Partnerships manager jobs

Demand for our specialist tutoring programmes for Children Looked After, those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) continues to increase and we are seeking a dedicated and effective Partnerships Account Manager to join our team and support the increased demand for our provision and the continued scaling of our organisation.

The Organisation

Equal Education is a social enterprise working to improve outcomes and narrow the attainment gap for disadvantaged and vulnerable learners, including Children Looked After, those with SEND, and unaccompanied asylum seeking children. We have over 13 years’ experience delivering 1:1 tuition, working with hundreds of Schools and Local Authority partners across the country, reaching hundreds of pupils annually. 

As a member of the Fair Education Alliance, we believe in providing meaningful educational provision to students whose needs may not be best met within a traditional classroom environment, those who aren’t currently accessing education, or who benefit from additional 1:1 support. We work with over 200 qualified teachers to provide academic, subject specialised and individual tutoring and mentoring for children of all ages. Tutors provide pastoral care and work with pupils to increase engagement and attainment. Our programmes will help the students to overcome barriers to learning, help them build trusted relationships, increase their aspirations, and fulfil their potential. We are passionate about our cause and are looking for people who are motivated by a strong desire to address educational inequality and improve outcomes. 

What is the Role?
This is a fixed-term maternity cover opportunity for a Partnerships Account Manager. In this role, you will drive business growth by securing new partnerships and managing key client accounts across designated regions. With a focus on building and sustaining long-term local council and school relationships, you will work closely with clients to understand their needs, expand our service offerings, and ensure the highest levels of satisfaction. As the majority of our key client relationships are with local councils, we are looking for someone with knowledge of how they operate.

The post holder will have the opportunity to line manage junior member(s) of the team, who provide essential bid-writing and administrative support to facilitate efficient and effective client management.

This role would suit someone with proven ability to operate effectively in scaling organisations where processes are still being defined. This role suits someone who is adaptable, resilient, and confident working at pace amid change.

The role will be suited to those who have worked within an education setting and held the title: SENCO, Head of Department, Advisory Teacher, Inclusion Coordinator or Designated Teacher. The role will also be suited to those who have worked within a Local Authority setting and held the title: Commissioning Officer, Senior Case Officer, Case Officer. Whilst the role is also suited for an experienced (key) account/client manager, we are looking for an individual who has experience and/or knowledge of the UK education system.

This role is ideal for an ambitious, client-focused individual, passionate about creating positive outcomes for vulnerable students. If you’re ready to contribute to a growing organisation that’s making a difference, we’d love to hear from you! As this is a maternity cover, we expect that the successful candidate will be able to swiftly absorb our ways of working and contribute to the success of the organisation.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Client Acquisition and Relationship Management

   • Proactively seek new business opportunities within assigned regions to grow the client base.

   • Develop and maintain strong, positive relationships with key clients, ensuring their evolving needs are met and service offerings are aligned.

   • Lead regular client review meetings to discuss progress, gather feedback, and identify additional service opportunities.

   • Manage internal relationships to ensure what matters to clients is communicated internally using the proper channels, to allow for effective delivery by our Service Delivery team

   • Maintain good internal stakeholder relationships with our Service Delivery team to ensure client demands are balanced with our processes and team capacity. 

2. Strategic Planning and Development

   • Collaborate with Senior Leaders to develop strategies for client retention and growth.

   • Work closely within the Partnerships team to align on strategic objectives and ensure seamless service delivery across functions.

   • Participate in client and industry events to represent the organisation, expand networks, and identify new business opportunities.

3. Performance Monitoring and Reporting

   • Monitor client engagement, satisfaction levels, and service outcomes; produce regular progress reports for management.

   • Oversee tracking and analysis of client-related statistics to ensure targets are met and clients receive impactful, value-driven service.

   • Manage and track client data and prospect pipelines using CRM systems, ensuring accuracy and up-to-date information.

   • Report to the the Partnerships Director on accounts, Tenders, Bids, client meetings on a regular basis.

   • Be curious to explore our Salesforce system data, understanding and interpreting delivery and impact data. 

4. Line Management and Support Coordination

   • Lead, mentor, and manage junior member(s) of the team focused on bid/application writing, tender management, and client-related administration.

   • Support junior member(s) in producing and reviewing high-quality application documents and responses that align with client requirements and enhance our partnership outcomes.

   • Provide oversight to ensure that administrative tasks are completed efficiently, supporting smooth client interactions and consistent follow-through.

   • Work with other area leaders, to ensure strong delivery of services.

   • Contribute to, and foster strong internal working relationships to successfully delivery against strategy and objectives.. 

5. Bid Management and Process Improvement

   • Oversee the preparation and submission of tenders and bid applications, working closely with junior member(s) to ensure high-quality and timely submissions.

   • Continuously review and improve internal processes to optimise bid management, client onboarding, and service delivery.

   • Report on bid submission performance, review bidfeedback to continuously improve. 

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Detailed knowledge of the UK education sector. 

• Experience working in the education sector or with local authorities, particularly in roles involving SEND or children’s services.

• Proven track record in client relationship management, with experience in sales or partnership development roles.

• Strong communication skills, particularly in face-to-face and telephone interactions, with the ability to build rapport quickly and maintain long-lasting relationships.

• Experience managing a small team, providing leadership, direction, and support to ensure high-performance standards.

• High level of empathy and commitment to supporting vulnerable and underserved communities.

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet both short- and long-term deadlines effectively.

• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) for tracking client data, leads, and progress.

• Proactive, problem-solving mindset, able to address issues independently and provide client-focused solutions.

• Able to work in a high pressure environment, whilst taking initiative, we would want the postholder to ask for support when needed.

Desirable:

• Exceptional written communication skills, with proven confidence in drafting, editing, and refining persuasive content across a variety of formats.

• Experience in bid and tender writing or grant applications is advantageous, though a background in producing compelling written materials for diverse purposes is equally valued.

General
The job is subject to having the right to work in the UK, two professional references and a basic DBS check.

Why Equal Education?

• Competitive salary

• Investment in you - we believe in developing from within and offer our team training opportunities and personalised development plans, as well as the chance to get involved with lots of projects across the organisation.

• Flexible, hybrid work environment with regular opportunities for in-person client engagement.

• Working alongside a passionate team working to make a positive impact in the lives of under-resourced children and young people across the UK.

• Staff wellbeing benefits such as ClassPass membership, access to discounts via Perks at Work, eyecare vouchers, regular wellbeing sessions and team social events.

At Equal Education, you are the expert. We give you the space, the support and the technology to be your best. The rest is up to you.

