Senior Partnerships Manager

Merrifield Consultants are delighted to be partnering with BookTrust, the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, to recruit a Senior Partnerships Manager. This is a high-profile leadership role responsible for leading BookTrust’s work across Wales, overseeing the delivery of key programmes, developing strategic partnerships and influencing policy and decision-making.

Salary: £55,000

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full-time (part-time applications may be considered)

Location: Hybrid – Cardiff office, with a minimum of eight face-to-face collaboration days per month and travel across Wales and the UK as required

Benefits: 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, 7% employer pension contribution and much more

Reports to: Director of Partnerships

Line management: 4

Responsibilities

• Act as the senior representative for BookTrust with Welsh Government, funders, partners and key stakeholders.
• Lead BookTrust’s strategic partnerships, external affairs and programme delivery across Wales.
• Secure, manage and develop funding opportunities with Welsh Government and Adnodd to support BookTrust’s strategic priorities in Wales.
• Oversee the successful delivery of BookTrust’s programmes and interventions across Wales, ensuring quality, impact and compliance.
• Manage grant reporting, monitoring and evaluation requirements.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships across education, early years, libraries, local authorities and community sectors.
• Influence policy and decision-making through effective stakeholder engagement and advocacy.
• Monitor developments in Welsh policy and identify opportunities that support BookTrust’s mission.

Person specification

• Significant experience developing senior-level relationships with government, funders and strategic partners.
• Strong understanding of the Welsh political, funding and stakeholder landscape.
• Experience securing, managing and reporting on grant funding.
• Proven track record of developing strategic partnerships that deliver impact and growth.
• Experience using research, insight and evaluation to inform decision-making and stakeholder engagement.
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to build credibility across a wide range of audiences.
• We are keen to speak to candidates who have a basic knowledge and understanding of the Welsh language and feel comfortable using it to broker relationships with key external stakeholders.

We practice a diverse and inclusive recruitment process that ensures equal opportunity for all we work with, irrespective of race, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age or gender. As an organisation, we encourage applications from all backgrounds and will ensure measures are met when required, to allow a fair process throughout.