Director of Business Development (Living Sector)

Background:

Ocean Media Group is the market leader in providing news, best practice and information to the UK Living Sector. Our strength has historically been in the area of social and affordable housing and we are now seeking to increase our presence in the wider Living Sector by widening and building on our multi award-winning portfolio spanning digital media to live events.

Key media brands include:

• Inside Housing
• Housing 2025
• Social Housing
• Unlock Net Zero
• Housing Week, London
• The Flooring Show

Over the past decade the line between 'social and affordable' and the wider living sectors has become blurred, as the UK strives to meet its housing need. This has widened our work into:

• Build-to rent, multi-family, single family housing
• Retirement living, later living, specialist housing
• Purpose built student accommodation

In line with the above we have also expanded our work to reflect the investment into these adjacent sectors.

Director of Business Development

While Ocean has very strong teams in place to deliver content, logistics and support, this new expansion needs an experienced media professional with experience in planning developing and delivering substantial content rich conferences/exhibitions supported by online media products.

The Director of Business Development will be responsible for:

• Market research and competitor analysis
• Identification of key stakeholders and business plan to recruit
• Engagement of strategic partners and potential tier one sponsors
• Launch proposition with proposed budget to underpin
• Recruitment of team
• Development of 5-year growth plan (including geo-cloning)

Ocean's expectation is for the business plan to be approved in Q3 of 2025 with the team in place and budget agreed by the end of 2025 with revenues and operating profit, incremental to Ocean's existing business, to be achieved from 2026.

Package:

We offer a competitive starting salary plus a 30% performance-based bonus scheme, reflecting the seniority and strategic importance of this role.

Candidate background:

We are seeking a seasoned media expert with a strong track record in commercialising B2B content development and delivery. Supported by the digital publishing division the ideal candidate will be highly experienced in all aspects of launching executive-level digital assets and conferences into an emerging sector.

Previous experience in the property investment and/or built environment sector is highly advantageous. A background working on greenfield projects is essential, demonstrating the ability to create and launch a new media portfolio from the ground up. International experience will also be beneficial, reflecting a global mindset and the ability to operate across diverse markets and cultures.

Qualities

• A self-starting, ambitious leader who thrives in both strategic and operational roles. The successful candidate will be a key member of the senior leadership team, sitting on the operational board and reporting directly to the Managing Director and CFO.