Job responsibilities
Job Description
Business Development Manager Research & Development
Location
Swindon (with system-wide working across BSW)
Reports to
Brunel Strategy and Operations Manager
Job Purpose
The Business Development Manager (Research & Development) will lead on the identification, development, and delivery of funded service development and research initiatives that support population health improvement, health inequalities reduction, and innovation across Swindon and the wider BSW system.
The role will have strategic and operational responsibility for business development, project management, research leadership, and neighbourhood contract development, working collaboratively with internal teams and external partners including NHS organisations, universities, funders, and regional research networks.
Summary of Role and Responsibilities
1. Business Development & External Funding
- Lead the development, coordination, and submission of service development bids and applications for external funding.
- Identify funding opportunities aligned with organisational and system priorities.
- Develop high-quality business cases, funding proposals, and supporting documentation.
2. Project Management
- Provide overall project management leadership for a portfolio of funded and strategic programmes.
- Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within agreed budgets.
- Monitor performance, risks, and outcomes, providing regular updates to stakeholders.
- Current and priority programmes include:
- EYHAS
- SMI Health Checks
- Inclisiran
- Interface
- GSK Pneumoshingles
- Clear Hypertension
- Lucid CKD Project
- HPV and Cancer LDA Co-ordinator Extension
- Neighbourhood Health applications
- British Heart Foundation (BHF) programmes
3. System Leadership & Chairing Responsibilities
- Chair and coordinate the TVCA Swindon Health Inequalities Meeting, acting as default Chair.
- Provide strategic leadership to support cross-system collaboration on health inequalities.
- Ensure effective engagement, governance, action tracking, and reporting.
4. Research Leadership & Oversight
- Provide oversight, leadership, and professional support to the Research Co-ordinator.
- Act as a senior point of contact for research-related matters across the organisation.
- Build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with:
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GWHFT)
- Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (BSW ICB)
- University research teams
- Regional and National Research Delivery Networks (RDN)
- Attend and contribute to meetings across BSW and RDN to ensure alignment, intelligence sharing, and up-to-date knowledge of research activity.
- Provide leadership to enable a centralised model for research and expanding into commercial opportunities for research.
5. Neighbourhood Contracts & Development (Swindon)
- Lead on the development, negotiation, and oversight of neighbourhood-based contracts in Swindon.
- Support place-based working and integrated neighbourhood teams.
- Ensure contracts align with neighbourhood health priorities, population needs, and system objectives.
- Work closely with commissioners, providers, and community partners to support sustainable service models.
Key Skills and Experience (Indicative)
- Proven experience in business development, service development, or programme management within health or public sector environments.
- Strong track record of developing successful funding bids and business cases.
- Experience of managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects and programmes.
- Knowledge of research governance, research delivery, or health innovation (desirable).
- Excellent stakeholder management, chairing, and influencing skills.
- Ability to work strategically while maintaining strong operational oversight.
Person Specification
Business Development Manager Research & Development
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant field (e.g. health, public health, business, research, or management).
- Evidence of ongoing professional development.
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification in public health, health management, research, or business development.
- Formal project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, MSP, Agile).
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in business development, service development, or programme management within health, public sector, or complex partnership environments.
- Proven experience of developing and submitting successful funding bids, business cases, or grant applications.
- Experience of managing multiple complex projects simultaneously, including financial oversight and reporting.
- Experience of working collaboratively across organisations and systems.
- Experience of chairing meetings and coordinating multi-agency groups.
Desirable
- Experience working within NHS, Integrated Care Systems (ICS/ICB), or primary care environments.
- Experience of neighbourhood or place-based service development.
- Experience supporting or overseeing research delivery or innovation programmes.
- Experience of managing or supporting staff.
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Strong understanding of service development, commissioning, and funding mechanisms within health or public sector systems.
- Excellent project management skills, including risk management, performance monitoring, and delivery against objectives.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and evidence to inform decisions and funding proposals.
- Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality funding bids, reports, and business cases.
- Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills, including chairing meetings and influencing senior stakeholders.
- Ability to build and maintain effective partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders.
Desirable
- Knowledge of research governance, ethics, and delivery frameworks.
- Understanding of health inequalities and population health approaches.
- Knowledge of neighbourhood health models and integrated care delivery.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate strategy into operational delivery.
- Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise and manage competing demands.
- Proactive, self-motivated, and able to work autonomously.
- Strong leadership presence with the confidence to lead discussions and challenge constructively.
- Collaborative and inclusive working style.
- Resilient and adaptable in a complex and changing environment.
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to travel across Swindon and the wider BSW system as required.
- Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Commitment to continuous improvement and organisational values.
Desirable
- Experience representing an organisation at system, regional, or national meetings.
- Experience working with voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) partners.