Senior partnerships manager jobs

Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist care and support for babies, children and young people who are life limited or life threatened. Supporting over 750 children and nearly 1,000 families annually, Acorns is a vital lifeline for families across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire during unimaginably difficult times.

Over the past three years, Acorns’ leadership has enhanced collaboration and innovation across the charity and embedded an organisation-wide fundraising culture.

With a newly integrated Partnerships Team spanning corporate partnerships and community fundraising, and an ambitious £5m appeal ahead, Acorns is now seeking a Senior Community Partnerships Manager to oversee and deliver the charity’s community fundraising strategy, driving c.£1m of income. The strategic focus will be on building more commercially productive relationships with SMEs, community groups, and associations across the West Midlands.

Reporting to the Head of Partnerships,  you will personally manage a portfolio of key community partnerships while leading and developing a team of three Community Partnerships Managers. While the team operates on a patch basis (Birmingham/Black Country and Worcester), you will take a lead on integration across Acorns, working closely with Retail and Care colleagues.

This is a superb opportunity for someone who has evolved from traditional community fundraising into more commercially-focused, regional partnerships.

About the role

As Senior Community Partnerships Manager, you will:

• Report to the Head of Partnerships and line manage three Community Partnerships Managers, ensuring plans are focused, targets/KPIs are set and met and ROI is prioritised
• Oversee key accounts worth circa £1m across the team, seeking opportunities to uplift/evolve, whilst delivering exceptional donor experience for SME, community group, and association partners
• Be the key account manager for a range of partnerships that have the potential for growth, are higher profile or have a wider geography than one patch alone
• Work closely with the Corporate Team to ensure smooth handover of partners with higher value potential or commercial complexity or in reverse for those that focus more on staff fundraising alone
• Network map and build relationships across key sectors, utilising Acorns senior leaders to open doors
• Contribute to the development of fundraising products and campaigns that appeal to community audiences
• Collaborate with Retail, Care and other fundraising teams to maximise referrals and cross-team opportunities

About you

Essential skills and experience: 

• Proven experience of growing income through regional community engagement, ideally within a charity setting
• Either line management or substantial coaching/mentoring experience
• Experience of working with community leaders
• Experience and evidence of first-class relationship management techniques and donor care
• Experience of organising events, managing volunteers, risk assessments and health and safety requirements
• Track record of cross-team working with examples of impact, ideally this will include collaborating with corporate partnerships teams

Desirable: 

• A blend of regional corporate relationship management and community fundraising experience, reflecting the strategic direction of the role

Employee benefits include:

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• 5 days holiday buyback scheme starting from April 2026
• 5% employer pension contribution
• Life assurance scheme (2 x annual salary)
• Retail discounts (including the Blue Light card)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted gym membership
• Access to expert financial health and wellbeing support

Senior Corporate Partnerships Manager

Contract type: Fixed term, Maternity Cover, full time – 35 hours per week

Location: London, UK.

UK hybrid working – a minimum of 40 % of working time is spent face-to-face (London office, external meetings or travel). 60/40 hybrid working at WaterAid means roughly three days wherever you work best and two days together in person.

Salary: £48,867 - £51,439 per year with excellent benefits

Change starts with water. Change starts with you.

Every day, millions of people live without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid exists to change that – for everyone, everywhere. Join us, and your energy will help unlock people’s potential and create a fairer future.

About WaterAid

We’re a global federation driven by one vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen.

About the team

The WaterAid Corporate Partnerships team is responsible for developing and implementing WaterAid’s Corporate Partnerships Strategy which includes a focus on developing high value, high impact strategic partnerships.

About the role

As our Senior Corporate Partnerships Manager, you will be responsible for leading and developing the Partnership Management team of six to deliver partnership excellence and work closely with teams including Communications, Global Policy and Campaigns and Country Programme Offices to drive sustainable change.

