Strategic partnerships manager jobs

Women’s Work is a National Award Winning Charity founded in 2003. We aim to deliver a holistic, person centred support service to vulnerable and disadvantaged women with complex health and social needs. We do this by ensuring they can access support, education and information to raise self-esteem and confidence, empowering them to make positive life choices resulting in improved health and wellbeing.

We are seeking a talented, motivated and highly organised Business Development Manager to join our Senior Management Team and play a key role in supporting the organisation’s growth, sustainability and financial resilience.

The Role

This is predominantly an office-based role working closely with the Finance Manager and under the guidance of the CEO, with a strong focus on:

• Bid writing, tender submissions, commissioning applications and grant funding
• Identifying, securing and managing new funding opportunities
• Supporting financial planning, allocation to funded projects
• Fundraising and promoting the charity in the local community

You will lead on the development and continuation of the project-specific funding, ensuring bids and applications align with Women’s Work’s strategic objectives and future expansion plans.

Working collaboratively with the Finance Manager, you will review funding streams, develop robust applications and contribute to the effective financial management of funded activities. You will liaise with businesses, statutory bodies, organisations, community groups and charities to identify and secure new income opportunities, partnerships and sponsorships.

Key Responsibilities

• Research, identify and secure new funding opportunities, grants and tenders
• Lead and co-ordinate high-quality bid writing, commissioning and tender submissions
• Support the Finance Manager with funding reviews, budgets and financial monitoring
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with funders, partners and stakeholders
• Contribute to organisational planning, sustainability and income diversification
• Ensure funding requirements, reporting and compliance are met
• Event planning/identify and co-ordinate fundraising opportunities

About You

The successful applicant will be self-motivated, detail-focused and high organized, with strong project management and communication skills. You will be able to work collaboratively while also managing competing priorities independently.

You will also be able to demonstrate:

• Proven experience in bid writing, tenders and/or commissioning
• A track record of pro-active business development, ideally within the charity or voluntary sector
• Strong relationship-building skills across multiple sectors
• Empathy and a clear commitment to Women’s Work values, aims and objectives

Additional Information
An Enhanced DBS check will be required.
Ref: BDM

Unifrog’s mission

We’re on a mission to level the playing field when it comes to young people finding and applying for their next step after school. We're achieving this by bringing all the available information into one single, impartial, user-friendly platform that helps students to make the best choices, and submit the strongest applications. We also empower teachers and counselors to manage the progression process effectively.

Our outlook is global - we work with schools and universities all over the world, from the US to New Zealand, and from Italy to Hong Kong. We want to make it so that young people can compare every opportunity taught in English, wherever it is in the world, and have all the support they need to make successful applications.

We have a clear social purpose, and we’re hugely ambitious. We already work with over half of UK secondary schools, and over a thousand international schools. We are growing rapidly in terms of the number of our customers, in terms of how much they use our platform, and in terms of the breadth of products we offer.

We recently expanded our impact with Unifrog for primary schools. By bringing our platform to younger learners, we’re supporting schools in delivering a comprehensive careers and PSHE curriculum from Reception through to Year 6. Our mission is to start early; breaking down barriers, challenging stereotypes, and ensuring every child, regardless of background, believes that every future pathway is within their reach.

Our team is at the heart of our business and is integral to our success. We work hard to foster a culture of openness, happiness and innovation, and we commit to helping every individual learn and grow so that they can reach their full potential. We want to hire talented people, whatever their background. If you are excited by our mission and are ready to work hard, please don’t hesitate to apply. We look forward to hearing from you!

We believe in the power of diversity. If you are from an ethnic minority background, we would like to strongly encourage you to apply. In advance of applying, if you have any questions about working at Unifrog, please contact our Recruitment Lead (details on our jobs page). 

What you’ll do

Joining our small, high-energy team, you’ll play a key role growing our newest partner base and supporting primary school partners to make the most of the Unifrog platform and resources. Excellent customer service is at the heart of what we do, and you’ll make sure that all interactions with Unifrog are positive and successful. 

Your key responsibilities:

Sell Unifrog subscriptions to primary schools

• Design and deliver impactful prospecting campaigns and marketing collateral aimed at engaging potential new partners, tracking campaign performance and continually improving your approach to secure demonstrations and drive partnership growth.

• Meet with potential partners on video calls (and sometimes in-person). Understand their priorities, demonstrate the Unifrog platform and resources, and secure their subscription.

• Identify and attend conferences and events to promote Unifrog to primary school audiences, while networking and cultivating relationships for future partnership opportunities.

• Develop a sound awareness of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) and the PSHE Association Framework within the UK. You’ll need this to confidently navigate conversations with relevant contacts at primary schools.

Support primary school partners to make the most of Unifrog

• Set up new partner schools for success. Help them to embed Unifrog across their staff, student and parent community. You’ll deliver an initial staff training session then provide ad-hoc support.

• Proactively work to foster a sense of community amongst our primary school partners and think of ways to promote the sharing and embedding of Unifrog best practice between partners.

• Achieve sky-high resubscription rates by securing partner renewals when their subscriptions come to an end.

What we’re looking for

• Resilient, and motivated to exceed targets

Our sales and resubscription targets are achievable but ambitious. You’ll need to be determined to meet and exceed them.

• Sales experience

You’ll be responsible for meeting sales targets so sales experience is desirable but not essential.
 

• Strong communication skills

You’ll be in frequent communication with lots of different people, both within Unifrog and externally – this will be in person, written, over the phone and via video call. You’ll need to be an outstanding communicator.

