Partnerships Manager Job Description: Strategic Partner Development

The Partnerships Manager is responsible for developing and maintaining strategic alliances that deliver commercial value and enhance service reach. Candidates with experience in business development, account management or partnership management who can combine commercial focus with strong relationship skills should apply.

Partnerships Manager Job Profile

This role leads the identification, negotiation and management of third party relationships to support organisational objectives. The Partnerships Manager shapes partnership strategy, secures agreements, and ensures partners meet performance and compliance expectations.

The post-holder will work across internal teams to translate partnership outcomes into operational activity, provide regular performance insight, and adapt partnership approaches based on market and stakeholder feedback.

Partnerships Manager Job Description

The Partnerships Manager develops a targeted pipeline of partner opportunities, assesses commercial fit, and leads commercial negotiations to establish mutually beneficial agreements. They define partnership terms, manage contractual milestones and ensure handover to operational teams for implementation.

In day-to-day practice this role manages partner onboarding, monitors performance against agreed metrics, and drives continuous improvement through regular reviews and coordinated action plans. The Partnerships Manager represents the organisation externally and liaises with senior stakeholders to resolve issues and exploit growth opportunities.

The role requires clear reporting on partnership outcomes, budgetary implications and risks, and active contribution to strategy development for new channels and collaborative initiatives.

Partnerships Manager: Duties and Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate potential partners aligned with strategic priorities and growth objectives
• Develop and maintain a qualified pipeline of partnership opportunities
• Lead commercial negotiations and prepare clear, enforceable agreement terms
• Manage contract execution, renewals and amendments in collaboration with legal and finance stakeholders
• Design and oversee partner onboarding processes and operational handover
• Define key performance indicators and monitor partner performance against targets
• Coordinate joint activities such as co-marketing, service integration or collaborative projects
• Prepare regular performance reports and present findings to senior management
• Manage escalation and resolution of partner-related issues to maintain service quality
• Ensure partners comply with regulatory, contractual and ethical requirements
• Develop partner engagement plans to maximise value and retention
• Conduct market research and competitor analysis to inform partnership strategy
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align partnership delivery with operational capacity
• Track commercial outcomes and contribute to forecasting and budget planning

Partnerships Manager: Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, finance or a related discipline, or equivalent experience
• Proven experience (typically three to five years) in partnerships, business development or account management
• Strong commercial acumen with experience negotiating commercial agreements
• Excellent stakeholder management and interpersonal skills at senior levels
• Effective written and verbal communication, including report writing and presentations
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities with attention to detail
• Analytical skills to interpret performance data and recommend corrective actions
• Good understanding of contract terms and basic legal considerations in partnership agreements
• Organisational skills and the ability to coordinate cross-functional delivery teams
• Problem-solving mindset with a focus on practical, scalable solutions
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment
• Flexibility to travel occasionally and represent the organisation externally where required