Head of Business Development & Growth

REPORTING TO: Chief Executive officer

SALARY: £45,000-£50,000

CONTRACT: Full-time, permanent, on-site

BENEFITS: To be discussed during interview process

CLOSING DATE: 26 July 2026

Before applying, please download our Candidate Pack here.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Head of Business Development & Growth will lead the Trust’s approach to income diversification, strategic partnerships and sustainable growth.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will identify and secure new funding, commissioning, commercial and investment opportunities that support the Trust’s strategy, respond to community need and strengthen long-term financial resilience.

The role will provide external insight across the public, private and voluntary sectors, develop new propositions and lead significant bids, tenders, grant applications and business cases.

The postholder will manage opportunities from initial identification through to agreement and mobilisation, working with colleagues to ensure they are properly designed, costed, resourced and deliverable.

This is a significant leadership appointment that will help the Trust reduce its reliance on existing funding, expand its reach and increase its impact through football, sport and community development.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for an ambitious, commercially aware and purpose-driven leader with a strong track record in business development and income generation.

You will be able to recognise emerging opportunities, establish influential relationships and turn external priorities into compelling and viable propositions.

You will combine strategic judgement with delivery focus and be confident representing the Trust with senior stakeholders across different sectors.

You will also understand the importance of internal collaboration and will work effectively across programmes, finance, impact, marketing, operations and Nottingham Forest Football Club.

Above all, you will share our commitment to improving health, wellbeing and opportunity through football, sport and community development.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Lead the Trust’s business development, income diversification and growth strategy, supported by clear priorities, targets and performance measures.

2. Monitor developments across sport, health, education, employment, skills, public policy, commissioning and corporate investment to identify emerging opportunities.

3. Assess potential opportunities and recommend where the Trust should focus its time, resources and investment.

4. Build, manage and convert a strong pipeline of funding, contracts, partnerships and commercial opportunities.

5. Develop new services and propositions that align with the Trust’s charitable purpose, strategic priorities and community need.

6. Lead the preparation of high-quality bids, tenders, grant applications, business cases and investment proposals.


7. Ensure new opportunities have a clear rationale, realistic financial model, measurable outcomes, understood risks and a viable delivery plan.

8. Build and strengthen relationships with funders, commissioners, businesses, government bodies, regional organisations, strategic partners and Nottingham Forest Football Club.

9. Lead negotiations and work with the Head of Programmes and other colleagues to move secured opportunities into effective delivery.

10. Monitor pipeline value, conversion, income forecasts, risks and timescales, and report progress and recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer, Senior Leadership Team and Board.

OTHER DUTIES

1. Uphold the Trust’s policies, procedures and professional standards at all times, including safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, data protection and appropriate professional boundaries.

2. Take responsibility for reporting concerns through the correct channels and maintaining all training, checks, accreditations and qualifications required for the role.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Relevant degree, professional qualification or equivalent senior-level experience

• Significant experience in business development, income generation, commissioning, fundraising or strategic growth within the charity, sport, community, public or related sector

• Demonstrable track record of identifying opportunities and converting them into new income, investment, contracts or funded activity

• Proven experience of developing successful bids, tenders, grant applications, business cases or investment proposals

• Experience of building influential relationships with funders, commissioners, businesses, public bodies and strategic stakeholders

• Experience of developing new services, propositions or income streams in response to external priorities and organisational ambition

• Experience of managing a new-business pipeline and delivering against income, growth or return-on-investment targets

Desirable

• Experience within professional sport, a football club charity or another purpose-led organisation

• Experience of working with government departments, combined authorities, commissioners or regional bodies

• Experience of developing opportunities across different sectors, markets or geographic areas

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

Essential

• Strategic and commercially minded, with the ability to identify how emerging policy, market and sector developments can create opportunities for the Trust

• Strong business development capability, including lead generation, opportunity qualification, proposition development and conversion

• Exceptional written communication skills, with the ability to produce compelling bids, tenders, funding applications, business cases and proposals

• Strong financial and commercial judgement, including an understanding of pricing, budgets, income forecasting, risk and return on investment

• Highly effective relationship-building, influencing and negotiation skills across senior and diverse stakeholder groups

• Ability to translate community need, organisational strengths and external priorities into clear, credible and deliverable propositions

• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to interpret intelligence, assess opportunities and make evidence-based recommendations

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the confidence to represent the Trust at senior local, regional and national levels

• Strong planning and pipeline-management skills, with the ability to balance competing priorities and progress multiple opportunities simultaneously

• Collaborative leadership style, with the ability to work across programmes, finance, impact, marketing and Nottingham Forest Football Club

• Clear focus on outcomes, income growth, performance and continuous improvement

• Strong alignment with the Trust’s vision, mission and values, and commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion

Desirable

• Knowledge of the community sport, charity and professional football landscape

• Understanding of local and regional priorities, socioeconomic challenges and the role of sport in improving health, wellbeing and opportunity

• Experience of collaborative bids, commissioning processes or cross-sector partnership models

TIMELINES AND PROCESS

• Application deadline: Sunday 26th July 2026

• Initial telephone conversation: Week commencing 3rd August

• Interview round 1 (face to face in Nottingham): Week commencing 10th August 2026

• Interview round 2 (face to face in Nottingham): Week commencing 17th August 2026

All applicants must diligently fill out the application form. As an integral part of the application process, all candidates must possess the right to work in the UK, undergo an enhanced DBS check, and provide two professional references.

FOREST FOR EVERYONE

We aim to create a culture which embraces and celebrates difference, enables individuals to feel comfortable, maximise their potential, and eliminates discrimination. Nottingham Forest Community Trust is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or any other legally protected characteristic.

PRIVACY NOTICE

Nottingham Forest Community Trust is committed to being transparent about how it handles your personal information, to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information and meeting its obligation under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.

SAFEGUARDING

At Nottingham Forest Community Trust, we have a holistic and person-centred approach to safeguarding.

Where concerns about any child or adult at risk are raised, NFCT staff will always act with the best interests of the individual at the forefront of all actions. We accept and acknowledge our responsibility for the wellbeing and safety of all participants engaged in NFCT programmes and activities. It is the duty of our staff and volunteers at NFCT to ensure that all participants are safeguarded by creating and maintaining activities and environments that protect them from harm. Safeguarding is the responsibility of all.