• Strategic and innovative 

You’ll be strategic in your approach to driving growth within the newest team at Unifrog and be innovative and creative in your solutions to any barriers along the way.

• Personable, with a track record of excellent relationship management

At Unifrog we’re known for our excellent customer service. You’ll need to provide fantastic support for your partner schools.

• Sector insight

You will be working with schools that have different contexts and priorities; you’ll need to be quick to understand how we can support them.
 

• Attention to detail

It’s important you have the skills and discipline to carefully check your communications to schools, your prospects and contacts in your network.

• Proactive attitude and willingness to get stuck in

You need to be excited about going beyond the core responsibilities detailed above to improve what we do and make it a success.

You will be one of two members of our newest team at Unifrog, with the opportunity to be at the forefront of building an exciting and impactful offering for primary schools across the UK. If this excites you and you’re an energetic person who is willing to learn, we’d love to hear from you.

Working together

You’ll work alongside one other Primary Schools Partnership Manager and be line managed by our Partnerships Director (UK schools and Employers). You will also have daily contact with the wider Unifrog team, including our Marketing, Content and Finance teams.

Key benefits

Head to our jobs page for a full list of the excellent benefits we offer our team.

• Join one of Escape the City’s top 1% employers and help transform careers and destinations in schools.

• Become part of a committed, dynamic, and growing company. We want to build our team for the long term: if you do well, we will do our best to make sure you want to stay at the company for a long time.

• Professional development is important at Unifrog. You will define your own 6-month objectives and will be supported by your line manager and the rest of the team to achieve them. You will have an annual training allowance to spend on what you need to grow and progress.

• Influence the company’s direction: we love to promote great ideas, wherever they come from.

Key details

• £39,047 per annum (Grade B), plus:

  • Unlimited commission, OTE of £50,000.

  • Bonuses linked to strong performance against KPIs.

• Full-time

• 28 days paid holiday per year (plus bank holidays). 

• Working hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 4:30pm on Friday – some days you may need to start earlier but you can finish earlier as a result.

• The role is remote (or hybrid for candidates in London or Edinburgh).

• Start date: as soon as possible (but not later than w/c 22nd June).

• We can only consider candidates who have the right to work in the UK.

• To discuss reasonable adjustments or any details about the role before applying, please contact our Recruitment Lead (details on our jobs page). 

Application process

• Deadline: 10:00am (BST) on Wednesday 1st April 2026.

• Stage 1: Application form (~1 hour)

• Visit our website to upload your CV and complete the questions and tasks below. Please note that we do not review CVs at this stage of the application process so please be as specific as possible about your experience.

i) With reference to examples of your recent experience, what would make you an excellent candidate for this role? (250 words)

ii) A school we are hoping to partner with have concerns about the budget available for Unifrog. What would be your approach to securing a partnership with them for this academic year? (250 words)

iii) Tell us about a time when you had to manage conflicting priorities whilst meeting targets. What was your approach? (250 words)

• Stage 2: Phone task (15 minutes) 

• A short role play task over the phone. We will schedule these tasks throughout the application window so we encourage you to apply early.

• Stage 3: Video call interview (1 hour) 

• Short pre-prepared presentation (15 mins) 

• Standard Q&A from a panel of three, including questions about your experiences and how these relate to the role, and scenario questions based on common situations you might face (plus time for your questions) (45 mins).

• Video call interviews will be held w/c 13th April 2026.

• Your answers are an opportunity to let us know more about your motivations and experience. While we understand that candidates might want to use AI to improve parts of their application, we strongly encourage you to write your answers independently. 

Please note, we compare all answers to an AI generated answer. Where we suspect AI has been used to write the majority of the answer, this will be taken into consideration when scoring

Find more detail and our full policy on AI in applications here.

Inclusion and diversity at Unifrog

• Within the company we try to foster a culture of innovation, and a happy working environment, both because this is the right thing to do, and because we think this results in the most effective team. To this end we believe in open communication, celebrating successes, supporting each other, not being afraid to be wrong or to fail, and promoting good ideas wherever they come from.

• As a platform that supports teachers and students from a huge variety of backgrounds it’s important that our team and leadership reflects this diversity. This is something we are actively working towards and prioritising. We want to embed diversity, equity and inclusion across everything we do, continually evaluating policies and practices to make sure they are inclusive and equitable.

• To make sure everyone’s voice is heard and people have the opportunities to learn to be better allies in the workplace, we encourage the team to share what they’re celebrating, facilitate training and group discussions, and seek regular feedback about what more the company could do to help people feel included.

• To ensure that our recruitment process is consistent and fair, we anonymise your application and therefore do not see your name, personal, educational or professional background. We also randomise the order of responses so that it’s less likely that a candidate is advantaged or disadvantaged by where their answers appear compared to other candidates. 

Corporate Partnerships & Fundraising Manager

MCKS Charitable Foundation UK

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced fundraiser to help build and shape the charity’s corporate partnerships and fundraising programme, securing funding that will help grow MCKS Charitable Foundation’s support from 180 schools to 500 schools across the UK.

Through our school pantry programmes and breakfast clubs, MCKS Charitable Foundation supports children and families experiencing food insecurity, helping ensure pupils can start the school day nourished and ready to learn.

Our goal is to support 500 schools, helping thousands of children and families access essential food support each week.This role will play a central part in securing the partnerships and funding needed to achieve that ambition.

As Corporate Partnerships & Fundraising Manager, you will help develop sustainable income streams through corporate partnerships, trusts and foundations, and national fundraising initiatives.

This is an opportunity for a fundraiser who wants to build meaningful partnerships, shape strategy and help grow a national charity.