In this role, you will:

• Effectively lead, manage and motivate the Partnership Management team to deliver partnership excellence.
• Coach and support the team to maximise partnership opportunities as well as resolve complex issues.
• Work closely with teams across WaterAid (eg Communications, Policy) to identify opportunities and deliver collaborations which deliver shared value for WaterAid and corporate partners
• Work with the Head of Corporate Partnerships, Senior Partnership Development Manager and Senior Private Sector Advisor to implement the overall Corporate Partnerships Strategy
• Champion WaterAid’s commitment to equity, inclusion and safeguarding.

Requirements

To be successful, you will need:

• A proven track record managing a variety of strategic, high value (6 figure) Corporate Partnerships that deliver shared value
• Experience of leading, managing and motivating others and driving change
• Endless enthusiasm, energy and the ability to work under own initiative and meet deadlines
• Ability to build relationships, network with, and influence, senior people both internally and externally

Although not essential, we’d prefer you to have:

• Experience of working in an NGO corporate fundraising environment
• Experience of managing at least three team members

Closing date: Applications close at 12:00 PM (UK time) on Monday, 30 March 2026. Shortlisting and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis, and the role may close earlier if a suitable candidate is found. We therefore encourage you to apply at an early stage.

How to apply: Click Apply to upload your CV and cover letter.

We also have an open role for a Strategic Corporate Partnerships Manager. Please feel free to review this position as well if you think it may be more relevant to your experience.

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application?

At WaterAid, we strongly advise against using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that provides every applicant with an equal opportunity to succeed. We value hearing about your unique experiences and perspectives in your application, and, if shortlisted, during the interview as well.

Pre-employment screening

To apply for this role, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to local law and WaterAid’s Safer Recruitment policy. All UK based roles require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Benefits

Our benefits:

• 36 days’ holiday (including 8 Bank Holidays)
• Option to buy an extra 5 days’ annual leave
• Employer pension contribution up to 10 %
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Season ticket loan
• Free annual eye tests
• ‘Give as you Earn’ charitable giving scheme
• Enhanced parental leave (maternity, adoption/surrogacy, shared parental and paternity)
• Sabbaticals
• One paid volunteer day each year

As part of our annual leave policy, all employees receive three additional days of annual leave on top of their standard allocation of 25 days. These days are designated to cover the period when our UK office closes between Christmas and New Year, allowing all UK WaterAiders to take a well-deserved break.

These days are automatically scheduled and cannot be changed or moved. Annual leave is accrued based on your start date. If sufficient leave has not been accrued by the time of the closure, the 3 days will be taken as unpaid leave or pro-rated, depending on your circumstances.

Our Global Commitment:

Our People Promise

We will work with passion and focus to make sure everyone everywhere has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid is a place of purpose – where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have. We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are determined to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values.

Equal Opportunities

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life and status. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, caste, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability status, neurodiversity, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation.

Safeguarding

We are committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero- tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and to any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination,

abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks (which can include counterterrorism, safeguarding and criminal records checks).

Together, we’ll change the world through water.

Join us and be part of the change!

Senior Philanthropy & Partnerships Manager

We are seeking an experienced Senior Philanthropy & Partnerships Manager to lead high value fundraising and build transformational relationships with major donors and partners.

Position: Senior Manager, Philanthropy & Partnerships
Salary: £46,000 per annum
Location: Remote within the UK with occasional travel
Hours: Full time
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 5:00pm on Thursday 2nd April 2026. (We reserve the right to close the role early should a suitable applicant be found)
 

About the Role

This senior fundraising role leads the strategy and delivery of high value income including major donors, trusts and foundations, and corporate partnerships.

You will manage key relationships, develop compelling funding proposals and lead strategic collaborations that generate significant income and long term impact.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and delivering strategy for high value fundraising streams
• Managing and growing a portfolio of major donors, trusts and corporate partners
• Developing partnership proposals and cases for support
• Leading stewardship plans to secure long term partnerships
• Identifying and pursuing new high value funding opportunities
• Leading and developing colleagues within the fundraising team
• Working with senior leadership to support organisational income strategy
• Ensuring effective reporting, compliance and pipeline management

About You

You will be a senior fundraiser with a strong track record in securing major gifts and developing strategic partnerships.

