Business Development Manager
Heritage Trust Network
Hours
Full-time 37 hours per week
About the Organisation
Bringing historic buildings and spaces back to life brings joy to so many people. It restores local pride and identity and creates jobs, workplaces, visitor attractions, educational facilities, arts venues, and more. By reusing existing buildings our members are retaining embodied carbon and challenging the notion that regeneration means demolish and rebuild. There are thousands of people undertaking this amazing work, either professionally or as volunteers, in all parts of the UK. Heritage Trust Network is the membership body for independent community organizations, charities, and social enterprises that are saving, restoring, and managing historic buildings, parks, gardens, canals, and railways.
Our membership includes both organizations specifically set up to save heritage sites and community organizations that deliver other types of services and have chosen to operate from historic buildings and spaces. We also welcome individuals, businesses, and local authorities who support local heritage action. Together we organize conferences, site visits, meetings, and online resources where we can network and learn from each other and meet experts and funders.
About the role
This is an important role within Essential Networks, a major development and resilience project for Heritage Trust Network, our members, and UK heritage. The Network’s trustees and staff have agreed on an ambitious business plan that builds on its existing strengths. The Business Development Manager will develop the Network’s earned income to a level where it is making a substantial net contribution to the organization.
Responsibilities
- Working with the Programme Manager and Chief Executive to develop annual work plans to deliver the outputs and outcomes of the business plan.
- Liaise with all Network staff to ensure coordination and complementarity of business development work with other Network activity.
- Undertake activities to recruit Partner members and ensure they are retained, including developing a heritage business network within the Network.
- Undertake activities to recruit local authority members and ensure they are retained, including developing a local authority network within the Network.
- Develop and organize a program of events, including learning and networking events, study tours and visits, and ‘trade fair’ type events targeted at markets likely to deliver higher ticket revenues.
- Promote and negotiate business sponsorship for Network events, publications, and activities.
- Research, develop and, if feasible, implement plans for a new class of Supporter members, including recruitment and organizing activities to appeal to them.
- Explore the scope for developing donation income and implement agreed plans.
- Further research and analysis of the scope for additional paid-for member services and implementation of agreed plans.
- Systematically scan for commissions and invitations to tender for contracts which the Network is well placed to deliver, draft, and submit proposals.
- Research opportunities to deliver services for other organizations, such as local authorities, initiate discussions, and draft and submit proposals. Where appropriate explore collaboration opportunities with Partner and Network members.
- Work as a member of the Network team, covering for colleagues where required,
- Ensure your activities deliver the Strategy and Business Plan.
- Help to champion the rescue and reuse of historic sites across the UK for community benefit, particularly by charities, social enterprises, and community organizations.
- Ensure that all Network activities and communications to members are accessible, inclusive, and of a high standard.
- Represent the Heritage Trust Network at online and in-person events.
- Use the Network’s agreed digital systems and carry out duties in a transparent manner (using the Network’s internal calendar system, storing digital files in agreed shared places, logging activity on the *CRM).
- Follow Network policies and procedures.
Skills, Competencies & Experience
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
- Business development in the community heritage, culture, and regeneration sectors
- Developing and delivering profitable events and learning activities
- Developing and delivering consultancy services
- Developing a membership organization
- Understanding of the heritage, culture, and regeneration sectors
- Ability to assess and improve the viability of projects and products
- Good interpersonal skills with the ability to work with a diverse range of people
- Good organizational skills including the ability to keep detailed records
Desirable:
- Experience across a range of activities relevant to this role
- Experience in roles that involve working at different levels; strategic, managerial, and operational
- Willingness to work at different levels; strategic, managerial, and operational
- Good verbal and written communication skills including the ability to adapt communication styles to a variety of circumstances
- Good digital skills
- Demonstrable commitment to heritage, community development and another area relevant to this role
- Marketing skills relevant to a membership, learning, and consultancy context
Required Qualifications
- Undergraduate Degree
Compensation & Benefits
- 25 days Annual Leave
- Plus 3 days of Christmas and New Year holiday
- Public Holidays
Conditions of employment
- You need to have the right to work in the UK
Working locations
- Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely
How to apply
- Send an email to [email protected] with a CV and a cover letter by 6th January 2025 at noon.
Interviews
- Shortlisting candidates will start on 6th January 2025. The interview will be online via Zoom on 13th January 2025
Policies
- Heritage Trust Network recognizes the value that people from all backgrounds bring to the heritage sector and our organization. The way we provide advice about community heritage regeneration must reflect the diverse histories, cultures, and interests of the localities in which we work. A diverse, representative workforce, where views are valued and championed, will enable us to achieve this. Heritage Trust Network is committed to providing equality of opportunity.