Development manager jobs in Manchester

Together for Short Lives is looking for a driven and creative Business Development Manager to develop and secure high‑value corporate partnerships that will help transform the lives of seriously ill children and their families. You’ll lead our business development strategy, build a strong pipeline of opportunities, and develop lasting relationships with prospective and existing supporters.

If you’re collaborative, tenacious and passionate about making a real impact in children’s palliative care, we’d love to hear from you.

Full‑time 1 year FTC | Hybrid (UK‑wide with travel to our Bristol Office) | £42,000

Purpose of role

The Business Development Manager will lead our efforts to secure high-profile, high-value partnerships with corporate organisations  that will generate vital income for children's palliative care. Securing new partnerships and growing our income requires exceptional collaboration skills; a driven, tenacious and resourceful nature; innovation and creativity; and a passionate determination to make a difference to the lives of children and families across the UK.

The main objectives are as follows:

1. Secure new corporate partnerships raising funds to support Together for Short Lives’ direct work, and our National Fundraising Scheme (raising funds on behalf of the UK’s children’s hospices).
2. Develop and deliver a business development strategy, including  prospect research, managing  a robust pipeline of opportunities, and developing a diverse range of business development products. 
3. Manage and develop relationships with a portfolio of individual contacts and organisations, including prospective and existing supporters.

Part Time – Fixed Term (12 months) | Up to £25,376.40 (£42,294 FTE) per annum plus benefits | Location: Fully Remote (UK based)
 
We’re a dedicated, inspiring and forward-thinking healthcare charity. Our mission is to improve the bone health of the nation and prevent osteoporosis by influencing healthcare providers and professionals, supporting services to help our beneficiaries and driving research. 
 
We’re also proud to have a committed, highly engaged workforce, as shown by our employee engagement rating, and we want to attract the brightest and the best to help us beat this condition and change society for the better. 
 
The Health Services Development Manager plays a central role in delivering the organisation’s ambition of achieving 100% provision of high-quality Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) across the UK. The role helps close the secondary fracture prevention gap by supporting NHS systems to develop, commission and improve early diagnosis clinics, ensuring patients are identified after a first fracture and receive timely assessment, diagnosis and treatment for osteoporosis.
 
This position sits within the Health Services Development Team, part of the Services and Influencing Directorate, and works in close partnership with the Policy & Influencing team.
 
•  Do you have experience engaging and influencing key decision-makers and stakeholders at local, regional and national levels?
 
•  Do you have significant experience of working with external stakeholders to secure buy-in and/or investments in NHS services?
 
•  Do you have a strong understanding of UK healthcare systems and health service delivery, including commissioning structures?
 
If this is you, and you’re looking to join a fantastic organisation and team where you can really make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.  

Location - In this role, you would benefit from fully remote working.
 
How to apply
 
To apply, applicants should provide a comprehensive CV, including details of relevant experience and achievements. This should be supplemented by answering the supporting questions, demonstrating how your skills and experience meet the person specification.
 
We particularly welcome qualified applicants from the global majority, as they are under-represented in the team.
 
Want to know more? For more details on this exciting role, please download the job description. The closing date is 6th April 2026 at midnight. Interviews are planned to take place on 15th April 2026.

At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe everyone should be able to live a fulfilling life, regardless of how severely mental illness affects them. Our services are growing — and so is our ambition. That’s why we’re looking for a passionate and skilled Business Development Manager to help us shape the future of our charity and the support we provide.

About the role

As our Business Development Manager, you’ll play a key role in sustaining and expanding the services that make a real difference to people severely affected by mental illness. You’ll bring teams together, write with clarity and purpose, and lead the end‑to‑end bid development process — ensuring we continue to deliver high‑quality, impactful support where it’s needed most.

You’ll champion collaboration, draw on the expertise of colleagues across the charity, and craft compelling, evidence‑based proposals that reflect who we are and what we stand for. From early development to final submission, you’ll help us win and retain contracts that directly improve lives.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading the end‑to‑end development of bids, retenders, and proposals in line with internal quality standards.
• Working collaboratively with teams across Rethink Mental Illness, building strong relationships and creating connected ways of working.
• Supporting and managing Bid Development Officers.
• Contributing to regional business development plans and helping shape sustainable, innovative service models.
• Writing high‑quality, insightful submissions that articulate our strengths, capabilities, and lived‑experience approach.
• Developing early-stage budget models and working with Finance and HR to finalise financials ahead of submission.
• Generating insight through data, evidence, and internal expertise to create winning proposals.
• Researching competitors and identifying what makes Rethink Mental Illness stand out.
• Supporting successful bids through structured handovers and mobilisation.
• Contributing to continuous improvement through feedback, learning, and maintaining our Bid Library.

