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- Tasks: Lead strategic partnerships and drive revenue growth in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Distinct Cremations, a leading provider in the funeral services sector.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension options, private healthcare, and ongoing development.
- Other info: Flexible working options and a supportive team culture.
- Why this job: Be part of a meaningful journey, making a real impact in a growing company.
- Qualifications: Experience in business development and building partnerships in financial services.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ 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.
What success looks like in the first 12 months:
- Material impact on revenue growth and the long-term distribution model of the business.
- A clearly defined and prioritised partner pipeline across IFAs.
- Signed distribution agreements with high quality partners – at least one in each channel.
- Early revenue flowing through partner channels, with clear unit economics and scalability.
- Credibility established with senior external stakeholders and internally across product, marketing, and operations.
- A repeatable partnership model that can be scaled and, over time, supported by additional resource.
This rewarding opportunity involves:
- 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:
- 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.
If you would like to join the Distinct Cremations team, you can be sure of a warm welcome, ongoing development and a sense of pride by truly making a difference every day. In addition to salary, you will also be eligible for the following benefits:
- 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 Strategic Partnerships in West Bromwich employer: Distinct Cremations
Contact Detail:
Distinct Cremations Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Strategic Partnerships in West Bromwich
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential partners or colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its culture, especially how they approach strategic partnerships. Be ready to discuss your past successes in building partnerships and how you can bring that experience to Distinct Cremations.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your hands-on approach! In your conversations, highlight your ability to take ownership of projects and drive results. Share specific examples of how you've successfully navigated complex negotiations and built strong relationships in the financial services sector.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our growth journey at Distinct Cremations.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Strategic Partnerships in West Bromwich
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of Strategic Partnerships role. Highlight your experience in building strategic partnerships, especially within the insurance or financial services sectors, to show us you’re the right fit.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; we want to see your impact! Use specific examples of how you've originated and closed partnerships, and any revenue growth you've driven. Numbers speak volumes!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who’s hands-on and collaborative, so don’t be afraid to share your passion for business development and how you can contribute to our growth journey.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity with Distinct Cremations!
How to prepare for a job interview at Distinct Cremations
✨Know Your Numbers
Before the interview, brush up on your key metrics and achievements in previous roles. Be ready to discuss specific revenue growth figures or successful partnerships you've secured, especially within the IFA distribution channels. This will show your commercial acumen and ability to drive results.
✨Understand the Company’s Vision
Take some time to research Distinct Cremations and their growth strategy. Familiarise yourself with their services and how they plan to expand into new markets. This knowledge will help you align your answers with their goals and demonstrate your genuine interest in being part of their journey.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask you to describe how you would handle specific situations, such as negotiating a partnership or overcoming challenges in a long sales cycle. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses clearly and effectively.
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit
Since this role involves working closely with various teams, be prepared to discuss examples of how you've successfully collaborated across functions in the past. Highlight your ability to work with marketing, product, and compliance teams to launch and activate partnerships effectively.