Head of Commissioner Relationships & Placements (Business Development – Complex Care)
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Location: Remote (home-based), with regular national travel
Pay: £70,000–£80,000 per year, plus car allowance and performance-related bonus
Benefits: Work from home, car allowance, performance bonus, full autonomy over calendar and working pattern
About the Role
Our client is a CQC-registered specialist supported living provider, offering individual, one-person homes for adults with autism, learning disabilities, complex mental health needs and behaviours that challenge, in cases where the level of need requires a genuinely specialist response.
The business has recently secured a significant new spot purchase contract, clear evidence the model is working, and is deliberately moving away from framework and DPS work to focus on high-value spot placements instead. Growth is measured in quality, not volume: around 30–35 service users by year end, each one properly matched.
This is a new, senior appointment. You'll take ownership of the organisation's commissioner relationship strategy from day one, bringing your own established network with ICB and Local Authority decision-makers, and shape how the business positions itself for spot purchase. This isn't a role built around cold outreach or bid response, it's built around relationships and judgement you already have.
What You'll Be Doing
● Converting your existing commissioner relationships into out-of-county spot referrals and placements
● Owning the referral pipeline end to end, from first enquiry through to placement, working closely with the operations team to match individuals to the right home
● Advising on how the business positions its specialist offer for spot purchase, outside framework and DPS routes
● Representing the business at commissioner forums and networking events, outside framework-specific circuits
● Feeding what you're hearing in the market back into the business
● Supporting tenders and bids where useful, though this is a relationship role first, not a bid-writing one
What You'll Need
● 5+ years in a commissioning-facing business development or referrals role within supported living and/or residential care
● Named, active relationships with LA and ICB commissioners, and specific placements you can point to
● Experience winning business through spot purchase specifically, not just responding to framework or DPS listings
● Background working with autism, learning disabilities, complex mental health and/or behaviours that challenge
● Comfortable working autonomously, home-based, with regular national travel to maintain relationships and view properties
Package
£70,000–£80,000 base, plus car allowance and a performance-related bonus (structure confirmed with the successful candidate). Full autonomy over how you work, and a genuine say in how the business grows.
Recruitment Process
Two stages: an initial conversation on your career history and existing commissioner relationships, followed by a presentation on your proposed first 1-6 month business plan and strategy for the role.
Confidentiality
This role is being handled on a confidential basis. Full details on the business, including who the client is, will be shared with shortlisted candidates.
Pay: £70,000.00-£80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company car
- Flexitime
- Work from home
Application question(s):
- Do you have named, active relationships with ICB and/or Local Authority commissioners?
- ● How many years of experience do you have in a commissioning-facing business development or referrals role within supported living or residential care? (Required: 5+ years)
- Do you have experience winning business specifically through spot purchase arrangements, rather than framework or DPS listings?
- Are you comfortable working home-based with regular national travel?
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: Remote
