Smile Digital

Head of Development, Development Lead, Lead Developer Location: Telford area, Hybrid, with regular office attendance. The opportunity We are working with an established and ambitious agency that is looking to appoint a Head of Development / Development Lead / Lead Developer ready to step up to lead its technical function and play a major role in shaping the future of the business. This is a senior leadership opportunity for someone who combines strong technical credibility with commercial awareness, team leadership and a genuine appetite for innovation. You will take ownership of the development function, lead a talented technical team and help define how technology, AI and automation can improve both client delivery and the wider agency operation. The role goes well beyond managing website and software projects. You will have the opportunity to influence technical strategy, shape new services, drive research and development, improve internal systems and workflows, support client growth and develop the capability of the team around you. You will report into the senior leadership team and have responsibility for a development department spanning experienced, mid-level and junior technical talent. Your role will involve: You will provide clear leadership and direction to the technical team, creating an environment where people can perform at their best, develop their skills and progress their careers. You will set objectives and performance measures for the department, assess current and future skills requirements and ensure the team has the right structure, capabilities and resources to support the agency's growth plans. Alongside people leadership, you will take commercial ownership of the function, including responsibility for departmental revenue, costs, budgets and profitability. Setting the technology direction A major part of the role will be defining the agency's technology strategy and identifying where new technologies can create better outcomes for clients and improve the efficiency of the wider business. You will lead thinking around: AI adoption and capability across the agency. Research, development and technical innovation. Automation of internal workflows and processes. New technology led products and services. Improvements to reporting, delivery and operational efficiency. The selection and implementation of software and systems across the business. You will also create and maintain a longer term development roadmap, setting out priorities for new services, technical improvements, team requirements and future opportunities. You will bring technical expertise into conversations with both new and existing clients, helping to scope solutions, shape proposals and translate complex requirements into practical, commercially viable projects. You will be comfortable contributing to pitches and technical meetings when required, acting as a credible senior technical representative of the business. You will have overall responsibility for ensuring development projects are delivered to a consistently high standard. You will oversee capacity, productivity and utilisation across the team, including the balance between billable and non-billable activity, and build relationships with external technology partners where additional expertise or capacity is required. Innovation, AI and continuous improvement This role will be central to the agency's continued evolution. You will keep ahead of emerging technologies and development trends, assess where they can create meaningful value and introduce new tools and approaches where appropriate. You will act as a champion for AI across the organisation, helping senior leaders identify and deliver projects that improve productivity, workflows, client services and decision-making. About you: You are likely to have at least 7 years' experience in web or software development, together with a strong track record of leading technical teams. Previous experience in an agency, consultancy or similarly fast-paced client environment would be particularly valuable. Technically, you will bring strong knowledge of modern web development technologies. Experience across areas such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP and CMS platforms would be highly relevant, alongside a sound understanding of UX and UI principles. You will ideally bring: Experience leading, mentoring and developing technical teams. The ability to create and deliver a clear technical strategy. Strong commercial awareness and experience managing budgets or departmental financial performance. Confidence scoping complex technical solutions for clients. A practical understanding of AI, automation and emerging technologies. The ability to troubleshoot complex technical challenges and make sound decisions. A genuine interest in innovation and improving how technology supports both clients and the wider business. This is an opportunity to take genuine ownership of a technical function rather than simply managing a development team. You will have the scope to influence the company's wider technology direction, introduce AI and automation, improve internal systems, shape new services and play an active part in commercial growth. Apply now for immediate consideration - client is ready to interview!

