Job advert:
Please note: This post is restricted to female applicants only under Schedule 9, part 1, Equalities Act 2010.
We aim to meet all of our obligations under the Equality 2010 Act and welcome applications from women from all sections of society.
We will make reasonable adjustments to the working environment as required.
Applicants will undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before appointment and a mandatory right to work check.
Please note: We are not able to sponsor job placements.
Applications by email to [email protected] preferred. Applications that do not have a covering letter evidencing how you meet the Person Specification will not be considered. Any applications that do not come via email will not be considered.
Business Development Manager (Part-Time) (Permanent)
Salary: £35,000 – £40,000 FTE (pro rata)
Hours: 22.5 hours per week (flexible, to be agreed)
Location: Hybrid (home-based but with some regular on-site working weekly as required in Exeter)
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer
Closing date: 26th of June 2026
Interviews: Week commencing 13th of July 2026
About Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Services.
DRCSAS exists to relieve the trauma and distress and help rebuild the lives of survivors living in Devon and Torbay who have experienced any form of sexual violence, at any point in their lives.
DRCSAS also campaigns and raises awareness about rape and sexual violence to change the narrative around sexual violence and to enable survivors’ voices to be heard.
DRCSAS works to feminist principles, which underpin our service, and we maintain a woman only workforce and women only support spaces four days a week. Our work is guided by a trauma-informed approach which understands how traumatic experiences can impact on survivors and keeps an awareness of the effects of trauma at the forefront of our approach.
Role Overview:
About the Role
About the Role
We are seeking an innovative and experienced Business Development Manager to take ownership of business development and growth within a small organisation (c. £800k annual income).
This is a new role which has been implemented to support our ambitious new 5-year strategy which focuses on the diversification of our charitable work. To achieve our ambition of becoming a women’s centre, we are looking for an experienced business development manager who has a track record of winning new contracts and increasing charitable income. Whilst, we are looking for a business development manager with exceptional bid writing skills, we are also keen to explore the following areas of growth; commerce, legacies and business diversification – so experience in any one of these areas would be an advantage.
As part of our senior leadership team, you will be jointly responsible for business growth alongside the Finance Manager. Day to day you will be identifying key funding streams, prioritising opportunities and leading the bid writing for tenders and contracts. You will manage key contracts with partners – identifying who is best placed to bid for opportunities. You will manage relationships with key business contractors such as our trust and grant fundraiser, our data and insight contractor and our employed senior trainer and training coordinator. You will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys bid writing, business strategy and relationship development.
Key Responsibilities
Day-to-Day Business Development Activities
- Maintain a pipeline of business development opportunities across a diverse range of areas to include;
o Public sector tenders / contracts and grants
o Commerce, social enterprise and private business
o Legacy opportunities
o Community development
- Lead on the submission of applications, which includes the writing of bid’s and applications (not covered by the trusts and community grant fundraiser).
- Maintain accurate records of applications and outcomes.
- Manage business development contractors, such as our impact and insights lead and trust and community fundraiser – pivoting their activity to focus on key strategic work in line with agreed business development priorities.
- Manage the senior trainer and training coordinator – supporting income generation as a key outcome of this role.
- Work with the Finance Manager and Head of Service Delivery to design new services, cost delivery and assess value for money, deliverability, sustainability, social value and business fit.
- Take strategic lead for the development of and implementation of a ‘friends of’ scheme – harnessing the capability of friends to advance our charitable reach.
Strategic Responsibilities and Accountabilities
- Report to the board of trustees/directors when required.
- Work to the 5-year strategic plan – supporting yearly business planning.
- Evaluate impact and support the use of data and insight to tell a compelling story of both need and response to need.
- Act as a senior leader with responsibility for designing and delivering business growth strategies.
- Lead responsibility for business development risks as relevant to the corporate risk register.
Partnership
- Attend networking meetings and events and cultivate new business relationships
- Be aware of new and forming strategic partnerships which may support business development. Make recommendations on the value of investing time and resources into opportunities as they arise.
- Build relationships with private business, the social enterprise sector and commerce.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as the main point of contact for all business development opportunities.
- Present business development opportunities and assessments to senior leadership and Trustees/directors as required
- Support business development members of staff to understand key risks, opportunities and threats as assessed by you.
Quality Assurance
- To ensure that applications for bids and grants are quality assured and are provided are within financial limits to prevent over promising or over committing charity resources.
- Proactively maintain professional knowledge and practice and attend and contribute to all relevant team meetings.
- Follow all child and adult safeguarding policies and procedures.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- To provide specific data as required and to write reports as necessary.
Communication
- To ensure effective communication of information within DRCSAS resulting in an accessible, reliable and smooth running of services for all service users.
- To promote a positive view of DRCSAS when interacting with external partners and stakeholder.
Other
- Engage with line management, supervision, training, personal development and wellbeing, using opportunities provided by DRCSAS to do so.
- Work in partnership with Rape Crisis England and Wales and other rape crisis centres as necessary.
- Any other reasonable task commensurate with this post.
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Person Specification
Qualifications, Training and Experience
Essential:
- Extensive experience in writing bids and tenders
- A track record of business and income growth
- A management and leadership qualification – commensurate with a senior leadership position. (Level 5+)
Desirable:
- Masters Degree in Business Administration
- Experience in the charity or not-for-profit sector
- Experience supporting Trustees or Boards
Skills and Abilities
Essential:
- Excellent partnership engagement and relationship management skills
- Communication and presentation skills
- Business and project management skills
- Bid writing skills, including design of service operating models
- Skills in risk assessment, opportunity development and proposal creation
- Ability to communicate business development strategies and information clearly to non-business development stakeholders
Desirable:
- Effective at negotiating and influencing
- Market research and analysis
- Data and return on investment analysis
- Digital literacy (including AI)
Knowledge
Essential:
- Charity funding strategies
- Business development approaches
- Effective marketing approaches
- Knowledge of anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice
- Understanding of and commitment to the feminist perspective of sexual violence held by DRCSAS
Desirable:
- Knowledge of safeguarding principles
- Women’s health and inequalities
Personal Traits Values & Behaviours
Essential:
We are looking for someone who:
- Takes ownership and accountability
- Works creatively and innovatively.
- Someone who can see opportunities and takes personal responsibility to develop those
- Is hands-on and solutions-focused
- Works collaboratively across the organisation, the community and partnerships
- Is personable and able to develop relationships which require trust, collaboration and warmth
- Communicates clearly and openly
Other:
Ability to travel across Devon and Torbay
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £35,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Sick pay
Application question(s):
- Applications by email to [email protected]. Applications that do not have a covering letter evidencing how you meet the Person Spec will not be considered. Any applications that do not come via email will not be considered.
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Exeter
