At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead business development and secure strategic partnerships in the financial services sector.
- Company: Distinct Cremations, a leading provider of direct cremation services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension options, private healthcare, and ongoing learning opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working options and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Be a key player in shaping our growth and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in senior business development roles with IFA networks required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Full time hours (however there can be some flexibility for the right candidate). Salary: Competitive + OTE + Benefits. Distinct Cremations, Cannock, Staffordshire – Hybrid work is available; however, depending on your location, this could be remote with ad hoc travel to the office. Initial 6 month FTC with scope for permanent opportunity.
We’re looking for a highly commercial and hands-on business development leader with a proven track record of originating and closing strategic partnerships within Insurance / financial services, specifically across IFA distribution channels. This is a high impact, hands-on role with real ownership — you will be responsible for building a new revenue channel from the ground up, working directly with the Managing Director.
The role involves:
- Identifying, targeting and securing new institutional and intermediary partners across IFAs, banks and building societies.
- Leading end-to-end partnership discussions, including proposition design, commercial negotiation, governance approval, and contract close.
- Developing partner value propositions aligned to partner needs, customer outcomes, and regulatory context.
Commercial and strategic contribution includes:
- Working with the Managing Director and executive team to shape Distinct’s partner distribution strategy and channel economics.
- Owning revenue targets and commercial performance for partner-led distribution.
- Building robust business cases for new partnerships, including volume assumptions, contribution, and operational implications.
- Collaborating closely with marketing, product, legal, compliance and operations to onboard, launch and activate partners effectively.
- Ensuring partnerships are operationally viable, compliant and deliver a high-quality customer experience.
- Tracking and reporting pipeline, conversion, and performance metrics to the executive team.
Future build involves establishing the foundations for a scalable partner model, with the potential to build a small team as volumes grow.
About you:
- Previous experience in a Senior Business Development Management role specifically building and growing strategic partnerships with IFA networks.
- Comfortable working in an FCA regulated sector (for example, Funeral Plans, Insurance plans / Financial Services etc).
- Proven track record of originating and closing complex B2B or B2B2C partnerships.
- Experience working with IFAs, financial institutions, or similarly structured intermediaries.
- Experience working in growth businesses, scale-ups or transformation contexts is strongly preferred.
- Strong commercial judgement and commercial negotiation capability.
- End-to-end deal ownership.
- Credible and confident with senior stakeholders.
- Structured, resilient, and persistent, able to manage long sales cycles.
- Hands-on, delivery-focused mindset with low tolerance for ambiguity.
- Collaborative and pragmatic, able to get things done across functions.
You’ll need to pass a DBS (criminal record) check to be considered for this role.
Distinct Cremations is proud to be an FCA accredited, specialist provider of direct cremation services and we are part of the Westerleigh Group. We offer direct cremation services for people wishing to choose a simple, affordable, fuss-free funeral. We pride ourselves on offering exceptional, high-quality care and excellent service to all our customers.
What We Offer:
- Life Assurance
- A choice between 7% employer pension contribution or 5% contribution + private healthcare cover (Bupa)
- Ongoing learning & development
- Access to a wide range of retail discounts and wellbeing support
- Mindfulness App
- The benefit we hope you’ll never need: Free Cremation benefit for Immediate family
- Enhanced maternity & paternity pay
- Employee Assistance / Occupational health support Program
- Free Flu jab
- Free parking
Start a career with significance by applying today.
Head of IFA Strategic Partnerships employer: Distinct Cremations
Distinct Cremations is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and well-being, offering a competitive salary alongside a comprehensive benefits package including life assurance, generous pension contributions, and private healthcare. With a collaborative work culture and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a growing sector, employees can thrive in a supportive environment while contributing to the company's mission of providing high-quality care in direct cremation services.