About the Role

Working closely with the charity’s leadership and trustees, you will help develop and deliver a diversified fundraising strategy that supports the charity’s growth.

You will focus on building strong relationships with organisations aligned with our mission and developing funding opportunities that enable the charity to expand its reach and impact.

Key responsibilities include:

Corporate Partnerships

• Identify and develop partnerships with corporate organisations aligned with the charity’s mission
• Secure financial and in-kind support from businesses
• Develop partnership proposals and sponsorship opportunities
• Manage relationships with corporate partners and provide impact reporting

Trusts & Foundations

• Research and apply to relevant grant-making trusts and foundations
• Develop compelling funding proposals and applications
• Manage relationships with funders and oversee reporting

Fundraising Campaigns

• Support the development of national fundraising campaigns, including Fuel for Five
• Develop fundraising resources for schools, communities and supporters
• Identify opportunities for collaborative fundraising activities

Donor Engagement & CRM

• Support the implementation and management of the charity’s fundraising CRM system
• Maintain accurate records of donors, partners and fundraising activity
• Track fundraising performance and provide updates to leadership and trustees

About You

We are looking for someone who is:

• Experienced in fundraising, corporate partnerships or business development
• A confident relationship builder with strong networking skills
• Comfortable developing proposals and securing funding
• Proactive and able to work independently within a growing charity
• Organised and able to manage multiple priorities

Experience in the charity sector is welcome but not essential if you have strong partnership or fundraising experience.

Why This Role Matters

MCKS Charitable Foundation currently supports around 180 schools across the UK through its school pantry programmes. Through strategic partnerships and fundraising, this role will help expand that support to 500 schools nationally, ensuring more children and families have access to essential food support through their schools.

This is a hands-on role where you will manage your own pipeline, develop partnership proposals and oversee reporting to funders and partners.

In your first year, the focus will be on building a strong fundraising pipeline capable of generating £150,000+ in future income and securing £75,000–£150,000 in new funding through corporate partnerships, trusts and fundraising initiatives.

Your work will play a direct role in enabling the charity to grow its support for schools and sustainably scale its impact.

 What Success Looks Like

Success in this role will involve building a strong and sustainable fundraising pipeline, securing new corporate partnerships and developing funding relationships that enable the charity to expand its reach.

You will be comfortable taking ownership of fundraising activity, identifying opportunities, developing proposals, and building long-term partnerships that deliver meaningful support for schools and families.

This role would suit someone who enjoys building relationships, creating opportunities and seeing the direct impact of their work on a growing charity.

Project Manager – Big Change Programme (18 Month FTC)

�� Location: London (Hybrid Working)
�� Contract: Fixed Term – 18 Months
�� Salary: £40,518 - £47,377
�� Closing Date: 24th March 2026
�� Interviews: w/c 7 April 2026

Centrepoint, the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity, is looking for an experienced Project Manager to join our Big Change Programme and play a key role in delivering major digital transformation projects across the organisation.

Reporting to the Senior Programme Manager, this role will lead the delivery of projects within our Big Change Programme (BCP) – Centrepoint’s flagship initiative to modernise systems, improve ways of working and strengthen how we support young people.

About Centrepoint

Centrepoint works with vulnerable young people across the UK, providing accommodation, health support and life skills to help them move into education, employment and independent living.

Together with our partners, we support over 16,000 young people every year, helping them build brighter futures. Our ambition is to end youth homelessness by 2037.

Behind this work is a dedicated workforce committed to creating meaningful change. The Big Change Programme is central to ensuring our systems, processes and technology enable colleagues to deliver the best possible support to young people.

About the role

This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in Centrepoint’s digital transformation journey.

As Project Manager, you will lead the end-to-end delivery of a new People system implementation, ensuring it is delivered successfully and embedded across the organisation.

You will manage the full project lifecycle – from planning and governance through to delivery and transition into business-as-usual – while working closely with senior stakeholders, business teams and external suppliers.

Alongside delivery of this key project, you will contribute to the wider Big Change Programme portfolio, helping to embed strong project management practices and supporting the development of Centrepoint’s project management capability.

This role offers the opportunity to work on high-impact transformation work that directly supports Centrepoint’s mission.

Centrepoint operates a hybrid working model, requiring colleagues to spend a minimum of 50% of their working time in the office.

What you’ll be doing

• Managing the full lifecycle of complex transformation projects, from planning through to delivery and service transition

• Leading the implementation of a new People system, ensuring successful adoption across the organisation

• Establishing and maintaining robust project governance and reporting structures

• Managing project budgets, timelines, resources and dependencies

• Coordinating stakeholders across multiple teams and functions

• Managing relationships with external suppliers and vendors

• Identifying and managing risks, issues and mitigation strategies

• Supporting change management activities to ensure successful system adoption

• Ensuring smooth transition of new systems into business-as-usual operations

• Contributing to strengthening project management practices across Centrepoint

About you

We’re looking for an experienced Project Manager who enjoys delivering complex technology or digital transformation projects and working collaboratively with teams across an organisation.

You will bring strong stakeholder management skills and be confident engaging senior leaders, business teams and external suppliers.

You’ll also be someone who enjoys working in a purpose-driven environment where your work contributes to meaningful social impact.

What we’d be looking for from you

• Proven experience managing end-to-end delivery of complex system implementation projects

• Experience delivering projects within digital transformation or organisational change programmes

• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills

• Experience managing third-party suppliers and vendors

• Knowledge of project management methodologies such as PRINCE2, Agile or hybrid approaches

• Experience managing project governance, risks and reporting

• Excellent communication and presentation skills

Desirable:

• Experience implementing People or HR systems

• Experience working within the charity, non-profit or social impact sector

• Understanding of data migration, reporting or system integration projects

Why join Centrepoint?

