Business Development Manager – Intellectual Disability

About this role

Fidelis Health and Social Care Ireland is recruiting an ambitious and commercially driven Business Development Manager to lead growth within our Intellectual Disability (ID) Division. This is a field-based, 180-degree recruitment role combining new client acquisition with hands-on candidate sourcing and placement management. You will be the commercial engine behind Fidelis’s ID division, responsible for building lasting relationships with ID residential homes and service providers, winning new accounts, and growing placement revenue. The ideal candidate brings a credible network within the intellectual disability sector in Ireland, proven sales results with ID providers, and practical experience recruiting and placing specialist support workers, social care workers, and nurses into ID settings.

Responsibilities

• Identify, target, and win new client accounts with Intellectual Disability residential homes, day services, and supported living providers across Ireland
• Build and manage a structured pipeline of prospective ID sector clients, progressing leads through discovery, proposal, and contract stages
• Conduct face-to-face client meetings, service presentations, and fee negotiations with Persons in Charge, Directors of Nursing, Operations Managers, and HR leads at ID organisations
• Develop and deliver commercially compelling proposals tailored to the compliance requirements of HIQA-regulated ID settings
• Work to agreed monthly GP targets and new account opening KPIs, reporting pipeline activity and forecasting to the Head of Business Development
• Attend sector networking events, HIQA inspection forums, and industry conferences to raise brand awareness and develop relationships
• Monitor competitor activity, market pricing, and sector commissioning trends to inform positioning and strategy
• Collaborate with the wider Fidelis commercial team to develop sector-specific marketing materials, case studies, and service propositions
• Source, attract, and engage qualified candidates for roles within ID settings, including RNIDs, RGNs, Social Care Workers, and Healthcare Assistants
• Conduct competency-based screening interviews to assess clinical knowledge, behaviour management experience, and autism/ID-specific skills
• Maintain and grow a compliant candidate bank specifically for ID placements, ensuring all candidates meet HIQA and client-specific compliance requirements
• Coordinate candidate compliance files including NMBI registration, Garda vetting, reference checks, mandatory training, and relevant qualifications
• Match candidates to client requirements, negotiate placement terms, and manage shift and contract fulfilment for placed candidates
• Manage and grow existing Fidelis ID client accounts, proactively identifying upsell opportunities and deepening relationships with key stakeholders
• Ensure service delivery quality by conducting regular client review calls and account management visits
• Respond promptly to client staffing requests, escalations, and concerns, acting as the primary point of contact for your account portfolio
• Ensure all placements comply with HIQA regulations, the Health Act 2007, and Fidelis’s internal compliance standards
• Stay current with HIQA inspection trends and evolving standards relevant to ID residential care
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date client and candidate records within the CRM and recruitment management system

Requirements

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a business development or sales role within healthcare staffing or social care recruitment
• Demonstrable track record of winning new client accounts within the Intellectual Disability sector in Ireland or the UK
• Experience operating in a 180-degree recruitment model (client development plus candidate sourcing)
• Proven experience recruiting and placing support workers, social care workers, or nurses into ID residential settings
• Strong commercial acumen with experience of working to GP targets and new business KPIs
• Understanding of HIQA regulatory standards applicable to ID residential care
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to present to senior clinical and operational stakeholders
• Full clean Irish driving licence and own vehicle (or willingness to use company car)
• Based in or willing to work across the Republic of Ireland

Benefits

• Company car or car allowance
• Laptop and mobile provided
• Pension scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Performance bonus (uncapped commission)
• CPD support

Desirable

• Existing network of contacts within the Irish ID sector (operators, DoNs, Operations Managers, procurement leads)
• Knowledge of autism spectrum conditions and behaviour support frameworks relevant to ID residential care
• Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Bullhorn, Salesforce, or similar recruitment CRM)
• Experience supporting clients through HIQA inspection preparation
• Qualification in healthcare, social care, or related field (QQI Level 5+)

Performance Targets

• Minimum 5 new ID client accounts opened per quarter
• Monthly GP contribution target of €20,000+ rising to €35,000 by month 12
• Active candidate pool of 40+ qualified ID sector workers maintained at all times
• Client account retention rate of 85%+ across managed portfolio
• Minimum 15 placements per month (shift, block, or permanent) within 6 months
• Response time to client staffing requests within 2 hours during business hours