The Special Partnership Trust is seeking an exceptional and innovative Business Development Manager to join our dynamic and rapidly developing organisation. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated professional who thrives in fast paced environments, enjoys solving complex problems, and is committed to delivering outstanding support and service across our schools and specialist settings.

As a Trust dedicated to providing high-quality specialist SEND education, we are looking for someone with the drive, resilience, and creativity to help shape and strengthen our operational systems and services. If you understand the pressures, pace, and complexity of school environments and have the confidence to lead operational improvement and change across a Trust, we would love to hear from you.

The Role:

We are seeking a Business Development Manager who can bring expertise, innovation, and strong operational leadership to our central team. The successful candidate will support the continued development of Trust systems and services, work closely with headteachers and school leaders, and play a key role in delivering sustainable, high quality operational support. This role will continue to evolve and develop in line with the ongoing growth and changing needs of the organisation.

We are looking for someone who is:

·       Innovative and forward thinking

You bring fresh ideas, embrace new ways of working, and develop practical solutions to complex operational challenges. You think strategically, take initiative, and drive continuous improvement across Trust operations.

·       Experienced in working at pace

You are confident working in environments where the pace is intense, priorities shift quickly, and solutions are needed fast. You are comfortable operating within a developing Trust undergoing organisational and operational change.

·       Strong in customer service & stakeholder engagement

You understand the pressures faced by SEND schools, children, and families, and respond with empathy, clarity, and professionalism. You build positive, trusted relationships with headteachers, school leaders, Trust teams, and external partners, providing calm, solution focused support even at busy or challenging times.

·       Skilled in change and programme management

You can support schools and Trust teams through change with sensitivity, structure, and clear communication. You are capable of implementing new systems, processes, and service improvements that enhance operational delivery.

·       Organised, efficient and detail focused

You excel at planning, prioritising, and delivering. You manage multiple workstreams confidently and ensure that actions are monitored, followed through, and completed to a high standard.

·       Collaborative and influential

You work positively with school and organisational leaders to align priorities and operational needs. You are confident in influencing, negotiating, and building professional credibility at all levels.

·       Able to shape and develop Trust services

You are comfortable taking ownership of a developing role, setting direction, and sustaining momentum in service development. You are enthusiastic about building and delivering high quality operational support that enables our schools to thrive.

Our Total Reward Offer:

The Special Partnership Trust recognises the importance of developing a properly implemented People Strategy to underpin the overall strategic aims of the Trust.

Our People Strategy is designed to help us attract prospective high calibre candidates, as well as drive engagement, productivity and retention of our high performing and high potential employees. It reflects our belief in putting our people first. This does not mean putting our learners second. It is based on the philosophy that if we create a positive and rewarding work environment, if our staff feel motivated, well managed and well supported, they in turn will provide the best possible outcome for our learners.

We recognise that our total reward offer, has got to consist of more than just money. We seek to provide our staff with a diverse range of benefits that support their day to day needs both at work and outside of work. These include generous leave entitlements and pension scheme as well as access to health/wellbeing tools, training & development, career pathways and opportunities to ensure they feel valued.

Please visit the Special Partnership website, www.specialpartnership.org for further information about our Trust, or to learn more about our People Strategy and Benefits click here.

If you need the application form or any part of the recruitment process in a different format, please contact us directly at recruitment@specialpartnership.org and we will make the necessary adjustments.

Are you ready to make a lasting impact? Join us today. 

Safeguarding:

The Special Partnership Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to the satisfactory completion of checks and references, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In accordance with guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education; the Trust will undertake an online search of all shortlisted candidates.