Working at Centrepoint means being part of an organisation committed to creating real change for young people.

In return for your efforts you’ll receive a competitive salary and a range of benefits including:

• 25 days annual leave rising to 27 days

• Healthcare cash plan

• Private medical insurance

• Income protection

• Employer pension contributions of 5%

• Cycle to Work scheme

• Interest-free travel loan

At Centrepoint we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

If you’re an experienced Project Manager looking to deliver meaningful digital transformation within a mission-driven organisation, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now to join Centrepoint and help shape the future of our Big Change Programme.

About Us:

Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting is the world’s only movement for every girl and any girl because we believe that each of them deserves to be the best they can be. Girl Guides and Girl Scouts learn by doing, make friends and have fun. In brave, local spaces, girls develop the skills and attitudes to change themselves, their communities and our world. The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts supports 153 national Girl Guide and Girl Scout organisations around the world to be united, thriving and growing.

Job Purpose: 

This is a key role within a small but global team collaborating with a range of experts and specialists with in-depth knowledge of both the global Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting Movement and the international development sector. Working across a mix of corporate, global trusts/foundations, and institutional funders, your primary focus will be securing new funding partnerships as well as delivering excellent partnership stewardship and management.

The role is responsible for making a recognisable contribution towards organisational income targets with a specific focus on funders from the Asia region who have the potential to support the work that WAGGGS does on a global level.

There will be a strong focus on securing restricted income in support of a portfolio of global non-formal education programmes across key thematic areas including climate, STEM, online safety, leadership, gender-based violence prevention, and menstrual health & hygiene – all with cross-cutting themes of gender equality and advocacy, and all delivered around the world.  There may also be time spent on seeking and securing funding to support wider organisational projects as necessary, as well as exploring opportunities to secure unrestricted / flexible core funding.

About You:

As our Strategic Partnerships Manager, Asia you will work across a mix of corporate, global trusts & foundations, and institutional funders from across the Asia region, your focus will be on securing new funding partnerships as well as delivering excellent stewardship and management of existing partnerships. You’ll need to build effective working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders and be comfortable working in a complex and global organisation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct in-depth research and analysis focusing on the Asia region to identify high value partnership opportunities with corporates, corporate foundations, global trusts & foundations, and institutional donors to build and nurture strategic funder relationships that are aligned to the WAGGGS vision, purpose, and programme offer.
• Build and maintain a robust and qualified pipeline of potential funding partners and opportunities from the Asia region and ensure proactive cultivation through outreach, networking, and targeted communication. 
• Work cross-departmentally to develop and write high-quality and compelling funding proposals and partnership opportunities with a strong case for support, ensuring they are deliverable, measurable, accurately costed, and aligned to WAGGGS strategic priorities.
• Deliver effective stewardship and management of new partnerships (and potentially some existing partnerships). From contracting, partnership reporting, growth and renewal. Build and expand strong relationships with partner contacts at multiple levels, drawing on key WAGGGS senior staff to support when appropriate, and use WAGGGS communications platforms effectively to raise the profile of partnerships. You will play a key role in supporting and coordinating colleagues across international teams on the deliverables linked to each partnership, fostering collaboration and shared donor stewardship. 

Please refer to the attached Job description for the detailed key responsibilities.

To apply for this role, please submit your CV and a Cover Letter (the cover letter should be no longer than 1 A4 page).

In your Cover Letter please demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the following criteria;

• Experience of building long-term relationships and partnerships across a variety of funders.
• Coordinating and delivering funding bids and proposals, working to tight deadlines.
• Building effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders at all levels.

About Us:

Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting is the world’s only movement for every girl and any girl because we believe that each of them deserves to be the best they can be. Girl Guides and Girl Scouts learn by doing, make friends and have fun. In brave, local spaces, girls develop the skills and attitudes to change themselves, their communities and our world. The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts supports 153 national Girl Guide and Girl Scout organisations around the world to be united, thriving and growing.

Job Purpose: 

This is a key role within a small but global team collaborating with a range of experts and specialists with in-depth knowledge of both the global Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting Movement and the international development sector. Working across a mix of corporate, global trusts & foundations, and institutional funders, your primary focus will be securing new funding partnerships as well as delivering excellent stewardship and management of existing partnerships. The role is responsible for making a recognisable contribution towards organisational income targets. There will be a strong focus on securing restricted income in support of a portfolio of global non-formal education programmes across key thematic areas including climate, STEM, online safety, leadership, gender-based violence prevention, and menstrual health & hygiene – all with cross-cutting themes of gender equality and advocacy. There may also be time spent on seeking and securing funding to support wider organisational projects as necessary, as well as exploring opportunities to secure unrestricted / flexible core funding. 

About You:

As our Strategic Partnerships Manager, you will work across a mix of corporate, global trusts & foundations, and institutional funders, your focus will be on securing new funding partnerships as well as delivering excellent stewardship and management of existing partnerships. You’ll need to build effective working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders and be comfortable working in a complex and global organisation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify, engage, and cultivate new funding partnerships that are aligned to WAGGGS vision, purpose, and programme offer ensuring a strong and well-managed pipeline of new and qualified prospects.
• Work cross-departmentally to develop and write high-quality and compelling funding and partnership proposals with a strong case for support, ensuring they are deliverable, measurable, accurately costed, and aligned to WAGGGS strategic priorities.
• Deliver effective stewardship and management of a small number of existing funding partnerships. From contracting, partnership reporting, growth and renewal. Build and expand strong relationships with partner contacts at multiple levels, drawing on key WAGGGS senior staff to support when appropriate, and use WAGGGS communications platforms effectively to raise the profile of partnerships. 
• Work closely with colleagues and teams who directly support the 153 national Member Organisations delivering Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting globally to understand the needs, priorities, and challenges of girls and young women around the world and to engage Member Organisations for input to funding proposals, and ensure programme development reflects local needs, context, and priorities.
• Line management of one Strategic Partnerships Coordinator providing direction, support, and development opportunities for the post-holder. 