Being you at Equal Education 

Every young person we support is unique and our team isn’t any different. Our differences are our strength when it comes to providing a tailored, human approach to education. We are proud of our people and provide an environment where everyone can bring their most authentic self to work. 

Our recruitment practices are carried out in line with equal opportunities and all candidates will be reviewed fairly regardless of age, gender reassignment, sex, race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic. 

Next steps

If you feel inspired and you think you have the right motivation and experience for the role, we would love to receive your application.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and interviews will be arranged accordingly. We reserve the right to close this application early, for example if we receive an unprecedented number of applications, so please apply promptly to ensure you are considered for this role.

The Sutton Trust is the UK’s leading social mobility charity. We believe every young person should have a fair chance in life, regardless of their family’s income, the school they go to or where they grow up. But today in Britain, the opportunity to succeed is heavily shaped by socio-economic background. Our mission is to change this. Our programmes empower young people to access life-changing opportunities, and our research influences national change to deliver a fairer future.

Each year, together with our university and employer partners, we support over 14,000 young people to reach their potential through our university, apprenticeship and career access programmes. And our support doesn’t stop there. We engage our thriving alumni community to help them to succeed in their professions and to act as advocates for social mobility.

Our rigorous and extensive research shines a light on barriers to opportunity from the early years to the workplace, and we strive to influence national policy change with evidence-based solutions to tackle educational and workplace inequality. Using insights from our programmes and research, we also test and scale new ideas in education and employment practice.

As an independent charity, our work is entirely reliant on the generous support of our community of donors. The need to support our work to tackle Britain’s low social mobility has never been greater.

Fundraising at the Sutton Trust

We are seeking a dynamic and confident fundraiser to be our Corporate Partnerships & Events Manager. The Sutton Trust is at an exciting point in our organisational journey, with a new Chairperson and ambitions to significantly grow our impact and fundraising as part of our 2030 strategy.

Over the past five years the impact of the Sutton Trust has increased, especially with our programmes which have gone from supporting 11,000 young people a year to 14,000 in the 24/25 programme year. We have secured a relatively stable income of c.£6m over several years, and in the last two years this has grown to £7m+. Our organisational strategy, which takes us to 2030/31, will continue this fundraising trajectory with a need to increase annual income on a sustained basis to £12m. With corporate income accounting for nearly half our fundraised income, there is considerable enthusiasm and opportunity in the corporate world for building strategic partnerships with The Sutton Trust.

Our fundraising approach will continue to focus on major gifts and strategic multi-year partnerships, leveraging a range of drivers to secure corporate support. Our highly engaged Chairperson has a commercial background and is keen to leverage contacts in the corporate world, giving a network of prospective contacts to explore.

The role and team

As Corporate Partnerships & Events Manager, you will be an experienced partnership manager and fundraiser, confident in securing new business through active prospecting and networking along with experience in securing and stewarding strategic partnerships with corporates and their associated corporate foundations. You will have an entrepreneurial mindset for income generation, able to confidently manage competing demands to balance securing new partnerships and delivering high quality account management to your portfolio of current and prospective supporters.

The role will lead a portfolio of corporate partnerships, focused on delivering shared strategic goals to increase social mobility in the workplace and supporting a more socio-economically diverse workforce for the future. The role will be the point-person within the Development Team for organisational events, working closely with key colleagues in our marketing & events and programme functions to support delivery of high-quality events. They will also take responsibility for delivering successful stewardship events, including programme visits. It will be crucial to work closely with a range of stakeholders, especially colleagues, to deliver successful stewardship events that showcase the varied work of the Sutton Trust and engage supporters with our work. This will include working closely with existing staff who lead on organisational, advocacy and programme events to ensure donors and prospects are able to attend and engage with the work.

Corporate partnerships are delivered by a talented and growing team, all with their own portfolios based on partnership level and complexity. Team members work on both new business and account management, with ambitious individual income targets.

Main duties
New Business

• Personally scope, develop and secure new five-figure+ corporate partnerships, aiming for a diverse and robust portfolio of partners with multi-year commitments, working with the Head of Corporate Partnerships, other senior staff, and senior volunteers appropriately to secure and steward.

• Proactively approach new business development within the corporate sector, cultivating relationships and networks to grow awareness of The Sutton Trust and secure major gifts.

• Support the Head of Corporate Partnerships in their work with senior volunteers to develop a strong prospect pipeline for major corporate gifts, including support for network mapping to leverage connections and cultivate prospective funders.

Events, Account Management and Development

• Manage and grow the Trust’s leadership and partner level corporate partnerships in your portfolio, including leveraging existing relationships to maximise financial income and partnership longevity.

• Appropriately leverage senior staff and volunteers to secure multi-lateral relationships with corporate partners and prospects, with the aim of retaining partnerships and uplifting income.

• Working closely with key colleagues to be the first point of contact for the Development team to support organisational events, and working with Development leadership to deliver diverse and engaging stewardship events.

• Working closely with key colleagues, support delivery of key donor messaging through Campaign Monitor or other platforms as appropriate, to align with the stewardship events goals of further engaging donors and prospects with the work of the Sutton Trust.

• Be accountable for achieving agreed corporate income targets, looking for opportunities to grow funding and diversify corporate income.

Fundraising, Finance and Reporting

• Act as an ambassador for the Trust with external audiences in the corporate space, representing the Trust with gravitas and confidence to secure major gifts and develop relationships.

• Work with colleagues across Development and Finance to ensure accurate forecasting, income tracking and reporting for your portfolio of corporate partnerships.

• Working closely with colleagues, provide corporate fundraising expertise to increase awareness of viable funding opportunities and develop organisational understanding of best practice for working with corporate partners and funders.

• Ensure you appropriately follow policies and procedures on due diligence, Salesforce and data management, account management, stewardship, and reporting.

• Stay up to date with corporate fundraising best practice, learning from senior members of the team, and keep abreast of developments and opportunities within the wider fundraising space.

• Other duties as necessary from time to time.

Person Specification

We welcome applications from individuals who have experience in:

• Experience in successfully securing, managing, and developing corporate partnerships at five-figures-plus level, from initial prospect research to contracting and ongoing stewardship.

• Experience successfully securing and/or managing corporate-charity partnerships, including engaging senior leadership on both sides to deliver strategic goals and mutual benefit.

• Experience network mapping and networking to build and manage relationships that lead to corporate donations to non-profits, particularly with senior non-profit volunteers.

• Experience planning and delivering events that provide high-quality stewardship to donors and prospects, engaging them with the work of a non-profit and promoting strong relationships.

