Corporate Partnerships Lead

Role purpose

The Corporate Partnerships Lead is responsible for leading the corporate partnerships team and collaborating on its strategic direction. This role will identify and secure new funding opportunities, manage relationships with existing partners, and ensure that all partnerships align with Scope’s mission and values. This role is essential in growing Scope’s reach, increasing funding and enhancing our impact through collaboration with partners. The role will manage, motivate, and lead a small team to secure and support corporate partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

Partnership Development:

• In collaboration with the Head of Corporate Partnerships, lead new strategic and transformational partnership development with the aim of increasing the sustainability, value and breadth of Scope’s partnerships.
• Identify, engage, and secure new strategic partnerships that align with the charity’s strategy and goal.
• Cultivate and maintain strong, long-term relationships with existing partners to ensure ongoing support and collaboration.
• Develop tailored proposals and pitches to potential partners, highlighting opportunities for mutual benefit.
• Project manage high level proposals, liaising with multiple internal teams, creating clear project plans including: roles and responsibilities, senior stakeholder briefing and internal feedback.
• Work with colleagues across Scope to identify the potential and manage the risk in new partnerships. Ensuring that they follow Scope’s values and charity legislation.
• Lead on all contracts and cross organisational processes and legal requirements  

Account Management:

• Act as the primary point of contact for key partners, ensuring effective communication and fulfilling partnership agreements.
• Develop and oversee the delivery of partnership plans, ensuring objectives are met and partnerships are managed to a high standard.
• Work closely with internal teams (including but not limited to communications, services and finance) to ensure successful partnership delivery and reporting.

Strategy and Planning:

• Help develop and implement Scope’s Corporate Partnerships strategy, working closely with the Head of Corporate Partnerships and other team members.
• Set and monitor annual partnership targets, ensuring alignment with Scope’s goals.
• Analyse trends and opportunities in corporate fundraising to inform strategy.

Team Leadership:

• Lead, mentor, and manage a small team of Partnership Managers.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performance team culture focused on results and innovation.
• Have delegated responsibility from time to time, in the absence of the Head of Corporate Partnerships.

Reporting and Evaluation:

• Prepare regular reports on pipeline and partnership performance, including financial contributions and impact metrics.
• Conduct periodic evaluations of partnerships to ensure alignment with Scope’s goals and identify areas for improvement.
• Use the CRM database to enter, update and extract accurate information.

Internal collaboration

• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure that partnership activities are integrated into wider fundraising and marketing campaigns
• Represent the Partnerships team in appropriate working groups, workshops and/or meetings/other events as required.

Advocacy and Representation:

• Represent Scope at external events, conferences, and networking opportunities. Building relationships with key stakeholders and raising awareness of Scope’s work.  
• Act as an ambassador for Scope, effectively communicating our strategy, values, and impact to potential partners.

To undertake other duties that may, from time to time, be necessary and compatible with the nature and grade of this post.

Person specification

Knowledge and experience

Essential:

• Proven experience in a senior partnerships or business development role, ideally within the charity, non-profit, or corporate social responsibility sectors.
• Demonstrable success in securing and managing high-value partnerships and generating significant income.
• Track record of retaining and growing existing partnerships.
• Strong understanding of the charity sector, including fundraising trends and, corporate partnerships.
• Strong leadership experience, with the ability to manage and motivate a team.

Desirable:

• Understanding of the social model of disability.

Skills and competencies

Essential

• Excellent relationship management skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate at a senior level.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling proposals and presentations.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate strategy into actionable plans and outcomes.
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal teams and external stakeholders
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.