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- Tasks: Manage partnerships and support impactful leadership initiatives with diverse organisations.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to shaping a better future through responsible leadership.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, private health insurance, and a generous learning budget.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team that values curiosity, care, and collaboration.
- Why this job: Gain exposure to senior leaders and make a real difference in the world.
- Qualifications: Up to 3 years in an externally facing role with strong relationship-building skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
About the Role
We're looking for an ambitious Partnerships Associate to play a central role in stewarding partnerships with organisations and leaders who have the power to shape a better future. This is a relationships-focused role. Working within the Institute’s Practice, you'll be the day-to-day point of contact for partners across business, government, and civil society. You'll help keep momentum around their leadership agenda, identify new opportunities, support the delivery of high-quality partner experiences, and keep relationships close, well-run, and genuinely meaningful. This role offers the chance to work closely with senior leaders, steward impactful relationships and see first-hand how our work creates impact.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Steward and grow our most important partnerships
- Manage a portfolio of the Forward Institute’s partnerships, ensuring stakeholders are thoughtfully maintained and developed.
- Support the preparation of briefings, updates and materials that keep partners close to our work and mission.
- Coordinate partner onboarding, working with our Engine and Practice to ensure smooth handovers and a high quality first experience.
- Build momentum around new opportunities
- Help identify and track new partnership opportunities, maintaining a clear picture of where conversations are and what needs to happen next.
- Coordinate meetings, prepare proposal materials and drive timely follow up to keep new business conversations moving.
- Develop a strong understanding of partner context and needs, helping to connect their priorities with the Forward Institute’s content and ideas.
- Deliver high quality partnership activity
- Coordinate and deliver partnership activity, including leadership offsites, events and roundtables – working across the Institute to bring these to life.
- Act as a reliable, organised point of contact for partners on day-to-day activity, ensuring a consistently high standard of experience.
- Maintain accurate CRM data, and reporting to support partnership strategies and insights.
- Contribute to our external presence and learning
- Attend events and help champion the Forward Institute’s mission and community externally.
About You
We're looking for someone with strong relational instincts, commercial curiosity and a genuine interest in how responsible leadership creates impact. You'll be early in your career but ready to work with senior people, take ownership of relationships, and help convert opportunity into momentum.
Mindset
- You’re ambitious and entrepreneurial – you spot opportunities, take initiative, and find creative routes through challenge.
- You’re deeply curious, interested in ideas about leadership and responsibility and value learning from the perspectives of others.
- You’re collaborative and thrive in a dynamic environment where no two days look the same.
- You’re aligned with our mission and have conviction in the change we want to make in the world.
Capabilities
- You’re a highly organised executor, with the ability to juggle competing priorities and keep systems running smoothly.
- You can hold and steward multiple relationships simultaneously, keeping things moving with care and precision.
- You communicate complex ideas clearly and can tailor your approach depending on who’s in the room.
- You’re comfortable using, or open to learning, CRMs and AI tools to work smarter and with greater pace.
Experience
- Up to 3 years experience in an externally facing role.
About us
Shaping a better future through responsible leadership. We are a leadership organisation with a single founding conviction: the future will be shaped by the quality of leadership at the top of our most important organisations. We work with senior leaders across society - from FTSE boards and global companies to central government, the military and national institutions. Our partners are the people whose decisions shape markets, allocate capital, set policy, and determine the direction of the organisations that millions of people depend on.
The world is at an inflection point. The decisions being made right now - about AI, about climate, about the shape of our institutions and economies - will set the direction for a generation. Yet the leadership model that most organisations still run on - built for stability, focused on optimisation, designed to manage rather than to direct - is not fit for a world where the future is genuinely up for grabs. We call what's needed responsible leadership: the creative and courageous use of power to shape a better future.
Through our advisory practice, leadership programmes and a growing community of more than 1,500 senior leaders, we help organisations close the gap between the leadership they have and the leadership this moment demands. Founded in 2015 and non-profit by design, we combine intellectual and commercial rigour with the relational depth that comes from a decade of working at the most senior levels.
Benefits
We are a small, ambitious team working at one of the most important intersections of our time - between leadership, responsibility, and the future we're trying to collectively build. This is the place for people who bring genuine conviction to their work, who hold themselves and others to a high standard, and for people who are motivated by the belief that better is possible.
Our culture
- We are pragmatic idealists. Our work is built around a single conviction – that responsible leadership is the most important lever in shaping the future.
- We care. True responsibility requires care, for the work, for the people we work with, and for the leaders we support.
- We build from multiple perspectives. We work with leaders from across business, government, and civil society, and from a range of backgrounds, because difference drives better thinking.
- We challenge assumptions. We ask the questions others don't. Clarity starts with curiosity, and courage means acting on it.
Benefits include:
- Hybrid working (2-3 days in our London office).
- Private health insurance.
- A generous learning & development budget, and regular team training and annual retreat to support development.
- Pension contributions.
How to Apply
To apply, please send your CV and a covering video (maximum 90 seconds) answering the following question: What do you think responsible leadership looks like, and why does it matter? We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences.
We want to make this process as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you have any access needs or specific requirements, please get in touch with fran.carver@forward.institute. Applications for this role are closing on Friday 29th May. To apply, please follow this link.
First round interviews will be, where possible, on Wednesday 3rd May. Second round interviews will be in our office, and where possible on Wednesday 10th June. You must have the right to work in the UK.
Partnerships Associate in London employer: Forward Institute
Contact Detail:
Forward Institute Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Partnerships Associate in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get networking! Reach out to people in your desired field, especially those connected to the Forward Institute. Attend events, join relevant groups, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews like a pro! Research the organisation and its partnerships thoroughly. Think about how your skills align with their mission and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their goals. Show them you’re not just another candidate, but someone who genuinely cares about responsible leadership.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A simple thank-you email can go a long way. Mention something specific from your conversation to remind them of your enthusiasm and fit for the role. It shows you’re proactive and really interested in the position.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our mission to shape a better future through responsible leadership.
We think you need these skills to ace Partnerships Associate in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Authentic: When you're writing your application, let your true self shine through. We want to see your personality and passion for responsible leadership. Don't just regurgitate your CV; tell us why this role excites you!
Tailor Your Message: Make sure to align your experiences and skills with what we’re looking for in a Partnerships Associate. Highlight how your background connects with our mission and the specific responsibilities of the role. Show us you’ve done your homework!
Keep It Concise: We appreciate clarity and brevity. Make your points clear and to the point. Avoid fluff and focus on what really matters. Remember, quality over quantity is key in your written application.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on being part of our community from the get-go!
How to prepare for a job interview at Forward Institute
✨Know Your Partnerships
Before the interview, dive deep into the partnerships that the organisation has. Understand their mission and how they align with your values. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you articulate how you can contribute to maintaining and growing these relationships.
✨Showcase Your Relational Skills
Since this role is all about relationships, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully built and maintained connections in previous roles. Use specific anecdotes that highlight your communication skills and ability to manage multiple stakeholders effectively.
✨Demonstrate Your Curiosity
The job description mentions a need for commercial curiosity. Prepare questions that reflect your interest in responsible leadership and how it impacts various sectors. This will demonstrate your eagerness to learn and engage with the organisation's mission.
✨Be Organised and Proactive
During the interview, showcase your organisational skills by discussing how you manage competing priorities. You might even want to bring a portfolio or notes that outline your approach to coordinating activities and ensuring high-quality partner experiences.