Please refer the attached JD for the detailed key responsibilities.

To apply for this role, please submit your CV and a Cover Letter (the cover letter should be no longer than 1 A4 page).

In your Cover Letter please demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the following criteria;

• Experience of building long-term relationships and partnerships across a variety of funders.
• Coordinating and delivering funding bids and proposals, working to tight deadlines.
• Building effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders at all levels.

Strategic Corporate Partnerships Manager

Contract type: Permanent, 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: £44,168 - £46,493 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 Strategic Corporate Partnerships Manager, you will develop and manage ambitious, long-term corporate partnerships and work closely with teams including Communications, Global Policy and Campaigns, and Country Programme Offices to drive sustainable change.

In this role, you will:

• Use your partnership management skills to develop high impact, shared value partnerships.  
• Deliver high quality proposals, pitches and reports
• Develop a strong knowledge of the sectors you work with, to be an informed and respected stakeholder
• Work with a range of contact types both internally and externally.
• Champion WaterAid’s commitment to equity, inclusion and safeguarding.

Requirements

To be successful, you will need:

• A proven track record of managing complex, multi layered corporate partnerships to deliver shared value
• Experience of developing and implementing partnership development strategies including stakeholder stewardship
• Ability to network with, and influence, senior people both internally and externally  
• Experience of writing high quality, engaging proposals and reports for a corporate audience, as well as experience of making presentations to senior-level contacts and/or large groups of employees

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

• Experience of corporate fundraising and developing 7 figure corporate accounts.
• Experience of new business generation

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 Senior Corporate Partnerships Manager (maternity cover). 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!

Woodgreen Pets Charity has been helping pets and their owners live happier, healthier lives for over 100 years. From rehoming and community support to education and advocacy, our work is powered by dedicated people and a focus on reaching communities so that our voice can play an important role in shaping conversations about animal welfare.

We are in an exciting period of growth and transformation and, as part of this, are looking for a Strategic Partnerships and Relationships Manager to join our team. Woodgreen is well-known for its successful communities programme of work, and this role will support it's strategic expansion and evolution by developing and managing external relationships and strategic collaborations that extend the reach and impact of our work.

Reporting to the Head of Community Programmes and Partnerships you will work across Woodgreen’s Community Programmes and wider Pet Services directorate to ensure external relationships are coordinated and effective, strengthening collective capability and supporting the organisation’s long-term mission and impact.  This will include working with organisations that support pet owners through referral pathways, collaboration and aligned activity, as well as building relationships that enable Woodgreen’s national expansion by supporting others to adopt approaches aligned to our model.

By establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships that strengthen how support for pet owners is enabled in practice, your work with community outreach operational partners will support shared ways of working whilst developing broader strategic relationships that grow Woodgreen’s national reach and influence over time.

If you have;

• Significant experience in developing, managing, and sustaining effective relationships with external organisations in an operational or delivery-focused context.
• A track record of recruiting, onboarding, and working with partner organisations across a range of relationship types, including informal arrangements, memoranda of understanding, and more formal agreements.
• Experience setting and maintaining shared expectations, standards, or frameworks with external partners, and supporting partners to work effectively within them.
• A strong understanding of effective partnership and relationship management in complex, multi-agency or cross-sector environments.
• The ability to establish and maintain credibility with a wide range of stakeholders, balancing collaboration, support, and appropriate challenge.

We would love to hear from you!

This is a full time, permanent position working 37.5 hours a week on a hybrid basis with the expectation that our successful candidate will work from our Godmanchester site for approximately 2 days a week dependant on business need.  Applications from candidates looking for a part time role of 30 hours a week will also be considered.  The starting salary for this position will be £35,598 - £43,507 per annum depending on experience (pro rata'd as applicable for a part time opportunity).  This is complemented by;

• 36 days annual leave per year (inclusive of bank holidays) rising by 1 day each year to a maximum of 40 days after five years (pro rata'd for part time position)
• Up to 8% employer pension contributions
• Support towards healthcare costs (cashplan)
• Employee wellbeing package to include free access to Headspace
• Life assurance (4x salary)
• Enhanced parental leave (subject to qualifying period)
• Benefits hub – exclusive discounts on popular brands
• 25% discount in our charity shops

Please note that you will need to have existing Right to Work in the UK to apply for this opportunity as we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Woodgreen is committed to making our recruitment processes accessible to all and, as part of this, we are flexible in the ways we give and receive information. If you would like to apply using a different format, please contact the Recruitment Team and we will do our best to put any reasonable adjustments in place.

Early application is encouraged as this position may close sooner than the stated deadline if a suitable candidate is found.

Woodgreen is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk and protecting anyone that comes into contact with us from harm. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

The Freedom Fund

The Freedom Fund is a global non-profit dedicated to ending modern slavery. Since 2014, we’ve invested over $100 million into frontline organisations and coalitions, helping to shift power to local actors and create lasting systems change. Our new strategy doubles down on this commitment, investing in anti-slavery movements, fostering collaboration, and working as a trusted partner to the incredible people and organisations driving this work forward. 

