Partnerships Manager (Tesco Specialist)

Overview of the Role

The Partnership Manager (Tesco Specialist) leads on the delivery and development of Diabetes UK’s flagship partnership with Tesco. Working on our Health Charity Partnership (HCP) with counterparts at the British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK, this award-winning, UK-wide partnership aims to improve the health of the nation using the retailer’s reach and influence.

You will be responsible for leading and delivering income generation, project managing strategic activities, and delivering against shared and charity-specific goals. You will also contribute to the development and success of the Account Management Team, support cross-team projects, and take on additional tasks as required. This role will also see you line manage a Partnership Officer (Account Management) who supports the delivery of the Tesco Partnership.

Role Description

This role works closely with colleagues across multiple internal teams including our Clinical Team, Marketing team, and Policy Team. You will need to be well networked across teams including Nations and Regions teams and Strategy and Planning.

Externally, this role will work closely with peers at the British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK, as well as colleagues at Tesco, including their PR and communications agencies. You will also play an active role in driving and supporting best practice across the team and charity and will contribute to cross-team projects and other tasks as required.

The ideal candidate

The ideal candidate will have account management experience with a track record of delivering six and seven-figure strategic partnerships either within a charity or corporate setting. Good time management and organisational skills are required to manage a busy and diverse workload. You’ll need strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence and negotiate effectively with a range of stakeholders at all levels of seniority. Using your excellent communication skills, you will be able to convey ideas succinctly and persuasively to create impactful proposals and other communications.

You’ll have a good understanding of commercial principles, understand what drives businesses, and how to lead and deliver multi-stream income generation that is mutually beneficial through partnership. You’ll have a passion for identifying new financial and non-financial opportunities and be proactive in your approach to seeking these out. Having a collaborative approach to work is vital in this role, so you’ll build excellent relationships with internal colleagues and external stakeholders, operating with trust, respect, and transparency.

Additional Notes

We have a friendly and inclusive working environment here at Diabetes UK and are proud of our hybrid approach which allows great flexibility in the way that we work. This means that you can balance your working time between home and the office, subject to the needs of your role.

Interview date: 26/02/2026. Please note that all job offers are subject to you providing acceptable evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK, satisfactory references, and a DBS check if applicable for this role.

Package Description

We have some amazing benefits available which we are proud to offer. We have a health cash plan available, early finish Fridays, access to an incredible Learning and Development offer, and much more.

About the Company

For nearly 5 million people with diabetes in the UK, there’s no day off. At Diabetes UK, we fight day in, day out for better care, treatment, and support. We won’t stop until diabetes can do no harm.

With more people than ever living with diabetes and millions more at risk of developing type 2, our work has never been more needed. We make sure they get the care and support needed to live well with diabetes and avoid devastating complications. We fund critical research, which has led to life-changing discoveries – like the first insulin pen and programmes to put type 2 diabetes into remission. Now, we want to do this for everyone and find a cure.

Our staff are passionate and determined about helping everyone affected by diabetes. For over 85 years, they’ve been behind vital policy changes, as well as new treatments and technologies to make living with diabetes easier every day.

But there’s more to do. And you can be part of it. Our vision is a world where diabetes can do no harm. Join us today, and together, we can make that a reality.

Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Diabetes does not affect everyone equally and as a charity we are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We seek to better reflect those we serve. This means we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates in our recruitment processes and particularly welcome applications from groups currently underrepresented at senior level, including those from Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority backgrounds. It also means if you have a disability or long-term condition, we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments you might need to take part in the process and succeed in the role.