Business Development Manager - #1736589

We are Places for People Group, we're a social enterprise that believes it's people that make a community. That's why we build homes and deliver services for everyone in the community to thrive. At Places Leisure we are changing lives by creating active places and healthy people for communities to thrive, and we want to be the UK's leading health and wellbeing enabler.

We aren't your typical company. We apply the same philosophy to our People as we do to our communities, ensuring our team is appreciated and supported. At Places for People, you're more than just a number - you're part of our cause.

So, what are you waiting for? Join a community that cares about you!

More About Your Role

In this role, you'll be responsible for securing sustainable, profitable new business and managing the full tender process—from identifying opportunities and preparing submissions to overseeing post-tender actions. You'll take the lead on forging new business/ growth opportunities either via new partnerships or via the acquisition of other leisure or health related businesses. You'll collaborate with key internal stakeholders to ensure seamless handovers and provide support on capital project requests. You'll actively monitor the market, build intelligence networks, and seek out new opportunities, particularly in local authority leisure contracts. You'll represent the company at meetings and conferences, deliver presentations, and support ongoing business development and contract extension efforts. Additionally, you'll provide contractual guidance to operational teams and conduct market and competitor research to inform strategic decisions.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Extensive experience and deep understanding of the leisure industry, gained through several years in senior operational roles
• Proven ability to develop detailed financial business plans with strong, evidence-based justifications (e.g., site or contract budgeting)
• Strong leadership, communication, and influencing skills to guide teams of managers and specialists toward successful project delivery
  
  

Desirable

• Experience in completing the acquisition of other businesses
  
  

More About You

You bring extensive experience in the leisure sector, ideally from senior operational roles, with a strong understanding of the industry's environment. You're confident producing detailed, evidence-based financial business plans and skilled in leading and influencing cross-functional teams to meet project goals. You understand how to align strategic objectives with client needs to develop effective tender solutions. Ideally, you also have experience managing contractual issues, supporting tender processes, and contributing innovative thinking to improve or redesign operating models. Ideally you will have experience in acquiring other businesses and have the ability to explore and build new partnerships.

Benefits

We are a large, diverse and ambitious business, which will give you all the challenge you could wish for. We know that there's always more we can do to make you smile, that's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package with each role, yours will include:

• Full Health & Fitness membership for you, a nominated adult and up to 4 juniors
• Flexible working
• Up to 15% annual bonus
• An opportunity to purchase additional annual leave
• Lots of opportunity to access ongoing personal learning and development
• Access to our Company Pension scheme
• Cashback plan for healthcare costs – up to £500 saving per year
• Discounts of up to 50% on activities, centre shop and cafes
• Extra perks including huge discounts and offers from shops, cinemas and much more.
  
  

What's next?

If you meet the criteria and are ready to make the next step in your career then click apply. You will be redirected to our careers site where you can discover more about the role, read a full job description and apply directly to us.

If you are a Places for People customer and you're looking for support with your application, please contact our skills and employment team on [email protected].

If you are a recruitment agency please note we operate a PSL and do not take cold calls

At Places for People, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We are committed to creating safe communities for our customers and colleagues by protecting children, young people, and adults at risk from harm, abuse, and neglect.

We follow robust safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring all employees, volunteers, and contractors uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and accountability. Our recruitment process includes pre-employment checks, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where applicable, to promote a safe and secure working environment.

By joining Places for People, you are expected to contribute to our safeguarding culture, following our policies and reporting concerns to protect those in our communities.