Business development officer jobs in Exeter, devon

Business Development Officer 

Salary: £28,346 – £31,656 (depending on experience) (see below for more details on remuneration)

About Voice 21

Voice 21 is the national oracy education charity. We exist to empower every child to use their voice for success in school and life. Our work transforms learning and life chances through talk by increasing access to a high-quality oracy education for those that need it most. Follow the links to find out more about why oracy is so vital and the impact Voice 21 has.

Your opportunity

Tackle a vital challenge, with great people.  Voice 21 exists to transform children' s learning and life chances through talk and we are aiming to be working with 2,000 schools a year by 2025. To reach this goal we recruit great people and give them real responsibility, training and support.

Output focused culture, with flexible working opportunities. We have an agile and flexible approach – our team can work when and wherever works best to deliver the requirements of their role. For staff working at home, we support them to create a workspace and provide technology that enables them to work effectively.

Real development opportunities. We believe in supporting people to develop the skills they need to be excellent – whether this means funding external training, finding a mentor to support them or giving them the time to learn from others in the organisations through our regular CPD sessions. We also offer paid study leave for team members taking part in formal studies outside of work.

Great benefits. 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) and additional Christmas closure period. Holiday entitlement increases linked to length of service, 5% employer contribution to pension, interest-free season ticket, cycle and technology loans, employee assistance scheme.

Remuneration. Our pay is a band and spine point approach where there is up to 7 years progression available (depending on starting point).

Your purpose

To support school recruitment by analysing school and trust data, identifying areas of opportunity, and holding early conversations to understand context and check alignment with our membership criteria. You will qualify leads, progress straightforward opportunities, and help ensure schools receive clear information and timely follow-up. Your insight will support targeted campaigns, pipeline planning, and a smooth route into membership.

Who you are

We’re looking for someone who combines thoughtful desk-based research with strong interpersonal skills, and who enjoys turning insight into focused, well-judged outreach. You’ll be confident speaking to schools and trusts, able to understand their context quickly, and comfortable moving from analysis to action.

Your responsibilities

Speaking to schools and trusts 

• Hold early conversations with schools and trusts, using insight as a starting point but leading with curiosity, listening carefully to their situation and getting quickly to the heart of whether there is a good fit.

• Act as a thoughtful first point of contact, helping schools understand Voice 21 and decide whether joining is right for them, rather than pushing them through a process.

• Progress opportunities through the early stages of the pipeline, moving confidently from research to conversation to action.

• Keep pipeline information up to date, recording what matters (context, motivations, concerns, next steps) so schools experience a joined-up and professional journey.

• Nurture early interest by sharing useful information, answering questions clearly, and booking follow-ups at the right moment.

Supporting Business Development through research and segmentation

• Turn data and insight into practical targeting decisions, building named lists of schools and trusts connected through MATs, clusters, Teaching School Hubs or local networks, so outreach is intentional rather than broad.

• Use research to shape how we approach schools, tailoring messaging and timing so conversations feel relevant to their context and priorities.

• Carry out focused desk-based research using school and trust data (GIAS, DfE, FSM/IMD, MAT structures, regional insight) to help us decide where to focus our time and energy.

• Share insight with colleagues, including patterns emerging from both the data and conversations with schools.

• Support events and outreach activity by helping identify who to invite, shaping follow-up, and ensuring learning feeds back into future targeting.

• Take on practical research and follow-up work that enables senior colleagues to focus on larger MATs, strategic partnerships and more complex opportunities.

Your progression 

 
Within 1 month, you’ll have:

• Understood our segmentation logic and data sources, and started to have ideas of how to support this work.

• Begun supporting early outreach with named schools and trusts.

• Held your first qualification calls (supervised and supported).

• Met colleagues across Growth, Programmes, and Events.

Within 3 months, you’ll have:

• Created lists of priority schools and groups based on need and opportunity.

• Shared insights that support targeted campaigns.

• Managed a steady set of early-stage conversations.

• Contributed to event planning and follow-up.

 Within 6 months, you’ll have:

• Helped progress a number of schools through to joining.

• Provided useful insight that shapes where we focus.

• Supported regional or trust-level activity.

• Helped build a warm list of schools not yet ready to join.

From 6 months onwards, we expect you to be:

• Confident working with education data and context.

• Managing the early pipeline smoothly and accurately.

• Sharing patterns and opportunities with colleagues.

• Helping ensure that schools have a clear, positive experience of Voice 21 from first contact.

This job is for you if...

• You are comfortable working with data and spreadsheets.

• You enjoy speaking with external stakeholders, can ask great questions, and understand the impact of their answers.

• You are comfortable learning new systems and working with digital tools like CRMs.

• You can organise information clearly and keep things moving.

• You like spotting patterns and making helpful recommendations.

• You are curious, friendly and motivated by helping schools take part.

• You enjoy both independent work and being part of a small, collaborative team.

Who you’ll work with: 

• As part of our Operations Directorate, you’ll work in the Growth team with our Head of Growth, Marketing Lead, and Senior Business Development Lead.

• You’ll work closely with our Events, Comms, and Programmes teams as well as the wider Ops Directorate.

Where you’ll work: Remote, with potential regional and national travel to visit schools and attend Development Days/meetings, including some overnight stays. 

Terms: Full Time 

Application details 

To apply: 

Please apply with your CV and a short cover letter with the subject line:
“Business Development Officer application.”

Your cover letter should briefly:

1. What do you think are the main challenges of nurturing the sales / business development pipeline within the education sector? (max. 400 words).
    

2. What are the opportunities you foresee for Voice 21 in 2026? What are potential challenges? (max 400 words).

We welcome applications from candidates based anywhere in the UK.

Closing date: Midnight, 11th January 2026.

Interview date: TBC but beginning as soon as suitable candidates are found. 

Start date: ASAP.

Questions: If you have any questions about the role, or would like to discuss it before submitting an application, please contact John Stabler-Wright.

Valuing every voice

Voice 21 believes that every voice should be heard and valued. We are committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and do not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join Voice 21.