As a member of the Programme and Partnerships team, the role holder will nurture and grow existing corporate partner relationships, actively seeking and securing opportunities to retain long-term partners who support our programme and contribute funding.

The Partnership Manager will play an active role in developing partnership management strategies and initiatives that enable the wider team to meet our income goals and deliver a high quality and impactful programme.

This is a highly collaborative role, working closely with stakeholders across the organisation, with key working relationships across the programmes, partnerships and income generation teams.

Person specification

Essential experience

• Exceptional networking and relationship management skills, evidenced by experience of account management.
• Experience of guiding, motivating, and collaborating with colleagues to deliver outstanding customer service to external stakeholders.
• Good understanding and experience of working with corporate CSR, ESG, D&I, HR and commercial teams to build partnerships.
• Experience of renewing and growing partnerships or accounts both financially and through programme or volunteering support.

Essential knowledge, skills and behaviours

• Analytical skills and the ability to see an opportunity, make a connection, and seize the moment in relation to partnership building to meet mutual objectives.
• A good copy writer, with the ability to create compelling proposals which demonstrate the impact of our work and present a strong case for support to funders.
• An independent thinker, with the energy and organisational skills to manage multiple partnerships and work to tight deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively with others and in a team, to convene and facilitate stakeholders to collaborate on projects.
• Knowledge, understanding and interest in social, political, and economic issues relating to Career Ready’s mission.
• Knowledge of Office 365 and CRM systems (we use Salesforce) plus being social media savvy.
• Proactively manage and motivate yourself to deliver against income targets.
• Apply a consultative, coaching and collaborative style when working with other colleagues to manage partners or programme/income opportunities.
• Apply creative innovations in fundraising while ensuring Career Ready’s principles, values and practices are maintained.
• Align work with multiple stakeholder needs (fundraising experience in the areas of education, employability, talent development are useful).
• Display a solutions-focused mindset when faced with challenges.
• Communicate inspirationally, accurately and effectively to a wide variety of audiences.
• Manage a project from setting objectives through to delivery of outcomes.

Download the job pack for full details.

How to apply

Closing date for applications: 9am on Monday 12 January 2026.

Please apply through Charity Job. You will be asked to submit your CV and to complete some application questions.

If you require additional support with any stage of the recruitment process, please contact our People and Culture team at recruitment@careerready.org.uk