• Experience managing events with an organised and clear project management approach, including influencing and working with a variety of stakeholders internally and externally.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including networking at C-suite and senior management level and strong presentation skills, with the ability to prepare and deliver engaging and persuasive cases for support.

• First-class interpersonal skills - a natural ambassador able to represent the Sutton Trust with gravitas and confidence in a range of settings, especially the corporate world and with senior leaders.

• Knowledge and experience of the education and/or not-for-profit sector.

• Knowledge of the UK fundraising environment, including corporate fundraising trends and regulations that affect corporate partnerships.

• Experienced at using Salesforce or other fundraising CRM software to accurately record funding relationships.

We are also looking for an individual who:

• Sympathetic to the aims of the Trust and our mission to increase social mobility.

• High degree of initiative and the ability to take responsibility for corporate fundraising activity.

• Dynamic and entrepreneurial fundraiser, with a passion for personally engaging supporters.

• Able to think strategically about the bigger picture and manage hands-on fundraising.

• Proven ability to influence stakeholders at all levels and encourage giving.

• Excellent attention to detail with strong analytical skills.

• Able to work independently and as part of a team

• Is eligible to work in the UK (see here for information about right to work)

Terms of Appointment

• Contract: Full time, Permanent

• Salary: £42,025-£46,000

• Working location: Minimum of two office days per week. Our home working policy gives staff the option to work from home for up to 60% of the time, with approval from their line manager.

• Office location: The Sutton Trust, 9th Floor, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP.

• Hours: The standard working hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. This role is likely to also be required to attend events / meetings outside of normal working hours during weekday evenings and occasionally at weekends, in line with organisational policies.

Interviews

Applications should reach us by 10am, Monday 25th May, with first round interviews held on Tuesday, 4th June, and second round interviews held on Wednesday, 10th June. Both rounds will be held in our London office.

Safeguarding statement

The Sutton Trust believes that a child, young person or vulnerable adult should never experience abuse of any kind. We all have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. Therefore all posts undergo a safer recruitment process, including but not limited to, disclosure of criminal records where necessary and eligibility to work in the UK. We have procedures in place to promote safeguarding and a safe culture at the Trust.

Contextual recruitment

The Trust is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity and that all applicants receive equal consideration for employment. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds, including those underrepresented at present at the Trust, to apply for this role. As such we particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities, Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds. We are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming place to work and know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the young people we support.

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates throughout our recruitment process and during employment.

We also operate contextual recruitment at the Sutton Trust. Our application process gives you the option to include information about your background, such as whether you were eligible for free school meals, whether your parents went to university, or whether you attended a state school. For more examples and information on contextual recruitment, please see our website.

About The Connection at St Martin’s

We believe that no one should have to sleep rough on London’s streets, and that everyone should get the support they need to find a place to call home. We get to know every person we work with, understanding what they need to recover, helping them build on their strengths, and supporting them to find their own way home. Help us make London a city where no one sleeps rough on our streets.

London’s diversity is its biggest asset and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London’s diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from candidates with lived experience of homelessness who we believe are an essential asset in our sector.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome the opportunity to consider flexible working arrangements.

About the Role

The Corporate Partnerships Manager sits within an ambitious and forward-thinking Fundraising & Communications team at an exciting point of growth, as we develop. This is a pivotal role for someone who is motivated not only by stewarding and deepening existing partnerships, but by actively driving new business and unlocking fresh opportunities for impact.

Based in Westminster, at the heart of power and industry, we are uniquely positioned to connect with businesses and organisations whose employees encounter the reality of homelessness every day—on their commute, on their lunch break, and on the streets around them. This role offers a powerful opportunity to inspire those organisations to take action, providing meaningful ways for them to respond to an issue that is visible on all our doorsteps.

We are looking for a dynamic and strategic relationship-builder who can both nurture a strong portfolio of current corporate supporters and proactively identify, secure, and grow new partnerships aligned with our mission. The successful candidate will play a central role in shaping and expanding our Corporate Partnerships function, with significant scope to influence direction, test new ideas, and deliver meaningful income growth.

This role will suit someone ambitious, creative, and results-driven—someone who thrives on developing compelling propositions, spotting opportunities, and turning them into long-term, high-value partnerships. You will bring a strong track record in corporate fundraising or partnerships, alongside a solutions-focused mindset and the confidence to translate sector best practice into tangible results. And you’ll be passionate about creating partnerships that deliver real social impact.

Salary: £44,181 - £50,461 (Scale Points 29-35)
Closing Date: Sunday 10th May
Interview Date: Tuesday 19th May

Our Benefits

· 30 days holiday plus bank holidays

· Generous training budget, plus an annual personal training budget

· Enhanced Sick Pay Policy

· Enhanced family friendly policies

· Day off for moving house

· Hybrid working (depending on role requirements)

· Pension – 5% Employer, 3% Employee

· Cycle to Work Scheme

· Season Ticket Loan

· Employee Assistance Programme

· Reward Gateway (access to discount vouchers and cashback at the UK’s favourite retailers)

We are a London Living Wage employer

Do you have proven experience of working in an advice related environment, where there has been a focus on financial and housing issues, plus a real desire to help improve people’s financial health? Then join Shelter as a Senior Partnerships Manager and you could soon be responsible for managing our innovative Breaking the Cycle programme.

About Breaking the Cycle

Breaking the Cycle is an innovative access-to-banking programme led by Shelter, designed to help people with no fixed address take a vital step out of homelessness by gaining access to basic banking services. Delivered in partnership with HSBC UK and a nationwide network of charities and local organisations, the programme supports vulnerable individuals—including those experiencing rough sleeping, seeking asylum, or escaping domestic abuse—to become financially included. Recognised by HM Treasury as a key initiative within its 2025 Financial Inclusion Strategy, Breaking the Cycle is now expanding through a 12-month pilot with five major high street banks, alongside UK Finance, representing over 300 firms across the sector.

About the role

The Senior Partnerships Manager will lead and shape the expansion of the Breaking the Cycle programme at Shelter, providing strategic direction and overseeing relationships with key financial institutions including HSBC UK, Barclays, Santander UK, Nationwide Building Society, Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest Group. Responsible for delivering a high-profile expansion pilot in collaboration with UK Finance and HM Treasury, the role combines senior stakeholder management with programme leadership—driving growth, managing risk, and ensuring strong governance and safeguarding. 

Leading a team of Partnership Executives, the postholder will oversee onboarding of new partners, refine processes, negotiate complex agreements, and ensure effective delivery across a diverse charity network. They will also play a key role in promoting the programme through campaigns and external engagement, while delivering robust reporting, identifying future growth opportunities—including digital expansion—and securing long-term investment and impact.