Strategic Partnerships Officer - Maternity Leave

An exciting opportunity for an ambitious individual to cover a period of parental leave, joining us in a key role within the Freedom Fund’s Strategic Partnerships team. Based in the UK, the postholder leads the Freedom Fund’s fundraising operations, ensuring that systems, processes, and workflows run smoothly and effectively across the team. They oversee the operational backbone of the fundraising function - including Salesforce, Asana, gift processing, acknowledgements, reporting, and coordination with Finance to enable efficient, accurate, and compliant fundraising activity.

In addition, the Officer contributes to the organisation’s institutional philanthropy efforts. This includes supporting prospect research, proposal development, donor reporting, and the preparation of stewardship materials, working closely with senior colleagues across the Strategic Partnerships team.

Interview process: 2 stage interview process: week commencing  23rd March 2026
Please see the job description for all details.

This is an exciting opportunity to establish RLSS UK’s first-ever corporate fundraising function. The Corporate Partnerships Manager will build, lead, and deliver a new programme that maximises income from corporate supporters and aligns partners with our mission to save lives. You will be responsible for developing the strategy, creating the tools and foundations, proactively generating new business, and delivering excellent stewardship as partnerships are secured.

This role requires a commercially aware, results-driven individual who understands how to position partnerships in a way that delivers mutual value and translate opportunity into income through focused action, strong relationship building, and a clear understanding of corporate priorities.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a build from scratch environment, combining strategic thinking, creativity, and hands on delivery.

ROLE OVERVIEW

As the Corporate Partnerships Manager, you will lead the development and delivery of RLSS UK’s new corporate fundraising function, create a sustainable strategy, and build a strong pipeline from the ground up.

You will identify, secure, and grow high-value partnerships that align with corporate priorities, producing compelling and commercially compelling propositions that demonstrate clear mutual benefit. Working collaboratively across the organisation, you will ensure partnerships support RLSS UK’s mission and contribute to long term income growth.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy and Planning

• Develop and deliver RLSS UK’s first corporate partnerships strategy, setting clear priorities and income targets for year one and beyond.
• Lead the development of a corporate partnerships income stream, building a sustainable portfolio of partnerships and relationships.
• Create the foundations for growth including a case for support, stewardship framework, pitch decks and templates and KPI and reporting tools.
• Establish systems and internal processes required for a corporate fundraising function.
• Use sector insights, benchmarking, and data to inform strategy and identify opportunities for growth.

Partnership Development

• Build and actively manage a new business pipeline from scratch, ensuring consistent prospecting and follow up.
• Conduct in-depth prospect research to identify target companies, align commercial priorities, and map key decision makers.
• Develop compelling, tailored proposals, pitches, and partnership packages that clearly articulate impact and mutual value.
• Secure a diverse portfolio of partnerships including multi-year strategic, six-figure, Charity of the Year, cause-related marketing, and sponsorship agreements.
• Create cultivation journeys for high-value prospects, maintaining momentum from first contact to close.
• Represent RLSS UK externally at meetings, events, and networking opportunities, confidently positioning the organisation with senior stakeholders.
• Work closely with commercial colleagues to ensure alignment and avoid overlap with existing commercial contracts.

Account Management

• Provide effective day-to-day relationship management to ensure partners feel supported, informed, and engaged with RLSS UK’s mission.
• Deliver clear partnership growth plans that maximise income, engagement, impact, and mutual benefit.
• Identify and activate opportunities to expand partnerships across corporate philanthropy, payroll giving, strategic volunteering, sponsorship, cause-related marketing, and employee engagement.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with senior stakeholders, acting as a trusted and credible partner.
• Monitor partnership delivery against agreed KPIs and use insight to refine and strengthen activity over time.
• Produce high-quality written communications, proposals, and impact reports tailored to individual partners.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Fundraising, Marketing and Communications, Education, and Commercial teams to ensure consistent and high-quality delivery.

Reporting and Evaluation

• Use data-driven insights and KPIs to evaluate and refine strategies for maximum impact, income growth, and return on investment.
• Ensure compliance with fundraising regulations, UK GDPR, and RLSS UK policies.
• Maintain accurate pipeline and forecasting information within the CRM system.
• Deliver annual reviews for partnerships to demonstrate impact and ensure all partnerships are meeting agreed KPIS.
• Identify emerging trends and opportunities to diversify income streams and enhance brand visibility.

Other Duties & Responsibilities

• All other duties reasonably associated with your role, as directed by the Line Manager.
• Line management responsibility for the Supporter Engagement Executive, including performance and development, assigning day-to-day tasks and projects, and providing guidance and support.
• Ensure compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 by complying with internal information governance policies and maintaining up-to-date documentation as part of RLSS UK’s compliance programme.
• Demonstrate and uphold the Society’s values and behavioural standards at all times.
• Help create an inclusive working environment where diversity is valued, everyone can contribute, and everyday actions ensure we meet our duty to uphold and promote equality.

This job description is not to be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of areas of activity and responsibility and will be amended in light of the changing needs of the organisation.

PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Relevant Experience, Skills and/or Aptitudes

• Experience in business development, fundraising, partnerships, or relevant commercial roles.
• Ability to build strong relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience securing and managing partnerships across at least two of:
• • Charity of the Year
  • Strategic partnerships
  • Sponsorship
  • Cause related marketing/ brand licensing
• Confident pitching and negotiating with senior corporate leaders.
• Strong strategic thinking coupled with hands‑on delivery.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to create persuasive proposals and cases for support.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Strong understanding of return on investment (ROI) and the ability to evaluate the effectiveness, sustainability, and value of fundraising activity.
• Strong understanding of CRM systems and fundraising technologies, and how these support effective partnership programmes.
• Understanding of fundraising regulation, GDPR, and ethical fundraising practices.
• Experience managing budgets and ensuring effective allocation of resources.
• Comfortable working in an environment where systems, processes, and programmes are being built from the ground up.

