Head of Funded Markets

Head of Funded MarketsOpportunity with an established specialist software business building the future of partner- and referral-led growth.The UK funded markets are already an established commercial channel. The challenge now is taking a referral-led commercial model that's proven in one market and building something that can scale internationally.The business has built a strong position across specialist funded markets, where purchasing decisions are influenced by advisers, partners and trusted referral networks rather than traditional sales activity. The next stage is about strengthening that position while building a commercial playbook that can be replicated in new markets.You'll own the strategy across the UK's Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) and Access to Work (ATW) markets while helping shape how the same commercial motion develops in North America and future geographies. That means protecting an established revenue stream whilst working out how the same approach translates into different funding systems, referral networks and buying journeys.This is not a conventional sales leadership role.Success comes from understanding how specialist ecosystems operate, how trusted influence becomes commercial growth and how to build long-term advocacy among the people who shape buying decisions.For someone who has built their career in DSA, Access to Work or a closely related funded support environment, this is an opportunity to step into a significantly broader commercial leadership role without leaving the sector behind.The roleYou will lead the company's strategy across specialist markets where relationships, referrals and partner networks are central to growth.The UK business already has strong foundations. Your role is to protect and grow that position whilst creating the commercial structure, relationships and ways of working needed to support international expansion.Working closely with the senior revenue leadership team, you'll help shape market strategy, identify new opportunities and translate changes in funding, customer behaviour and competitive activity into practical commercial action.This is a newly created leadership role bringing together three connected parts of the commercial motion under one leader:UK Business Development, responsible for building relationships across the assessor community (including hiring into this function)North America Business Development, focused on opening referral channels in a new marketCommercial Partnerships, managing reseller and strategic partner relationshipsRather than leading these as separate activities, you'll build one joined-up commercial engine where market relationships, partner channels and international expansion reinforce each other. The goal is to create a repeatable referral-led model that can be adapted wherever the business grows next.Initially, this is very much a player-coach role.You'll use your own credibility to strengthen key relationships, open new conversations, build advocacy and establish better ways of working. As the function matures, you'll spend more time developing the team, shaping strategy and scaling the commercial model.This is a role for someone who enjoys building the commercial model, not simply managing existing relationships.What you will ownYou'll be responsible for building and leading a specialist commercial function focused on partner- and referral-led growth.This will include:Growing an established position across DSA, Access to Work and adjacent funded marketsStrengthening relationships across adviser, assessor, influencer and partner communitiesBuilding more structured programmes for referral-led growth and advocacyIdentifying adjacent funded routes and new commercial opportunitiesDeveloping the commercial playbook for future international marketsLeading, coaching and developing a high-performing commercial teamBringing greater structure, accountability and consistency to market development and partnershipsActing as the organisation's internal expert on specialist funded markets and how they evolveWhat success looks likeWithin your first couple of years, success is likely to mean:The UK business continues to grow from an already strong baseInfluencer and partner relationships become deeper, more structured and more commercially productiveReferral-led growth becomes systematic rather than dependent on individual relationshipsNorth America has a clearer commercial model with stronger referral networks and early momentumThe business has a repeatable framework for entering future referral-led marketsPartnerships are fully aligned with the wider commercial strategyThe team has clearer ownership, stronger direction and higher performanceThe business has a sharper understanding of where future funded-market growth will come fromWhat they're looking forThis isn't a role for someone learning the market from scratch. You'll need direct experience within DSA, Access to Work or a closely related funded support environment. That's a genuine requirement rather than a preference.You'll already understand how funded support markets work in practice: how trust is built, how recommendations influence purchasing decisions, how partner networks operate and how commercial growth happens when the buyer, user and funding route are not always the same.You'll be a strong fit if you've:Delivered commercial growth within DSA, Access to Work or another specialist funded marketBuilt trusted relationships with assessors, specialist advisers, commercial partners or reseller networksWorked closely with referral-led or influence-led commercial modelsTaken ownership of commercial performance rather than simply managing existing accountsLed people, or are ready to step into a broader commercial leadership roleBuilt structure around partnerships, advocacy or market developmentThe commercial judgement to recognise what works in one market and adapt it thoughtfully to anotherInternational experience would be valuable, but it isn't essential What matters most is your ability to understand why these markets grow, from adviser trust and referral influence through to funding routes and partner channels, then turn that understanding into a model that can scale in new markets.Why this role?Most people with deep DSA or Access to Work experience eventually reach a point where the next move is simply doing the same job for another supplier. This role offers something different.You'll continue using the expertise you've already built, but you'll also take ownership of a much broader commercial challenge: building the playbook for how this business grows through partner- and referral-led markets in the UK and internationally.You'll join a business with a strong market position, clear ambition and the appetite to invest in this function. You'll own strategy, lead a specialist team, influence senior commercial decisions and play a central role in shaping future growth.If you're looking for a genuine step up rather than another sideways move, this is an opportunity to build something with lasting impact.On offerRemote, with regular time spent with the teamReporting to senior leadershipLeadership of a specialist commercial team, with further growth expectedCompetitive salary, based on experience