About you

We’re looking for a confident and collaborative professional with proven experience managing complex, multi-partner programmes or projects across diverse organisations. You’ll bring a strong understanding of financial inclusion or similar initiatives, with the ability to engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders—from senior leaders to frontline delivery teams. 

Comfortable presenting both in-person and online, you’ll also have experience chairing steering groups and driving alignment across partners. You’ll be a team player who works effectively with internal colleagues to deliver wider organisational goals, and you’ll be confident using a range of IT tools, including Microsoft Office and reporting systems, to manage, track and communicate impact.

Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

How to apply 

Please click ‘Apply for Job’ below. You are required to submit your work history and a supporting statement. Please provide specific examples of how you meet the criteria in the 'About you' section of this advert, following the STAR format, and ensure you demonstrate how you address the behaviours below throughout your responses:

• We work together to achieve our shared purpose
• We prioritise diversity and have an inclusive and open mindset

Any applications submitted without a supporting statement will not be considered.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Prospectus is excited to be partnering with our client in the search for a permanent Corporate Partnerships and Events Manager.

The organisation is a charity committed to improving social mobility in the UK. Their work is focused on improving social mobility through education opportunities. Their mission is to level the playing field for young people from low-income backgrounds so that they have a fair chance of accessing leading universities, apprenticeships, and jobs. With a three-pronged approach including programmes, research, and policy advocacy, the organisation supports nearly 12,000 young people each year and they have been able to work towards keeping social mobility high in the political agenda.

The Corporate Partnerships and Events Manager will be an experienced partnership manager and fundraiser, confident in securing new business through active prospecting and networking along with experience in securing and stewarding strategic partnerships with corporates and their associated corporate foundations. This role will lead a portfolio of corporate partnerships, focused on delivering shared strategic goals to increase social mobility in the workplace. Reporting to the Head of Corporate Partnerships, the postholder will work on both new business and account management with ambitious individual income targets.

The selected candidate will have experience in securing, managing, and developing corporate partnerships at five-figures-plus level, from initial prospect research to contracting and ongoing stewardship. You will have experience securing and or managing corporate-charity partnerships, including engaging senior leadership. Ideally, the postholder will have experience planning and delivering events that provide high quality stewardship to donors and prospects with a clear project management approach.

This role is a full-time permanent position that will have hybrid working in the London offices for at least two days per week. The salary for this role is £42,025 to £46,000.  

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds. Please let us know if we can help you with the application process in any way. We are more than happy to make any reasonable adjustments to enable all interested candidates to apply. If you have any disability and would like assistance with completing an application then please contact Ryan Burdock at Prospectus.

If you are interested in applying to this Corporate Partnerships and Events Manager position, please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will send you the full job description and will arrange for a call and/or meeting to brief you on the role. You’ll then have all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon.
 

Job description

Role: Partnerships and Programme Development Manager

Directorate: External Affairs

Team: Corporate Partnerships

Manager: Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager

Direct reports: N/A

Role purpose

This role supports the development of WorldSkills UK’s income and partnership activity by turning programmes and ideas into clear, compelling funding opportunities. You will work across teams to develop proposals, manage partnerships, and support reporting and planning processes that contribute to long-term financial sustainability.

You will play a key role in strengthening how we plan, communicate and deliver partnership activity, helping to build strong relationships with funders and partners while improving internal systems and processes.

Key tasks and responsibilities

Partnership and project delivery

· Manage delivery of partnerships and events, ensuring they are well planned, on time and within budget

· Support management of key strategic partner relationships

· Coordinate teams and stakeholders to deliver partnership activities

· Ensure partnerships align with WorldSkills UK’s strategic priorities and equity, diversity and inclusion commitments

Income development and proposals

· Develop funding opportunities from programmes and organisational activities

· Produce high-quality proposals, presentations and funding applications

· Support applications to trusts, foundations and corporate partners

· Contribute to the development of partnership agreements and documentation

Reporting and planning

· Support delivery of income and fundraising plans through regular monitoring and reporting

· Track progress against agreed objectives and provide clear updates and analysis

· Contribute to income forecasting and financial tracking, working with colleagues in Finance and across the organisation

· Support the development and reporting of project plans (Project Initiation Documents) and associated performance measures

Systems, processes and knowledge management

· Use and help improve our CRM system (HubSpot) to manage relationships and track opportunities

· Maintain accurate records, documentation and reporting systems to support partnership activity

· Identify opportunities to improve ways of working and streamline processes across the team

Research and pipeline development

· Carry out research to identify potential partners, funding opportunities and sector trends

· Support the development of a strong and diverse pipeline of prospective partners

· Contribute to internal decision-making by providing relevant insights and analysis

General

In addition to the key tasks and responsibilities set out above, employees at this level are expected to:

· Produce specification requirements in line with procurement processes for outsourced activity

· Contribute to organisational risk and issues management processes.

· Support delivery of WorldSkills UK’s strategic priorities and annual business plan

· Ensure resources (staff, suppliers, partners, volunteers) are managed efficiently and effectively

· Contribute to a performance‑driven culture with robust monitoring, evaluation and reporting

· Demonstrate WorldSkills UK’s values in all aspects of the role, contributing to a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing organisational culture

· Promote and comply with WorldSkills UK’s policies, including safeguarding, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion

· Carry out any other duty as may be reasonably assigned that is consistent with the nature of the role and its level of responsibility. Any significant changes will be made in consultation with the post holder taking account of their experience, skills and capability

We're looking for an organised, proactive and resilient Partnership Development Manager to join our New Business Team located at our Head Office in Islington.

£35,000.00 per annum, working 35 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

This postholder will play a vital role as Look Ahead works to maintain and gain service contracts aligned to our ambitious Business Development Strategy and business plan. We are looking for a dynamic individual who can work closely with operational colleagues and other teams to support every part of the business development process including partnership building, strategic positioning, service design and bid writing and management.

The shift pattern for this role is as follows: M7,T7,W7,T7,F7

Salary range of £35,000-75,000 depending on experience.

