system for children and young people with cancer, and their loved ones. Our North Star vision and Time is Now Strategy focus on influencing how the wider system works – from services and policy to practice on the ground – so that families get the support they need.

The Head of Research and Evidence sits in the Research, Learning & Systems Change team, within our Innovation, Policy & Systems Change Directorate. The role is responsible for ensuring our work is grounded in strong, credible and useful evidence, and that learning is actively used to shape decisions, practice and change across the system.

This is a leadership role within a small but ambitious team. You will set direction and provide thought leadership, but you will also be hands on – designing, commissioning, managing and using research alongside colleagues and partners.

Building trusted relationships and using evidence to influence thinking and action are central. You will work with colleagues, children and young people, families, and partner organisations (such as the North Star Cancer Collective) to learn, strengthen credibility and create change.

This role is subject to a Criminal Record Check. In the event of a successful application, a Basic Criminal Record Check will be completed. A previous conviction is not necessarily a barrier to employment. We encourage qualified applicants to apply, and we will consider each case individually.

What will I be doing?

No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy. You’ll work as part of a strong internal team, collaborating closely with colleagues across the organisation and with key external partners to generate, use and apply evidence that supports learning, influence and system change. Here are some of the main things you’ll be doing, but you’ll find more details in the job description and pack:

• You’ll be setting the direction for research and learning, leading a clear and purposeful research programme focused on the psychosocial experiences of children and young people with cancer. You’ll ensure research is high‑quality, ethical and impactful, including commissioning work with partners and contributing to research funding bids.

• You’ll be understanding needs and experiences to grow a strong, credible evidence base, building and using robust evidence on need, inequality, impact and progress to inform strategy, services, policy and system change. You’ll ensure children, young people and families meaningfully shape research and that insight is shared in clear, practical ways.

• You’ll be providing system insight and leadership, analysing how the system works, identifying trends and pressures, and using evidence to guide where change is most needed. You’ll build trusted relationships across the voluntary sector, NHS and research community, sharing learning and strengthening our credibility and influence.

• You’ll be turning learning into action and influence, helping teams apply research to real‑world practice and supporting testing, learning and improvement over time. You’ll put feedback and learning loops in place and assess how research‑informed change is affecting practice and outcomes.

What do I need? 

Diverse perspectives and unique skill sets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.

The key skills we’re looking for in this role are:

• Experience leading and delivering research, including setting direction, choosing methods, commissioning or carrying out research, analysing data, and ensuring high quality and ethical practice.

• Strong research and analytical skills, with confidence working with both qualitative and quantitative data and evidence, and turning insight into practical action.

• Experience using evidence to support change, such as shaping strategy, influencing policy, improving services or supporting system change.

• Experience working across organisations, building trusted relationships with colleagues, partners, and where appropriate, children, young people and families.

• Ability to communicate complex research clearly and accessibly to different audiences, in writing and in conversation.

• A collaborative way of working, with strong people skills, curiosity and a learning mindset, and a clear commitment to equity, inclusion and anti‑oppressive practice.

What will I gain?

For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Well-being, Thinking & Growth Days: four days a year to to step back from the day-to-day and focus on your own learning and development
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value AI adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to tell us about your skills and experiences in your own voice.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible. Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.

To hear more about this role, please sign up to one of our informal drop in sessions taking place at 12:30pm on Tuesday 26th May and 17:30pm on Monday 01st June.

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