What you’ll bring

Essential

• A strong track record of writing successful competitive bids or proposals.
• Excellent writing, critical thinking, and communication skills.
• The ability to interpret complex tender documents and understand commissioner expectations.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to unite diverse teams.
• Knowledge of commissioning, current legislation, and best practice in mental health and social care.
• Experience constructing budgets and modelling service assumptions.
• Strong organisational and project‑management abilities, with flexibility to meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and excellent general IT skills.
• A values‑driven approach consistent with Rethink Mental Illness’ ethos.

Desirable

• Experience working within mental health, health, or social care sectors.
• Lived or professional experience related to mental health and wellbeing.

Why Rethink Mental Illness?

When you join us, you’re not just taking on a role — you’re becoming part of a movement.
A movement committed to improving the lives of people severely affected by mental illness through high‑quality services, innovation, and compassionate support.

You’ll be part of a collaborative, supportive team where your growth and wellbeing matter, and where your work has a clear, direct impact.

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Pure Innovations in a pivotal role where you’ll help shape the future of our charity’s relationships and service growth, driving meaningful impact across Greater Manchester’s communities.The Relationship & Growth Manager will lead Pure’s business growth by successfully building strategic relationships with commissioners, funders and stakeholders, which will develop firm foundations for new business, transforming these into tangible new business ventures for Pure Innovations.

The role requires an understanding of the Greater Manchester health and social care landscape, including local authority commissioning teams, NHS Greater Manchester, Adult Social Care, VCFSE networks, and place based partnership structures.

The postholder will draw upon existing networks to expand Pure’s influence and identify opportunities, leading the bidding lifecycle, ensuring all submissions are accurately costed, high quality, and effectively project‑managed through to submission.

We’re seeking a well‑connected leader from the Greater Manchester health, social care, or VCFSE sector who can unlock opportunities, forge strong partnerships, and drive the growth of innovative, high‑impact services.

Responsibilities:

• Work across the organisation to ensure a proactive business growth vision.
• Lead on the delivery of new business by continually horizon scanning for opportunities, exploring tendering options and reviewing trend data.
• Develop relationships with Greater Manchester health, social care, statutory and VCFSE organisations to create business opportunities aligned with strategic priorities
• Use GMCA strategies and commissioning plans to Co-design responsive provision or develop viable business propositions.
• Represent Pure within Greater Manchester commissioning forums, VCSE networks and partnership groups.
• Produce and present outcome focused reports including a Business Growth Dashboard.
• Deliver innovative and creative outcomes supporting organisational growth.

This role is ideal for someone who:

• Has worked in a senior role within business development for a social care provider, supported employment service, NHS partnership team, or Greater Manchester VCFSE.
• Understands how to navigate adult social care commissioning, NHS community pathways, or specialist provision to generate business opportunities.
• Has a network that may include strategic commissioners within health, education social care and community organisation’s.
• Passion for improving outcomes for people with disabilities, learning differences, autism, long term health conditions, or those at risk of social isolation in Greater Manchester

Person Specification

Education and Qualification

Essential: GCSEs level 4+ in Maths & English.

Desirable: Qualification in business or project management.

Essential experience:

•Minimum 2 years business development experience within the Greater Manchester health, social care, VCSE, or supported employment ecosystem.

•Understanding of Greater Manchester devolution priorities and how they influence commissioning priorities, for local health and care agendas

•  Bid writing for health/social care contracts (£500,000+)

•Contract negotiation with local authorities/NHS partners

•  Social value commitments and ethical practices.

•  Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills.

•   Strategic thinking, analysis and project management.

Desirable experience:

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a Senior business development role within the Greater Manchester health, social care, VCSE, or supported employment ecosystem.

• Existing relationships with commissioners, Greater Manchester Combined Authority,  local authorities, Integrated Care Systems (NHS GM), or social care providers.

• Co designing social impact models

Why Join us?

•Rewarding career pathways and progression opportunities with an award-winning organisation, which puts people first (not profits).

•Full Induction, training & Development programmes.

•Leadership development program recognised by Chartered Management Institute. 

•Flexible working hours (subject to the needs of the service).

•  22–30 days holiday after 5 years’ service (pro rata - part-time staff) + Bank Holidays.

•  Health Benefits including Simply Health cover, dental treatment plan cover or gym membership. (after completion of probationary period).

•Bonus birthday holiday after 5 years’ service.

•Company events and fun days out.

•Discount at Catering Outlets.

•  Employee Assistance Programme- 24-hour helpline for support and advice.

•Nest pension Scheme-salary sacrifice basis. Pure makes a scheme % contribution.

•Mental Health at work first aiders to offer guidance and Support when required.

•Refer a friend recruitment scheme.