What you'll do:
Summary of Responsibilities
- Relationship Management: Building relationships with commissioners and stakeholders in supported accommodation and health in a dedicated geographic area covering all of our client groups - learning disabilities, mental health, homelessness, young people
- Commercial Business Partnering: Work with operational colleagues in designated patch to support the end-to-end business development process including contract extensions and renegotiations.
- Tender Management: Monitoring, managing, and drafting high- quality submissions, for Local Authority and Health Trusts, frameworks and Dynamic Purchasing Systems, focusing primarily on own patch but contributing to and supporting tender exercises coordinated by other members of the business development team as required.
- Strategic Positioning: Analysing evaluation criteria and advising on bid competitiveness and commercial strategies, including presenting proposed models and contract prices at internal risk panels to gain Senior Leadership approval

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
- A genuine interest in housing and social care and a commitment to Look Ahead's mission
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills, particularly in terms of working under pressure and responding to multiple and competing demands on your time
- Imaginative and resourceful - able to contribute to the development of new ideas for services
- Good interpersonal skills with the ability to work well with internal and external contacts

What you'll bring:
Essential:
- Eligible to live and work in the UK
- Educated to degree level or equivalent work experience
- Extensive business development, fundraising or sales experience
- Experience of bid writing

Desirable:
- A qualification in social care/psychology/policy would be an advantage

About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for full Job description

About us

Every day, SOHK transforms lives. We work with young people at risk of exclusion and disengagement from education, empowering them to break cycles of disadvantage and realise their potential. Through a combination of rugby and social and emotional learning, we help participants develop the confidence, skills, and resilience they need to succeed in life and education.

We plan to double the number of young people engaging with our programmes over the next five years. We are also making significant investments in our impact function, to better understand how we can maximise the benefits for participants and attract more attention and investment to social and emotional learning (SEL) interventions.

Job Overview

We are seeking a dynamic and driven Events & Corporate Partnerships Manager to play a key role in delivering our fundraising ambitions across England and Wales. This is a varied and hands-on role, combining strategic relationship-building with high-quality event delivery to generate income and deepen supporter engagement.

The Events & Corporate Partnerships Manager will take ownership of a portfolio of major fundraising events, from planning and budgeting through to delivery and follow-up. This includes developing the annual events strategy, managing income and expenditure, supporting ticket and table sales, sourcing prizes, and ensuring an exceptional supporter experience throughout.

Working closely with the Head of Fundraising, they will build and convert a pipeline of corporate partners, developing compelling proposals and securing new partnerships to meet income targets. They will also lead on the stewardship of these relationships, delivering tailored engagement plans that demonstrate impact and maximise retention.

Alongside delivery, the Events & Corporate Partnerships Manager will monitor performance, manage budgets, and maintain accurate reporting and CRM data, working collaboratively with Fundraising and Marketing colleagues to maximise results.

Key Responsibilities

Major SOHK Events

• Events Lead: Take full ownership of the SOHK organised major events in England, Scotland and Wales.
• Develop and deliver an annual events strategy & Calendar that is aligned with FRT targets
• Set and manage event budgets, income targets and KPIs
• Ensure exceptional supporter experience at all touch points.
• Source high value auction and raffle prizes
• Work closely with FRT to sell tables & tickets at events.
• Ensure prize donors, table buyers and supporters have a great experience of SOHK – feeling thanked and appreciated.
• Plan thoroughly for post event stewardship and follow up

Corporate Partnerships (working with Head of Fundraising)

• Build a pipeline of potential corporate partners and continually seek to add to pipeline as needed
• Research and make high quality approaches
• Confidently write winning pitches and present at meetings
• Secure new partnerships to achieve income targets
• Stewardship: Act as the main point of contact for partnerships that are allocated to you; nurturing and strengthening the relationships
• Develop and implement tailored cultivation and stewardship plans to enhance partner engagement and retention
• Demonstrate the impact of partner contributions to maximise retention (alongside our Marketing & Comms Team)

Reporting, Monitoring & Budgeting

• Report as required on all activity and progress to the Head of Fundraising
• Monitor and manage expenditure related to fundraising activities – managing P&L sheet
• Ensure data capture for CRM (Beacon) from all events

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Proven experience in event management, including planning, delivery, and evaluation of fundraising or engagement events
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple events and competing priorities
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
• Experience working with a wide range of stakeholders, including donors, sponsors, volunteers, and suppliers
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to represent the organisation professionally
• Experience managing event budgets and delivering activity within financial targets
• Ability to problem-solve and adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment
• Understanding of the role events play in fundraising, supporter engagement, and awareness-building
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with event or CRM systems
• Willingness to travel and work occasional evenings/weekends as required
• Genuinely buy into the SOHK mission, purpose and values

Desirable

• Experience supporting or delivering corporate partnerships, sponsorships, or donor engagement initiatives
• Knowledge of fundraising principles and income generation through events
• Experience working in the charity or not-for-profit sector
• Ability to identify and develop partnership opportunities that align with organisational values
• Experience with volunteer coordination and stewardship
• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce, Raiser's Edge)
• Understanding of marketing and communications to support event promotion and partner visibility
• Awareness of compliance, safeguarding, and ethical considerations within a charity setting
•  

Terms of Appointment

• Salary range: £37,000 - £40,000
• Full-time
• 28 days annual leave entitlement plus public holidays.
• South East England (based). This role requires weekly travel to London, with occasional travel to other locations across the UK.
• Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required for successful candidates and the job is dependent on suitable references.

How to Apply

Please send a current CV and a cover letter no longer than two sides of A4. Please express why you think you could do this job for School Of Hard Knocks (SOHK). 

School Of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is an inclusive charity committed to broadening the diversity of our organisation and is keen to attract people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Applications close at 10pm on Sunday 17th May. In-person interviews will be held in London on 21st and 22nd May.

Thank you for your interest in Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity. Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity launched in April 2019 with one clear vision, that homelessness has no place here in Greater Manchester. As one of the founding funders of A Bed Every Night, we have been at the forefront of efforts to reduce rough sleeping in the city region. Since our launch, our grant making has evolved to complement this emergency response through two additional priority areas: Places and Spaces, and Targeted Prevention.

But as the challenges develop, so does our response. Our next step is to support organisations and initiatives working with communities – as well as individuals – to turbocharge progress towards a city-region where everyone has a safe, genuinely affordable place to call home and everyone can flourish and thrive.

In collaboration with the VCFSE sector of Greater Manchester, 10GM, the GMCA and NHS GM, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity are powering the Live Well Communities Fund and helping the partners to grow the success of the first year of this programme.

The Partnership & Engagement Officer will play a central role in this new collaboration, driving forward engagement with VCFSE partners deploying the fund and delivering funded activities whilst also growing partnerships and identifying opportunities to grow the fund itself.

Spanning fundraising and engagement, this is an exciting opportunity at the heart of an innovative new stage for Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity and the city region. If you are ready to take the next steps in your career, growing and developing in a fast-paced, high-profile charity and working alongside a small but committed team dedicated to addressing homelessness in Greater Manchester, then we look forward to receiving your application!

