Ayrshire College - Director of Business Development

The Role

Director of Business Development
£79,641–£85,184 per annum

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious, commercially minded leader to shape business development, drive innovation and unlock new opportunities for growth across the region.

As Director of Business Development, you will provide strategic leadership across a diverse portfolio encompassing income generation, employer engagement, apprenticeships, innovation, enterprise, and marketing and communications. You will play a pivotal role in developing sustainable commercial opportunities, diversifying income streams and building the partnerships needed to respond to evolving business needs, workforce demands and regional economic priorities.

Working at a senior strategic level, you will build influential relationships with employers, industry bodies, public-sector organisations, funding partners and other key stakeholders. You will identify emerging opportunities, develop innovative products and services, and lead the development of commercially sustainable partnerships, funding bids and new models of delivery that support business growth, productivity and skills development.

A key part of the role will be transforming and expanding the commercial portfolio, ensuring that opportunities are informed by market insight, future skills needs and the changing economic landscape. You will champion collaboration between business, industry and skills providers, helping to connect people and organisations with the expertise, training and innovation they need to thrive.

You will also lead an integrated marketing, communications and brand strategy, strengthening reputation, increasing external influence and ensuring that communications support engagement, commercial growth and strategic ambitions.

As an inspiring and forward-thinking leader, you will build high-performing, agile teams, establish clear performance measures and drive continuous improvement across the portfolio. With responsibility for delivering against income targets and strategic objectives, you will combine commercial acumen and entrepreneurial thinking with the ability to influence at local, regional and national levels.

About You

You will be an experienced senior leader with a strong track record in business development, commercial growth, enterprise, innovation or skills development. You will bring the confidence to lead transformation, develop strategic partnerships and turn emerging opportunities into sustainable results.

With excellent leadership, financial and analytical skills, you will understand the relationship between employer needs, workforce development, productivity and economic growth. You will be skilled at influencing diverse stakeholders, leading multidisciplinary teams and creating a culture of collaboration, innovation and high performance.

You will also bring a relevant SCQF Level 9 qualification, a commitment to continuing professional development, and the strategic vision to lead in a fast-moving and evolving environment.

Make an Impact

This is an opportunity to shape a high-profile portfolio, strengthen connections between business and skills, and help create the conditions for innovation, enterprise and sustainable economic growth across the region.

If you are a strategic thinker with commercial ambition, a collaborative leadership style and the drive to turn opportunities into lasting impact, we would welcome your application.

Help us deliver our ambition: Empowering People for a Changing World.