Corporate Partnerships Lead

We are looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Corporate Partnerships Lead to join our Fundraising Team at our Head Office in Islington. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly experienced Corporate Partnerships Lead to join Look Ahead, a charitable housing association supporting around 4,000 people across London and the South East with various needs, including homelessness, mental health, learning disabilities, domestic abuse, and care leavers.

You will be experienced in establishing programmes, working independently and establishing corporate partnerships in charitable or non-profit organisations that do not necessarily have registered charity status. Open to part-time and flexible working options, including freelancer options. This is a one year fixed term contract.

What you’ll do:

• Partnership Development: Lead on the development of a new corporate partnerships programme for Look Ahead - researching, identifying, approaching, securing and activating a pipeline of new corporate partners. Develop tailored proposals and partnership opportunities that align with Look Ahead's mission, vision, values and strategic objectives and meet needs of our services and people we support. Work closely with Operations to identify corporate opportunities (e.g. to secure corporate funding for activity in a particular service, customer group or geographic location) and match and maximise potential corporate donors.
• Partnership Management: Develop and implement partnership strategies that drive financial, in-kind and employee support (e.g. through challenge/community fundraising events) in support of Look Ahead's work. Build, steward and nurture long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with key corporate stakeholders, through a stewardship approach. Lead the management of existing corporate partnerships, ensuring clear communication, tracking of deliverables, and maintaining a positive relationship with all stakeholders. Build on existing relationships developed through our corporate volunteering and social value activity, developing these into longer-term, higher-value partnerships.

About you:

• A genuine interest in housing and social care and a commitment to Look Ahead's mission.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to work well with internal and external contacts.
• An excellent networker, capable of connecting with internal and external contacts at all levels to shape, influence and negotiate partnerships.

What you’ll bring:

• Essential: 3 years relevant experience in a similar role with proven track record of developing successful fundraising relationships with new corporate partners or new business development. Demonstratable previous success in achieving targets and raising five and six figure gifts. Experience of liaising with and managing high level supporters or customers with a solid understanding of the principles of excellent stewardship. An entrepreneurial, proactive and delivery-focused approach to your work, with drive and motivation towards achieving targets. Creative thinker with a solution-focused approach. Financially and IT literate with good knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite. Demonstrable excellent communication skills - written, multimedia and face to face. Excellent attention to detail and good project and time management skills. Experience of adhering to GDPR legislation.
• Desirable: Knowledge or experience of social value and Employee Social Governance (ESG) initiatives and how they align with the goals of housing associations is an advantage.

About us: Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role. We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date. We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.