The Role

We are looking for a highly organised, confident individual who is excited working in a fast-paced, high-profile environment and passionate about addressing homelessness and empowering communities in and across Greater Manchester.

You will play a crucial role in growing the Live Well Communities Fund. This will include building relationships to identify and maximise funding opportunities, working with our Communications and Content Executive and the Live Well Communities Fund partner organisations to share learnings and impact from funded activities, and providing administrative support to ensure the smooth running of this project alongside our Office Lead.

You will be comfortable working flexibly within a small team, as well as engaging and networking with people and organisations across the public, private and VCFSE sector.  You will have excellent written and verbal communication skills and be committed to our vision: a Greater Manchester where everyone has a safe, secure and genuinely affordable place to call home, and is able to flourish and thrive in a strong, resilient community.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking for a role in a dynamic and growing organisation with real social impact.

The Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity values diversity. Dedicated to cultivating and upholding a culture of inclusion, we are committed to equal opportunity and anti-discrimination practices and full members of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter.

We seek diversity in our applicants and are particularly interested in attracting applications from candidates from historically marginalised groups and people under-represented in the Charity sector.

Build partnerships that change young lives!

Wigan Youth Zone is looking for a Corporate Partnerships Manager to build meaningful relationships with businesses that want to make a real difference in their local community.

Salary: £32,000 per annum
Hours: Full-time (with some flexibility considered)
Location: Wigan Youth Zone

Benefits include:

• 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays), plus more with service
• Your birthday off
• Gym access
• Training and development opportunities
• Employee assistance programme and pension
• Discounted holiday club access for staff

About the Youth Zone:

Wigan Youth Zone gives young people somewhere safe to go, something positive to do, and someone trusted to talk to. As a vibrant, purpose-built facility supporting young people aged 8-19 (up to 25 with additional needs), it plays a vital role in the life of the borough. This role helps that impact continue and grow by connecting local businesses with a cause that really matters.

The opportunity:

Working closely with the Head of Fundraising, senior leaders, and trustees, you'll lead on securing and growing significant corporate partnerships, generating £75,000+ per year, with ambition to increase this to £100,000+ over time.

What you'll do:

• Build new, long-term corporate partnerships
• Develop compelling partnership ideas and proposals
• Steward and grow existing supporter relationships
• Identify opportunities for collaboration and engagement
• Represent Wigan Youth Zone across the local business community

This is a hands-on role with real scope to shape your approach and clearly see the impact of your work.

Who this role could suit:

We are look for an extremely pro-active relationship developer.

You might come from community fundraising, corporate partnerships, business development, sales, marketing, communications, or another relationship-led income role.

What matters most is your ability to build trust, communicate impact, and turn relationships into sustainable support. Strong transferable skills such as influencing, persuasive writing, stakeholder management, and strategic thinking are highly valued.

Local knowledge of Wigan and existing networks are a real advantage.

How to Apply:

Please send a copy of your profile or CV to Priya Vencatasawmy as a first step.
If your experience matches what we're looking for, we'll be in touch with further information on how to make your formal application.

Deadline: 13^th May at 9am

Interviews: W/C 1^st of June

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with

Salary: £43,000 - £48,000
Contract: Permanent, Full-time (35 hours/week) - open to 0.8 FTE
Location: London hybrid - 1-2 days/week in Old Street
Closing date: Thursday 9 April
Benefits: 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays, flexible working, volunteering days, competitive pension scheme, salary-sacrifice options.

We are delighted to be supporting a brilliant charity to find their next Senior New Partnerships Manager. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a high-performing corporate partnerships team who are constantly pushing boundaries and reimagining what corporate collaborations can look like.

As Senior New Partnerships Manager, you will lead on cultivating, pitching, and winning transformational partnerships. You’ll build relationships with major brands, shape innovative propositions, and drive new income through exceptional prospecting, strategic thinking, and the kind of bold creativity this team is known for.

This is an exciting opportunity to be truly imaginative in your approach to pipeline development and prospect cultivation – crafting standout pitches, exploring new markets, and bringing fresh ideas into a team that thrives on originality.

• A proven track record of securing high-value corporate partnerships, including six- and seven-figure wins
• Experience proactively developing a strong, strategically aligned pipeline
• Excellent relationship-building and influencing skills
• Ability to design and deliver engaging, tailored proposals and presentations

If you would like to discuss this role with us please contact us and quote the reference 2920HB.

Ashby Jenkins Recruitment are a specialist charity recruitment agency, we use our extensive sector knowledge and experience to match candidates to the most suitable charity jobs. We are passionate about improving equality across the sector, you can read more about our commitment to diversity on our website.

We take a relationship-led approach to recruitment in the charity sector and partner with you as the leading charity recruitment agency.

If enough applications are received the charity reserve the right to end the application period sooner.

This is an exciting home-based role where your work can really have an impact and help transform lives. The role is crucial to Ufi’s ambition to help more people get the skills they need for work by making sure Ufi’s grant giving activities and partnerships are brilliantly supported. Working closely with the Associate Director of Grants you will become part of the engine of our grant funding activity. You will be an integral part of a fast-paced team with a growing national profile and reputation for expertise and excellence in delivery. 

We are looking for candidates with a real passion for working in an organisation that has a positive impact on people’s lives, with experience of building strong collaborative working relationships with partners at all levels, with excellent organisational and project management skills, and a good eye for detail and problem-solving. You'll also be able to work flexibly and effectively as part of a small team and develop productive working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. Most importantly - you will be eager to learn and able to work in an agile team. Ufi VocTech Trust has a vibrant working environment, and we welcome diversity of thought and perspective to help create exciting and innovative projects, ventures investments and partnerships.

JOB TITLE: Northern Partnership & Dog Training Manger

LOCATION:                         Northern Region (Including Scotland, Northern England and parts of the Midlands)

SALARY: £37,000 - £45,000 p/a

JOB TYPE: Permanent, Full-Time and Part-Time applications considered

Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to save lives.

We train specialist dogs to detect the odour of human disease, providing life-saving Medical Alert Assistance Dogs to people with complex health problems across the UK and collaborating with NHS Trusts and other researchers and Universities both in the UK and internationally to advance the early diagnosis of disease.  We have an exciting new opportunity to join this small, but ambitious charity that is a world leader in its specialist, innovative field.

MAIN PURPOSE & SCOPE OF THE ROLE:

The Northern Partnership & Training Manager is responsible for the operational leadership, coordination and quality assurance of Partnership and Dog Training Instructor roles operating within the Northern region.