Desirable Relevant Experience, Skills and/or Aptitudes

• Knowledge and understanding of RLSS UK.
• Previous experience of line management.
• Experience of working in a charity or organisation where corporate fundraising or partnerships have been developed from the ground up, including building systems, processes, and pipeline momentum.
• Experience working in a small team or start-up environment.
• Commercially minded, with a strong understanding of the corporate landscape and the ability to shape compelling, mutually beneficial partnership opportunities that align business priorities with charitable impact.

ABOUT RLSS UK

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is the leading charity for water safety and drowning prevention in the UK and Ireland. Our mission is to save lives by being the leader in lifesaving, lifeguarding, and water safety education so that everyone can enjoy water safely. We share our expertise, skills, and knowledge to empower people to enjoy water safely and achieve our vision; communities free from drowning.

With increasing corporate focus on ESG, community safety, and employee wellbeing, RLSS UK is uniquely positioned to build strategic partnerships that help companies keep their people and communities safe around water.

WHAT RLSS UK CAN OFFER YOU

RLSS UK is a national Charity based in Worcester, and we offer great staff benefits including -

• Annual Leave based on 27 days + Bank Holidays + a discretionary day off for your birthday
• Private Medical Scheme*
• Enhanced Society Sick Pay*
• Eye Care*
• Employee Assistance Programme via Health Assured
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Howdens Sports Benefits/Perks at Work
• Free RLSS UK Membership
• Free tea and coffee when working from HQ, including access to our wonderful Coffee Machine
• Free on-site parking when working from HQ
• Company Events and more!

*Subject to eligibility criteria

YOUR APPLICATION

Please send your CV along with a Cover Letter outlining why you should join our Income Generation and Engagement Team 

Closing Date – 5.00pm, Tuesday 17th March 2026

Interview Date – Tuesday 31st March 2026 at our Worcester Head Office (subject to change)

Should you wish to discuss the role, any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process, or have any questions, please get in touch where a member of the RLSS UK HR Department will be happy to help.

RLSS UK are a Disability Confident Committed Employer and an INclusive Worcestershire Leader.

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!

The Vacancy

We are looking for an entrepreneurial and proactive Partnerships Manager with a strong instinct for business development and a track record of turning opportunities into significant funding partnerships. You will be energised by identifying new prospects, opening doors and building relationships with trusts, foundations and corporate partners. Creative and strategic in your approach, you will be comfortable shaping compelling propositions and developing confident high seven figure funding asks that resonate with large philanthropic donors.

You will also be a mature, thoughtful and kind manager who can lead and develop a high performing team. We are looking for someone who can set ambitious targets, encourage initiative and create an environment where colleagues feel trusted, motivated and able to grow, while playing a central role in expanding and diversifying a major global funding portfolio.

JOB PURPOSE

The Partnerships Manager will be a key position within the fundraising team, managing key private donors and co-leading on developing and implementing a new business strategy focused on significantly increasing trust and foundation and corporate funders.

They will also be working with SLT members to put together strategic seven and eight figure grants and strategic plans to engage large global donors to support Start Network programming.

The Resource Mobilisation team works collaboratively with those in programmes to manage internal and external relationships, adopting a coordinated approach when it comes to donor management and reporting.

The Partnerships Manager, together with the Head of Resource Mobilisation, will set and deliver a strategy that maximises trust and foundation and corporate funding and set a clear path to bring in new donors and increase income substantially over the coming three years. Currently the funding portfolio you will be managing is over £30million from 13+ global donors. This means this role is personally responsible for engaging and retaining 60% of our donors. This role will set a strategy to increase income according to targets, maximise donors plus retain all key strategic donors through robust engagement plans. Beyond this, the person in post will line manage three with scope for growth in 2026. 

Additionally, across 2026-2028 and beyond they will lead on the development of an employee engagement offering with our corporates and corporate foundations in order to create a new avenue of unrestricted funding. 

Beyond this, we expect this role, to lead on behalf of the resource mobilization team key global events, particularly Skoll / Marmalade and Shift the Power. In collaboration with the Institutional Funding Manager they will also plan our activities London and NY Climate Weeks. They will set the plans and strategy for the organization to engage with these events and work with Directors, CEO, Heads of, and coordinate cross organisational plans for this together with our Head of Advocacy and Influence. 

Finally, this role will act as a key point of contact for the communications and advocacy teams and will need to make sure donor requirement and visibility will be taken into account across teams projects and strategies. 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Increase new business from trusts and foundations and corporate funders

