At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead partnerships, drive fundraising, and manage impactful projects in a dynamic think tank environment.
- Company: Join the Institute for Government, a leading think tank focused on effective governance.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and opportunities for career progression.
- Other info: Collaborative team culture with a focus on innovation and strategic growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in public policy while building valuable relationships and influencing change.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in public affairs or partnerships with strong communication and project management skills.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
Are you an accomplished communicator with a strong track record in sales, business development, or fundraising – ideally within the think tank, public affairs, public policy, or research sector? Are you skilled at building strong relationships, managing complex projects, and turning nuanced policy ideas into clear, persuasive proposals that resonate with a wide range of audiences?
The Institute for Government (IfG) is seeking a Partnerships Manager to lead the business function within our partnerships team, and to support the Head of Partnerships as the team adapts to the opportunities provided by a new strategic direction for the Institute.
About the Role
This is a great opportunity for an experienced professional who understands the dynamics of the think tank environment and has demonstrated success in securing funding, sponsorships, and/or strategic partnerships. You’ll play a central role at the heart of this leading think tank, supporting our mission to make government more effective.
In this role, you’ll leverage your expertise to drive income generation, influence policy, and engage senior stakeholders, while supporting the success of the wider team. The position offers a clear progression path to Senior Partnerships Manager as you take on larger portfolios, and more strategic accounts and further leadership responsibility.
Responsibilities
- Drive resource generation and fundraising activities: Grow externally funded activity that advances the Institute’s mission, owning a personal resource-generation target and contributing to the team target.
- Business development: Originate, qualify, and progress a 12–18-month pipeline, including corporates, academia, professional bodies, trusts & foundations, and research councils.
- Project delivery: Oversee sponsored research, public events/webinars (including party conference activity), private roundtables, and IfG Academy work, ensuring IfG’s impartiality, independence and reputation are protected.
- Proposal development: Design and pitch offers across co-branded research, events, workshops, and content sponsorship, tailoring to funder priorities, IfG priorities and current political trends.
- Strategic initiatives: Working with the Head of Partnerships to help pivot partnerships activity to best deliver for the IfG’s new strategy. This will include working on existing trusts and foundations strategy, support research-council bids and piloting new revenue-generating initiatives.
- Governance and reporting: Drive weekly funding rhythm, maintaining clean data and contributing to team reports. Oversee contracting, invoicing, and audit standards.
- AI leadership: Champion safe and effective use of Microsoft 365 Copilot and other AI tools to accelerate prospecting, proposal drafting, and reporting, maintaining a prompt/workflow library and applying critical checks to AI outputs in line with IfG policies.
- Team leadership: Line-management, set objectives, coach business development craft, and model best practice.
Essential skills and experience
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in public affairs, sales or partnerships in Westminster, with a proven business development/fundraising track record.
- Experience originating and closing partnerships across corporates, academia, professional bodies, and trusts and foundations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write clearly and persuasively and with strong attention to detail.
- Knowledge of UK politics, public policy, and the workings of government.
- Hands‑on project/event delivery in a policy/public‑affairs setting; a willingness to be involved in all stages of project delivery, when necessary.
- CRM literacy (Salesforce/Zoho) and familiarity with email‑marketing/campaign tools (e.g., ActiveCampaign).
- Collaborative, team‑oriented approach with excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to build and develop relationships at all levels.
- Specific experience of adapting to new strategic priorities and delivering through strategic and structural organisational change.
- AI and digital skills: working knowledge of Microsoft 365 Copilot, prompt/workflow design, and awareness of data protection/confidentiality.
Partnerships Manager employer: Institute for Government
The Institute for Government (IfG) is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, making it an ideal place for professionals passionate about driving impactful partnerships. Located in the heart of London, IfG offers competitive benefits, opportunities for professional development, and a commitment to employee growth, ensuring that you can thrive while contributing to meaningful projects that shape public policy and governance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Partnerships Manager
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Institute for Government.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Institute for Government.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Institute for Government.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Institute for Government. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Partnerships Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Institute for Government. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Partnerships Manager, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Institute for Government
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Institute for Government. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