Partnership and Dog Training Instructor roles within the Medical Alert Assistance Dog department combine elements of dog training, client instructing, partnership placement and aftercare, depending on programme need. This role provides direct line management and oversight of Northern region staff working in these hybrid capacities.

The postholder ensures consistent, high‑quality delivery of MAAD partnerships, working collaboratively with training, welfare and senior management colleagues to support dog progression, client outcomes and compliance with ADUK and ADI standards.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

Provide operational leadership for Northern region Partnership and Dog Training Instructor roles, ensuring staff who work across training, instructing and partnership delivery are effectively supported, coordinated and developed.

You will act as the regional lead for instructor‑delivered partnership work, maintaining oversight of workloads, partnership progression, accreditation readiness and aftercare delivery, while contributing to continuous service improvement under senior management guidance.

Reports to: Interim Head of Partnership Services

ABOUT THE ROLE

You will oversee and coordinate the Northern Medical Alert Assistance Dog function, managing staff in Partnership and Dog Training Instructor roles who support MAAD partnerships from allocation through placement and ongoing aftercare.

You will provide clear leadership, supervision and quality assurance, ensuring consistent delivery standards, balanced workloads and clarity of expectations for staff whose roles span multiple functions.

You will maintain oversight of partnership pipelines, regional capacity and accreditation timelines, ensuring accurate reporting and timely escalation of risks or concerns.

This is a senior operational role requiring strong people management, excellent dog training and instructing expertise, and a calm, organised approach to managing complex client‑facing services.

Responsibilities of the Role

Hybrid Role Leadership & Management (Northern Region)

• Line manage and support Northern region‑based Partnership and Dog Training Instructor roles
• Conduct regular 1:1s, supervision and appraisals
• Chair Northern regional team meetings and provide updates to the Interim Head of Assistance Dog Programme
• Approve annual leave and expenses, ensuring appropriate regional cover
• Support senior Partnership and Dog Training Instructor staff in mentoring or supporting less experienced colleagues
• Ensure staff adhere to departmental standards, methods and policies

Partnerships, Training & Client Delivery

• Oversee the progression of puppies within the Northern region and where required, carry out relevant assessments 
• Oversee the progression of MAAD partnerships across training, placement and aftercare within the Northern region
• Ensure client learning styles, family dynamics and individual needs are identified and supported
• Support or directly deliver Partnership and Dog Training Instructor role activity where required, including: Scent and odour training, Client‑specific training, Placement training, Aftercare and refresher support
• Maintain oversight of partnerships requiring remedial training or additional intervention
• Carry out or support final accreditation assessments where appropriate
• Ensure qualified partnerships continue to meet ADUK standards

Planning, Oversight & Reporting

• Maintain oversight of Northern region partnership activity, including: Applicants, Dogs approaching match, Partnerships in training, Accredited partnerships receiving aftercare
• Escalate risks, delays or welfare concerns to the ADPM with recommended solutions
• Contribute to departmental reports and inspection readiness

Governance, Welfare & Compliance

• Ensure all Partnership and Dog Training Instructor role activity complies with ADUK and ADI regulations
• Liaise with the Health & Welfare Manager regarding health or welfare concerns
• Support rehoming outcomes for withdrawn dogs in conjunction with relevant teams
• Ensure accurate and timely record‑keeping within the Harlequin CRM system
• Occasional handling of the emergency phone, liaising with clients and volunteers to manage emergency situations

Stakeholder & Cross‑Departmental Working

• To ensure volunteers and Dog training contractors based within the Northern region are well supported by regional staff.
• Act as the primary Northern region contact for partnership‑related matters
• Work closely with Applications and Welfare teams
• Support fundraising, communications and volunteering activities when required
• Promote best practice and learning across the charity

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Experience & Qualifications

Essential

• Minimum 2years’ experience managing or leading staff in the Assistance Dog roles within an ADUK‑affiliated organisation
• Extensive experience delivering assistance dog partnerships, including training, placement and aftercarProven experience mentoring, supporting and performance‑managing staff
• Sound knowledge of ADUK and ADI regulations
• Strong organisational and caseload‑management abilities
• Confident working independently and managing competing priorities
• Comfortable working in the presence of dogs

Desirable

• Experience working with medical alert assistance dogs
• Knowledge of medical conditions affecting adult and child clients
• Experience supporting accreditation reviews or inspection processes

Knowledge & Skills

DESIRABLE

• Strong practical dog handling, scent training and knowledge of dog behaviour and development
• Excellent coaching, assessment and quality‑assurance skills
• Calm, clear and empathetic communication style
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to exercise sound judgement in complex, client‑facing situations
• High level of IT literacy including Microsoft 365 and CRM systems

Other Requirements

• Full UK driving licence
• Willingness and ability to travel across the Northern region
• Willingness to stay away from home and have dogs reside in the home when required

DIVERITY, EQUALITY & INCLUSION

We are a welcoming, diverse and inclusive charity. Medical Detection Dogs thrives when everyone feels comfortable bringing their best self to work. We celebrate difference, whilst striving to create an environment where colleagues feel respected and valued for their unique potential. We are committed to our values on equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Values & Behaviours

Working at Medical Detection Dogs will be a richly rewarding experience.

Our Values & Behaviours encapsulate who we are, what we stand for and what it will feel like to be part of our team:

• We are respectful
• We stay positive
• We strive for excellence
• We communicate and listen
• We are ambassadors
• We are one team

And of course, we advocate for Medical Detection Dogs whenever we get the chance, and we pride ourselves on our role as ambassadors for the charity.

Key information

Location: Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham, or London

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full time)

Start date: ASAP (we are happy to work with notice periods)

Duration: Permanent

Salary: £41,905 - £45,090 per annum if based in London. £39,255 - £42,440 per annum if based in Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle or Nottingham, plus a £312 yearly tax-free work from home allowance.

Application deadline: Monday 11th May 2026

This application process will consist of 3 stages: Written application, Telephone interview and Assessment Centre (interview & presentation).

Role Summary

As a Senior Partnerships Manager at upReach, you will play a strategic leadership role in shaping the growth, quality, and impact of our partnerships at upReach.

Reporting to the Head of Partnerships within the Income Generation and External Engagement team, you will take strategic ownership of a portfolio of high-value partnerships (5, 6, and 7-figure) within the Tech and STEM sectors, alongside building crucial new partnerships in the sector. Moreover, you will have responsibility for delegated projects that strengthen our partnership strategy and visibility, you will line-manage members of the partnerships team, providing coaching, direction, and support to ensure the team consistently delivers high standards of stewardship, innovation, and income generation.

