Business Development Manager

Every dog and cat in need deserves expert care, compassion and the chance to thrive. At Mayhew, we’re a passionate team of around c60 staff and c220 volunteers working to improve the lives of dogs, cats and the communities that care for them. Through veterinary services, rescue and rehoming, community support programmes and education, we make a real difference every day. We’re looking for a commercially minded and proactive Business Development Manager to help us grow new sources of earned income and build partnerships that support Mayhew’s long-term future. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys spotting opportunities, developing ideas and turning them into income. You’ll lead the development of new commercial and earned-income activities, including growing our TheraPaws animal-assisted wellbeing programme, exploring paid services and creating partnerships with businesses and organisations. You’ll play an important role in helping Mayhew become more financially sustainable, while ensuring that the opportunities we pursue support our mission and deliver genuine value. Our Way of Working This is a hands-on, outward-facing role for someone who enjoys building relationships, opening doors and making things happen. You’ll spend time meeting prospective clients and partners, understanding their needs and developing opportunities for Mayhew. This could mean securing new partnerships for TheraPaws, exploring opportunities for paid training or services, or working with colleagues to turn Mayhew’s expertise into viable income-generating activities. You’ll work closely with colleagues across fundraising, services, finance and communications to develop strong offers, agree realistic delivery plans and ensure opportunities are financially worthwhile. We offer hybrid working, with time spent at Mayhew, out meeting organisations and partners, and working collaboratively with colleagues. The successful candidate will be confident working independently, motivated by achieving results and excited by the opportunity to develop new areas of income for a charity with ambitious plans. In this role, you will: Identify and develop new commercial, partnership and earned-income opportunities that support Mayhew’s mission. Lead the growth of our paid TheraPaws programme, developing packages, pricing and relationships with prospective clients and partners. Build and manage a strong pipeline of opportunities, from initial contact and pitches through to securing agreements and income. Explore new income-generating services, commercial partnerships, affiliate opportunities and other viable sources of revenue. Develop compelling proposals, pitches and business cases, working with colleagues to assess costs, capacity and financial returns. Build lasting relationships with businesses, organisations and clients, identifying opportunities for repeat business and growth. Track progress against income targets, using insight and market knowledge to improve performance and identify new opportunities. To be successful, you will: Have proven experience in business development, sales or commercial partnerships, with a track record of generating income. Be confident identifying opportunities, developing proposals, pitching and negotiating with prospective clients or partners. Have strong commercial judgement and understand how to develop opportunities that are financially viable. Be proactive, organised and comfortable managing a pipeline of prospects and income targets. Have excellent relationship-building and communication skills, with the confidence to represent Mayhew externally. Be creative and commercially curious, with the ability to turn ideas into practical, deliverable opportunities. Enjoy working collaboratively across teams and be adaptable, resilient and comfortable in a developing organisation. Experience in the charity sector, wellbeing, education or animal-assisted services would be an advantage, but we’re equally interested in candidates who can bring relevant commercial experience and a genuine commitment to our mission. Why work for Mayhew? Join a charity with ambitious plans, passionate people and a clear purpose. You’ll have the opportunity to develop new income streams, build valuable partnerships and help shape how Mayhew generates sustainable income for the future. Your work will directly contribute to our ability to reach more dogs, cats and communities that need our support. Please note that successful candidates will be asked to evidence their Right to Work in the UK post-job offer. We do not hold a sponsor licence and are therefore unable to provide visa sponsorship.