You will bring:

• Significant experience in high value fundraising or partnerships
• Proven success securing large gifts or strategic partnerships
• Strong relationship management and influencing skills
• Experience developing fundraising strategy and income plans
• Ability to lead and develop teams
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills

About the Organisation

This organisation works in partnership with Indigenous and local communities to protect rainforests and tackle the climate crisis. By supporting community led conservation and providing practical resources, they help protect vital ecosystems while strengthening resilience against environmental threats.

Other roles you may have experience of could include; Head of Philanthropy, Major Gifts Manager, Partnerships Manager, Trusts and Foundations Manager, Head of Fundraising, Development Manager.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client – Not For Profit People.

About Us 

Inspire is a charity based in East London. We inspire children and young people across London and beyond, using data to understand the barriers they face and connecting them with a range of employers and opportunities to open doors to their success. 

We have over 30 years of experience in delivering high quality services and programmes to children, young people, schools, local authorities and employers. Working alongside our large network of employer volunteers, we design and deliver programmes that inspire and support children and young people to create a positive future for themselves in their journey from the classroom to workplace.  We provide them with independent careers guidance, high aspirations and strong employability skills. 

The Opportunity 

Are you passionate and enthusiastic about advancing social mobility and ensuring all young people have access to the opportunities and inspiration they need to achieve their full potential? If so, this role is for you. 

We are seeking a Senior Business Development and Partnerships Manager to join us in a pivotal role in our Business Development Team. This is a new role for our charity that will make a significant contribution to delivery of our high quality services to children and young people, providing them with opportunities and inspiration to enable them to create a positive future for themselves and open doors to their success.

If you are self-motivated, enthusiastic and confident, with experience and a proven track record in successfully securing, managing and developing long term, five figure levels and above partnerships from initial prospect research through to contracting and ongoing management, then this role is for you. Working alongside our Director of Business Development and Partnerships, you will pro-actively manage business development activity, steward partnerships and raise funds for Inspire from a range of sources including corporate partnerships, community fundraising, trusts and foundations. 

Key responsibilities of the role include: 

1. Identifying and securing new business development opportunities in the corporate, trust and foundations sectors that align with our mission and objectives. 

2. Developing and maintaining a pipeline of prospects for new business opportunities, targeting five-figure level and above partnerships to deliver high-value, long-term partnerships and achieve financial targets and KPIs. 

3. Supporting creation and submission of funding applications to corporates, statutory bodies, trusts and foundations. 

4. Management and growth of Inspire's entry to mid-level corporate partnerships. 

5. Collaborate with colleagues to scale up existing, funded programmes and develop creative, dynamic and winning proposals. 

6. Supporting marketing and communications to promote Inspire and its programmes including development of marketing and social media materials. 

Benefits 

29 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays 

3 volunteering days per year 

Family friendly policies 

Hybrid working arrangements. 

If you have the skills and desire to join our team, please see our job description for further details. 

Inspire is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.The successful candidate will be required to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service. 

Application process 

If you wish to apply for this role please provide your CV, a covering letter to demonstrate your skills and experience, and your answers to the following questions. Please keep your answers to a maximum of 250 words each: 

1. Strategic Partnerships: 

Describe a partnership you identified and secured that had a significant impact on your organisation’s growth. What was your strategy for engaging the partner and what measurable outcomes were achieved? 

2. Pipeline Strategy & Prioritisation: 

Highlight your experience in building a high performing pipeline that drives measurable income, how do you identify, evaluate, and prioritise new opportunities, markets, or partners? Please explain your decision making process — including the frameworks, criteria, and tools you use to qualify leads, assess commercial potential, and determine where to focus your efforts. 

Use of AI 

We use anonymised recruitment methods for shortlisting and do not use AI when reviewing applications or making hiring decisions. We understand some people may use AI when creating their application, however we value authenticity. Please ensure your application is an accurate, honest reflection of your own experience and skills - we want to get to know you during our recruitment process. 

Closing date 

While this application process has a closing date, we will review applications as we receive them and invite shortlisted applicants to interview on a rolling basis. We would therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as you are able. 

Unfortunately, due to the number of applications we receive we are unable to contact unsuccessful applications.