Pure Innovations is an equal opportunity employer and a proud supporter of the Disability Confident scheme and the Armed Forces Covenant. If you have a disability or are a member of the armed forces community, please let us know, and you will be automatically invited to interview, provided you meet the essential criteria.

Additionally, please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments or support with the recruitment process.

Our focus is on creating libraries of tomorrow with children and young people today.

We want all children and young people to feel at home at the library, to be understood, empowered and inspired. Our collaborative network is made up of member, partners and supporters. We believe in the need for safe spaces and real-life connections to support the demands of modern life. Together, we’re creating change, and you can be a part of it.

This is a pivotal moment of growth and development for Libraries Rising as a young charity. We’re seeking a passionate, skilled manager to join our team. We’re looking for someone to bring the energy and expertise to help us develop and grow over the next 12 months.

We’re looking for:

An experienced project manager who enjoys a flexible and iterative approach.

A proactive leader who is energised by variety, and able to work effectively across diverse topics and themes.

A values led bid writer who has experience of co-creating successful grant funding bids.

A creative thinker who enjoys a productive and responsive environment.

An enthusiastic collaborator who will build strong relationships with our team, members and partners.

We’re looking for someone who lives our values - progressive, collaborative, kind, aspirational and inclusive.

What’s important to us needs to be important to you too. We want to focus on impact, to work openly, to collaborate with and learn from others, to take the time to care for ourselves and each other, and to have fun together. We want to build an environmentally sustainable charity, and we want to be celebrated as an inclusion changemaker in the sector.

About the work

We are an Arts Council England Investment Principles Support Organisation. Our members are leaders in children and young people’s public libraries and schools library services (SLS). 

The Development and Delivery Manager (Projects) is a new role for the charity. You will work with a small and growing team, who are passionate about our mission and vision. You will also work with our members (leaders of children’s public library and School Library Service leaders) and sector partners.

We are in the final stages of creating our strategy for the future. You’ll be supporting us with organisational and sector development across all pillars, with a particular focus on our Thriving Charity goals.

Job purpose

To lead and deliver a range priority projects and funding bids for the charity.

The purpose of the role includes:

• To scope and deliver a range of projects to support both organisational and sector developments.
• To convene members and young people to participate in events and workshops, ensuring projects and developments are co-created with stakeholders.
• To compile reviews, reports and options appraisals to aid effective decision making.
• To lead the development and submission of grant and trust funding opportunities.
• To support the shaping, and delivery, of a funding plan to enable delivery of our new charity strategy.
• To ensure creative and flexible use of resources.

What you’ll bring to the role

• Strong project management skills, with experience delivering complex, multi-stakeholder work.
• Track record of delivering to achieve strategic goals and outcomes.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise, plan and manage risk.
• Ability to negotiate and influence.
• Experience of identifying funding opportunities and successfully bidding for grant funding.
• Able to work on own initiative and collaborate within a team.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent listening skills with the ability to take diverse opinions into account.
• Digitally literate and technologically curious, with experience of Microsoft Office and project software.
• Experience managing and monitoring budgets.
• Experience of facilitating events and workshops.
• Committed to engaging and co-creating with children, young people and families.
• Understanding of the role of libraries within communities.
• Experience of managing partnerships, subcontractors or commissioned work.
• Awareness of GDPR implications and requirements.

Personal qualities

• Empathetic, able to understand a variety of viewpoints that are different to their own.
• Calm under pressure and able to manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality.
• Confident in building relationships and constructively challenging where needed.
• Thrives when working collaboratively and taking responsibility for delivery.
• Trusts others and inspires trust.
• Ambitious for our charity, the library sector and for children and young people.
• Strategic thinker who can also absorb and analyse detailed information.
• Entrepreneurial, with the ability to spot opportunities and develop them.
• Asks for feedback and is able to accept and act on it to improve their own performance.
• Understanding of inclusion and its importance within a diverse society.
• Commitment to own continued professional development.

Our application process is open to everyone and anyone with the experience we’re looking for. We have a diverse board of trustees, but we know our staff team is not as diverse as we need for the future, as we grow. We particularly welcome applications from people from racialised communities, men, trans or non-binary individuals, and those with hidden or visible disabilities.

Employee benefits include:

25 days annual leave (pro rata) plus Bank Holidays

5% employer pension contribution

Employee Assist Programme – including 24/7 counselling, health support and legal helpline.

A range of discounts on retail, entertainment, travel and wellbeing.

If you have any questions about the role, or want to chat Tabitha, Chief Executive before applying, please get in touch.

All applicants must have an existing Right to Work in the UK. Please also note that appointment will be made subject to collection of two references and a satisfactory DBS check or evidence of a current DBS certificate.