Business Development Director, Sales Director - Agency-side or Consultancy- Remote (UK based) Our client is a growing digital product, venture and innovation business working with ambitious organisations to design, build and scale technology led solutions. They partner with clients across digital transformation, product strategy, AI, data, software development and new venture creation. The business has built a strong reputation through founde led relationships, high quality delivery and meaningful client work. They are now at the stage where they want to move from founder led sales into a more structured, proactive and scalable new business function. This is a key hire and a major growth role. The Role The Business Development Director will take ownership of new business growth, helping the company identify, qualify and convert larger commercial opportunities. This is not a volume sales role. It is a heavyweight, consultative BD role for someone who knows how to sell complex agency, consultancy, product or digital transformation work into senior stakeholders. You will work closely with the founders and leadership team to turn inbound interest, referrals and early stage conversations into properly qualified, high value opportunities. You will also build a more deliberate outbound and partnership led growth approach, helping the business win larger, more strategic client relationships. The right person will be comfortable opening doors, shaping opportunities, leading senior conversations and closing significant deal values. Key Responsibilities Lead new business development across digital product, innovation, AI, data, software and transformation services. Help move the business away from founder led sales by building a more structured, repeatable BD process. Own and manage inbound enquiries, referrals and warm leads, quickly identifying which opportunities have genuine strategic and commercial potential. Qualify opportunities properly, understanding client need, budget, urgency, decision-making process and long term account potential. Lead early stage new business conversations with founders, CEOs, CMOs, CTOs, transformation leaders, product leaders and senior client stakeholders. Shape vague or early client requirements into clear commercial opportunities, briefs, proposals and scopes of work. Identify and prioritise larger opportunities, including strategic retainers, product builds, transformation programmes, venture partnerships and multi-phase delivery projects. Build strong relationships with senior decision makers and become a trusted commercial advisor during the buying process. Work closely with founders, product, design and technology teams to create compelling proposals, pitch responses and commercial solutions. Lead pitches, chemistry meetings, commercial negotiations and closing conversations. Develop new outbound channels, target account lists, partner relationships and referral routes. Create a clear view of pipeline value, probability, next steps and forecasted revenue. Help define the strongest market segments, buyer personas and propositions for the business to pursue. Spot opportunities to increase deal size, extend project scope and create longer term client relationships. About You You will be a proven senior business development leader with strong agency-side or consultancy-side experience. You will understand how to sell complex, high value services where the client may not always know exactly what they need at the start. You will be confident navigating ambiguity, asking smart questions and turning loose conversations into well-shaped commercial opportunities. This role would suit someone who has worked in a digital agency, product studio, innovation consultancy, venture studio, experience design agency, software consultancy, transformation consultancy or similar environment. Skills and Experience Proven experience in a senior BD, Growth, Client Development, Commercial or New Business Director role. Strong agency-side or consultancy-side experience is essential. Track record of selling complex digital, product, technology, innovation, transformation or consultancy services. Evidence of closing high value deals, ideally including six figure projects, retainers, product builds or multi-phase programmes. Strong understanding of how agencies and studios win work, including referrals, inbound, outbound, partnerships, pitches and procurement processes. Experience converting inbound enquiries into larger strategic opportunities. Confident working closely with founders and subject matter experts, while gradually taking ownership of the sales process. Strong commercial judgement around pricing, margin, scope, risk and deal structure. Able to write or shape strong proposals, pitch narratives and commercial cases. Comfortable selling to senior leaders across product, marketing, technology, innovation, transformation and executive teams. What Success Looks Like The founders are no longer the sole owners of new business conversations. Inbound leads are qualified quickly and converted into better, larger opportunities. The company has a clearer, cleaner and more predictable pipeline. Larger deal values are being identified, shaped and closed. The business is winning more strategic, multi-phase projects rather than smaller one off pieces of work. New partnerships and referral channels are generating strong opportunities. The business is better positioned to scale without relying only on founder networks. Ideal Profile The ideal candidate will be a commercially sharp, relationship led BD Director who has already sold significant agency or consultancy work and knows what good looks like. They will be credible with founders and senior client stakeholders, but also hands on enough to work the pipeline, follow up leads, qualify opportunities and drive deals forward. They will not be someone who waits for perfect briefs. They will be someone who can take a messy conversation, find the real opportunity, shape it commercially and get it over the line. This is a brilliant opportunity for a senior BD professional who wants to play a defining role in helping a growing digital and innovation business build a proper new business engine. Apply now for immediate consideration, client is ready to interview!

Service Desk Lead (Fire & Security / FM) Location: Remote (UK-based) - 30k- 50k Competitive + Progression We are working with a growing and highly reputable Fire & Security provider, delivering services across a national, multi-site client base, who are now looking to appoint a Service Desk Lead. This is a key hire for the business, taking ownership of a centralised service desk function and leading a small, remote team. The role offers a clear pathway into a more senior Service Management position as the business continues to scale. The Role This is a hands on leadership position, responsible for the day to day running of the service desk while driving performance, structure, and continuous improvement. You will be managing a team of service desk operators, working closely with engineers and clients, and ensuring the smooth delivery of reactive maintenance, PPM, and small works across multiple sites. Key Responsibilities Lead and manage a remote service desk team (circa 5 operators) Act as the main escalation point for service related issues Coordinate engineers across multi-site, national contracts Oversee high volumes of reactive calls, PPM schedules, and remedial works Ensure SLA/KPI performance is consistently met Manage workflows and reporting through Simpro Drive improvements in service delivery, processes, and systems Maintain strong communication with both clients and internal teams What we need you to have: Proven experience within Fire & Security or Facilities Management service environments Experience managing or supervising a service desk / helpdesk function Strong understanding of: Reactive maintenance PPM scheduling Multi-site service delivery Experience managing remote or distributed teams Hands on experience with Simpro (highly desirable) or similar field service systems Strong organisational, communication, and leadership skills Comfortable in a fast paced, high volume environment This opportunity offers: Fully remote role with flexibility Opportunity to step into a leadership role with real ownership Join a business in growth phase, where you can make a tangible impact If you are currently working within a service desk, coordination, or service lead role in Fire & Security or FM, and are looking for your next step into leadership, contact us now. Apply now for immediate consideration.