Business Development Adviser

Please apply online via the link provided.

Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

Fixed term contract/secondment for six months initially with further extensions contingent on commercial success. This appointment is expected to lead to a permanent role that will be funded from new income generated through commercial activities.

Location: Westminster, or home based will be considered

Type: Full-time

About us

The Local Government Association (LGA) is the national membership body for local authorities. We work on behalf of our member councils to support, promote and improve local government.

We are a politically led, cross-party organisation that works on behalf of councils to ensure local government has a strong, credible voice with national government. We influence and set the political agenda on the issues that matter to councils to help them deliver local solutions to national problems.

We also provide councils with the tools and resources to respond to challenges present and emerging, and support improvement across the sector.

We value diversity and encourage applications from all sections of the community to this high-profile role.

About the role

Are you passionate about driving commercial innovation and supporting local government? We are seeking a Business Development Adviser to join our Business Development Team and help shape the LGA’s commercial future.

This role will support the development and implementation of commercial products, offers, and services that contribute to the financial sustainability of the LGA and generate additional value for councils. You will identify opportunities, support service development, and contribute to the delivery of commercial initiatives.

You will work closely with internal teams and external partners to ensure commercial activities are appropriately costed, resourced, and aligned with organisational priorities. You will also lead bidding activities for competitive tenders and grant funding opportunities, and support the development of sponsorship strategies and financial models.

This is a fixed-term role, with the potential to become permanent based on commercial success.

​About You

You are a commercially minded professional with a passion for innovation and a deep understanding of the local government landscape. You thrive in dynamic, target-driven environments and are motivated by the opportunity to create impactful services that deliver real value to councils and communities. You understand the importance of financial sustainability in the public sector and are excited by the challenge of developing commercial products and services within local government.

You are confident working across teams and with external partners, bringing people together to shape ideas and deliver results. You are comfortable navigating complex political environments and can balance strategic thinking with practical delivery. Whether you're leading a bid, developing a business case, or engaging with stakeholders, you bring clarity, energy, and a collaborative spirit to everything you do

You will bring:

• A proven track record of developing commercial products and services within local government.
• Experience in market research, customer engagement, and commercial business case development.
• Strong commercial project management skills and the ability to deliver multi-stage commercial projects.
• Political sensitivity and the ability to work in complex, pressurised environments.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a “can do” attitude.
• A flexible and collaborative approach to teamwork.
• Experience in writing successful competitive bids, marketing, or working in the private sector is desirable.

You must have the right to work in the UK, the LGA are unfortunately unable to offer sponsorship visas. Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage.

To apply

If you would like to be considered for the role, please complete the online form and include a supporting statement detailing how you meet the criteria for the role before the closing date.

We are specifically assessing candidates against the following criteria:

1. A proven track record of developing commercial products and services within local government.
2. Experience in market research, customer engagement, and commercial business case development.
3. Strong project management skills and the ability to deliver multi-stage commercial projects.
4. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a “can do” attitude.
5. Political sensitivity and the ability to work in complex, pressurised environments.
6. A flexible and collaborative approach to teamwork.
7. Experience in writing successful bids, marketing, or working in the private sector is desirable.

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Business Development Adviser - Job Description

Closing Date: 5pm, 31 August 2025

Interview Date: 12 and 15 September (preferably in-person)

We use anonymous recruitment, which is the practice of hiding candidates’ identities. This process involves removing any identifying information from candidates’ applications which includes names.

At the LGA we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open competition, with appointment on merit.

The LGA are proud to be awarded a “Disability Confident Leader”. Please contact us via Recruitment@local.gov.uk if you require a reasonable adjustment, which is a change to the format or conditions of the recruitment process to accommodate any disability-related needs you may have.

Our benefits

• LGA annual leave entitlement is 29 days, rising to 31 days after three years’ service and to 33 days after five years’ service, plus all UK public holidays (pro rata for fixed term and part time contracts).
• Flexible & agile working – office-based staff are required to work in the LGA’s London office two days per week as a minimum, subject to business need and this may vary significantly between different roles and from week to week.
• Future development – face-to-face and virtual courses are scheduled in line with developmental goals
• The LGA offers 24/7 access to a free, confidential employee assistance programme managed by Health Assured. This service is also available for Dependants.
• Family friendly policies

For more of LGA’s benefits and working with us, please view our webpage https://www.local.gov.uk/benefits-and-working-lga

Our values & behaviours

Our Values and Behaviours are there to give us an understanding of who we are as an organisation and who we want to be. They are a framework to help us understand:

• how we work with each other
• how we work with our members and stakeholders
• our expectations for ourselves and each other

Our values are:

Collaboration – We value collaboration, to pursue shared goals by encouraging and utilising diverse perspectives and working with internal and external colleagues across the organisation.

Inclusion – We value inclusion, where everyone feels valued, understood, and supported to contribute meaningfully.

Ambition – We value ambition, reflecting our desire to achieve best possible outcomes for local government, communities, and individuals.

Respect – We value respect, to ensure fairness, recognition, and shared accountability.