• Lead on the development of an innovative strategy together with the Head of Resource Mobilisation and Director of Business Development to identify and drive new business from trusts and foundations and corporates.
• Responsible for growing our funding from new geographical areas (focus on US and Asia) and sectors (Insurance) – and set a plan that will enable the diversification of our funding portfolio. 
• Oversee the development and implementation of an employee engagement offer in order to create a new avenue of unrestricted income and boost the interest of corporate donors.  
• Drive high quality prospecting of new potential funders across the organisation by working with and guiding heads of teams and the CEO strategically to engage with this task. 
• Oversee how the organisation engages strategically with large trusts and foundations and corporates (potential giving 7 and 8 figures).
• Co-lead on the planning of key global events with our external affairs team such as Climate Week (New York and London) and make sure we have a cross organisational strategic approach to these events. 
• Oversee the strategy to catalyse new relationships with middle sized trusts and foundations and corporates with a potential giving of 6 figures.
• Set a plan to attract more flexibility funding that can enable the organisation to catalyse key strategic projects that fall out of our programmes.
• Lead on developing positioning for corporate partnerships (insurance, finance, and tech industries), new areas of business for Start Network.
• Lead on the business planning process for the Trust and Foundations and Corporates Team.
• Manage large event budgets and make sure resources are used effectively.
• Work with programmes teams and colleagues to understand funding needs and develop creative ways to position and pitch areas of Start Network such as hubs, innovation etc.
• Work with programmes teams and finance team to drive and support the development of robust budgets and narrative proposals for large and medium sized asks.
• Attend and speak at key advocacy events, representing the resource mobilisation team as required, in order to meet donors and advocate for Start Network’s mission

Ensure high quality stewardship of current philanthropic donors

• Responsible for the overall stewardship of several high giving trusts and foundations (6, 7 & 8 figures).
• Oversee the development of quality reporting and updates for donors and make sure we have clear processes and systems for this to happen
• Responsible for making sure the resource mobilization team is creating informative and engaging updates across programmes for T&F and corporate donors.
• Work across teams to implement the insurance advisory group and make sure this group links back to resource mobilization strategies. 
• Work with heads of teams to develop an engaging agenda for the insurance advisory group, taking into account the function and work with finance team to ensure appropriate expenditure of grant. Oversee the development of complex donor budgets and make sure they are ready for CFOO and Director approval.
• Support grant management function and work with finance team to ensure appropriate expenditure of grants.
• Work closely with the communications team in order to set up a strategic comms plan that will enable the organisation to position itself as a trend setter in the humanitarian sector, particularly around our core areas of work. 

Influence externally

• Work with the Head of Resource Mobilisation and Director of Business Development to position Start Network strategically in global funding discussions.
• Engage key donors at strategic events and meetings.
• Work with the Head of Advocacy and External Affairs to coordinate advocacy messages for donors.
• Represent the organisation in key donor events globally, as required.
• Build knowledge and capacity within the organisation
• To carry out the responsibilities of the role in line with the Start Network Code of Conduct and with a commitment to safeguarding adults and children.
• A commitment to the Start Network vision, principles, values, and approach.
• The Start Network team is an agile group of individuals who use their experience and skills across the network, so flexibility to work in and with different teams and functions is a part of our culture.

Line Management

• To carry out effective line management of a team, including recruiting and training direct reports and having an active role in building an inclusive team culture in line with our values
• Oversee and manage high performing team.
• Coach and mentor team members, as appropriate, enabling them to fulfil their potential.
• Mentor hubs and in country fundraising manager, sharing and catalysing foundation and corporate opportunities for hubs.
• Ensure the organisation builds its capacity around donors’ compliance and policies.
• Deputise for the Head of Resource Mobilisation where required.
• Ensure all staff members in the Trust and Foundation and Corporate team have relevant objectives, targets and other KPI’s.
• Lead by example, building the team’s confidence, supporting them as appropriate and being a positive influence across the organisation.
• Drive a positive culture of fundraising within the Resource Mobilisation team and across Start Network.

Start Network Culture

• To carry out the responsibilities of the role in line with the Start Network Code of Conduct and with a commitment to safeguarding adults and children 
• A commitment to the Start Network vision, principles, values, and approach 
• The Start Network team is an agile group of individuals who use their experience and skills across the network, so flexibility to work in and with different teams and functions is a part of our culture. 

This role description is non-exhaustive and includes any other duties that may reasonably be required for the role. 

PERSON PROFILE

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• A well stablished fundraiser, with experience of developing relationships with a wide range of private funders (including 7-8 figure multi-year grants).
• A leader with management experience who can grow a team effectively.
• Good understanding the humanitarian sector  and key stakeholders and can represent Start Network accordingly in global external event.
• An experienced bid writer who can oversee the process of bids creation and can write them when required. 
• A person who is experienced in putting together multi million pound budgets, working across teams.
• An experience fundraiser who has managed large donors such as Gates, Hilton, IKEA.
• Experience in managing a £10m annual plus portfolio.
• Experience negotiating complex multi-million pound contracts.
• A confident speaker who can pitch and convince technical donors to fund our cause.
• A leader with experience in setting funding strategies and executing them
• Proactive and strong skills in business development, with experience of taking the lead on identifying and securing new funding opportunities.
• A creative eye, with skills and experience supporting and leading on the development and implementation of communications strategies for fundraising.
• An individual who is keen to be part of a smaller organisation, playing a significant role in furthering a collaborative fundraising culture, with the autonomy to try new approaches and build on existing relationships.
• A person who is target and output driven and is looking to set ambitious goals for themselves and the team and not afraid to try, fail and improve
• A fundraiser who enjoys working across complex proposals and donors requirements and is solutions focused

Desirable

• Experience in impact investment, insurance or blended finance 
• Masters in relevant subject such as international development, international relations, etc.
• Fluency in Spanish or French and other languages 

The Company

Start Network is made up of more than 90 non-governmental organisations across five continents, ranging from large international organisations to local and national NGOs. Our programmes allow members to deliver humanitarian action around the world.

Our mission is to create a new era of humanitarian action that will save even more lives. We aren’t driven by media headlines or political will, we’re here for the communities affected by and at risk of crises.

We are an organisation committed to doing things differently. For some roles, we need more technical humanitarian expertise, but for other roles, we are looking for relevant transferable skills, the right attitude, and a passion to bring change.

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

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.