You’ll act as a senior representative of upReach, cultivating relationships with high-level external stakeholders, championing collaboration across internal teams and identifying new opportunities to raise the visibility and influence of upReach to help drive our mission.

Core Responsibilities

You will play a critical leadership role in advancing upReach’s mission by shaping and scaling high-impact, income-generating partnerships with top employers committed to social mobility. You will lead on delegated strategy projects, mentor and manage members of the partnerships team, and play a key role in upReach’s organisational growth and influence.

Your work will directly support the charity’s strategic partnership priorities: driving sustainable income growth, enhancing partnership impact, and increasing our brand visibility. This role offers scope to lead complex partnerships, influence internal strategy, and champion innovation in partnership delivery. While not exhaustive, your key areas of responsibility include:

Leadership of Employer Partnerships

• Lead the strategic management and growth of a portfolio of high-value, multi-year partnerships in Tech and STEM, ensuring strong alignment with upReach’s mission and priorities.

• Oversee the quality and consistency of partnership engagement across the team, including partnership health reviews, ensuring best-in-class stewardship and measurable partner outcomes aligned with the Partnerships team's OKRs.

• Identify opportunities to deepen relationships, co-create new initiatives, and embed partners in long-term collaboration with upReach.

• Working closely with upReach’s Programme teams to ensure partnerships and programmes are delivered to a high standard.

Develop and Secure New Partnerships

• Proactively identify, cultivate, and convert a pipeline of four-seven figure prospective partnerships aligned with upReach’s mission and strategic goals.

• Lead high-quality prospecting and relationship-building activity, targeting income-generating partnerships that also deliver high-impact opportunities for Associates.

• Build strong relationships with key contacts at potential partners, including senior stakeholders within your sectors, through regular in-person and virtual meetings.

• Deliver compelling, insight-driven proposals and presentations tailored to organisational priorities and demonstrating mutual value.

Strategic Development

• Support the Head of Partnerships in setting partnership strategy and income targets, and contribute to organisational planning and forecasting.

• Analyse market trends to identify emerging opportunities and inform the evolution of upReach’s partnership offer.

• Contribute to the design and implementation of new strategic initiatives that enhance income diversification and partnership sustainability.

• Work cross-functionally to ensure partnership activity is evidence-led, data-informed, and aligned to organisational objectives.

Management within the Partnerships Team

• Line manage a Junior Partnerships Manager, supporting their professional development and building team capabilities.

• Provide leadership and guidance in managing complex partnerships, offer escalation support, and ensure strategic consistency.

• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture that values innovation, accountability, and shared success.

• Champion continuous improvement across the team, ensuring processes, tools, and resources support efficiency and growth.

Stakeholder Representation and Engagement

• Deputise, where required, for the Head of Partnerships as a senior representative of upReach at external meetings, conferences, and industry events, building influence and credibility across the social mobility landscape.

• Develop relationships with senior external stakeholders, including executive sponsors, industry leaders, and cross-sector collaborators.

• Serve as an ambassador for upReach’s mission, promoting our partnership approach and outcomes to new and existing audiences.

• Use insight from partner feedback to inform organisational strategy and continuous improvement.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Innovation

• Collaborate with Programme, Finance, Marketing, and Impact teams to ensure partnership activities are well-integrated, efficient, and mission-aligned.

• Support the continuous improvement of internal systems (CRM, contracting, invoicing, and reporting) to enable effective delivery and forecasting.

• Partner with Marketing & Communications to design and deliver strategic campaigns, thought leadership, and storytelling that elevate upReach’s employer partnerships nationally.

• Lead or contribute to cross-organisational projects that enhance income generation, innovation, or partnership experience.

• Uphold upReach’s legal, ethical, and data protection responsibilities in all partnership activity.

Skills and Experience

• The ideal candidate for the Senior Partnerships Manager should display these behavioural skills:

• Exceptional organisational and project management skills, with the ability to lead complex projects and manage multiple strategic priorities autonomously.

• Confident and pragmatic decision-maker who exercises sound judgment and provides strategic direction in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience leading employer engagement, account management, new business development, or fundraising activity within a purpose-driven, education, or social mobility context.

• Proven ability to design and deliver partnership growth strategies that deepen engagement, generate mutual value, and contribute to organisational goals.

• Skilled communicator and influencer, capable of articulating complex ideas clearly and persuasively through written reports, presentations, and external representation.

• Collaborative leader with experience guiding and supporting colleagues across teams and functions to deliver shared objectives and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

• Proficient in using CRM or data management systems to oversee pipelines, generate insights, and inform strategic decision-making.

Desirable

• Strong understanding of ED&I, CSR, or early careers recruitment priorities and how they inform partnership strategy.
• Experience collaborating with marketing and communications teams to create strategic campaigns or content that enhances employer visibility and engagement.
• Experience in management or mentoring others to develop partnership capability and performance.

Team Culture & Benefits: 

We offer: 

• Flexible and hybrid working.

• Statutory Holiday Entitlement of 25 days and bank holidays. This increases to 2 additional days after 2.5 years and then to 3 additional days after 5 years of working with us. 

• Birthday leave and Volunteering leave

• Enhanced Parental Leave beyond statutory requirements for all team members. 

• 3% Pension Contribution, which increased to 5% after 5 years of working with us. 

• Cycle-to-work scheme.

• Monthly socials and annual wellbeing days

• Dedication to Staff Wellbeing through our Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health First Aid Training. 

• Personal Development Budget, activated after 6 months in the role.

• The opportunity to participate in our fantastic staff networks: 

  • Disability and Inclusion Network

  • Diverse Roots Network 

  • Green Network 

  • LGBTQ+ Network

  • Mindfulness Network

  • Parents and Carers Network

  • (Im)Migrants Network 

Ready to apply?

We are committed to making our recruitment process inclusive. All applications will be blind screened, and our job packs are available in Braille, large text or another format upon request. We can provide reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment application process and on the job, and we'll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible.

Applications close on Monday 11th May at 12pm.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

At upReach, we are committed to being an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate in employment matters on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, disability, social background or any other protected class. We celebrate and value the diverse perspectives that people from all backgrounds bring to our team. We are passionate about creating a workplace that is inclusive and reflects the diversity of communities across the UK. Diversity in the workplace creates dynamic and effective organisations and we are actively working to build a more inclusive workforce by continuously improving our recruitment, retention, and development practices. We  encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups, including Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds, those with disabilities , those who are care-experienced, those from low socio-economic backgrounds, and those who are LGBTQIA+.