At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage key employer relationships and drive growth in apprenticeship and training services.
- Company: Join a dynamic organisation focused on workforce development and client partnerships.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, remote work, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Work in a supportive environment with opportunities for networking and career advancement.
- Why this job: Become a trusted partner in shaping workforce solutions and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in account management, consultative sales, and strong relationship-building skills.
We’re looking for an experienced Strategic Client Partnerships Lead to manage and grow a portfolio of key employer relationships across the UK.
This role combines strategic account management, relationship development and commercial growth.
You’ll work closely with senior stakeholders to understand their workforce and talent priorities, demonstrate the value we deliver and identify opportunities to expand our apprenticeship, training and development services.
As the Strategic Client Partnerships Lead, you’ll be more than an account manager—you’ll become a trusted workforce development partner.
The role
You’ll take ownership of an agreed portfolio of strategic clients, with responsibility for retention, relationship growth and revenue.
Key responsibilities include
- Build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including senior decision-makers.
- Develop and execute strategic account plans covering priorities, risks and growth opportunities.
- Lead effective quarterly business reviews, demonstrating performance, learner impact and value.
- Identify and develop opportunities to increase client engagement, programme utilisation and investment.
- Understand workforce, talent and capability challenges and translate them into relevant solutions.
- Develop new relationships and opportunities within existing client organisations.
- Generate pipeline through networking, referrals, targeted outreach and campaigns, while responding to inbound opportunities.
- Work collaboratively with sales, marketing, curriculum, operations and delivery teams to develop compelling solutions.
- Manage negotiations while protecting client relationships, quality and commercial value.
- Maintain accurate CRM records, pipeline forecasts and account information.
- Deliver agreed revenue, retention, conversion and account-growth targets.
- What we’re looking for
You’ll be an accomplished relationship-builder with strong commercial instincts and a track record in strategic account management, consultative sales, client partnerships or business development.
You’ll bring
- Experience achieving commercial or revenue targets.
- Confidence working with multiple stakeholders, including senior leaders.
- Strong consultative selling and opportunity-development skills.
- Excellent account planning, pipeline management and forecasting abilities.
- Strong communication, presentation, influencing and negotiation skills.
- Good commercial judgement and the ability to use data and insight effectively.
- Experience with CRM systems and Microsoft 365.
Desirable experience
Experience in apprenticeships, education or training would be beneficial, but isn’t essential. We’d also welcome candidates with experience in:
- Workforce development, talent or skills.
- Complex B2B services or solution sales.
- Regulated or education-related environments.
- Apprenticeship funding or work-based learning.
- Working across different sectors and adapting solutions to different client needs.
The person
Personable – able to build trust and rapport quickly.
Commercially curious – skilled at uncovering needs and identifying opportunities.
Influential – able to bring stakeholders together and create momentum.
Entrepreneurial – proactive in creating opportunities rather than waiting for them.
Insightful – able to turn data and conversations into action.
Resilient – comfortable handling challenges and setbacks.
Organised and accountable – reliable, proactive and focused on delivery.
Professional and enthusiastic – a credible and engaging representative of the organisation.
What success looks like
- Strategic clients choose to stay and grow with us.
- Relationships develop across a broader range of stakeholders.
- Apprenticeship and commercial training opportunities increase.
- The pipeline is healthy, accurate and well managed.
- Account plans and business reviews deliver genuine client value.
- Clients see us as a trusted strategic workforce partner.
- Revenue, retention and account-growth targets are consistently achieved.
Paul Feldman is the National Skills Agency Data Protection Officer.
Your data will be stored until notice is given by you for it to be removed.
Our Data Protection Policy will be forwarded to you on request.
As we get a high number of applications we may be unable to give feedback to unsuccessful candidates.
We will retain your details to keep you informed of other opportunities.
National Skills Agency Ltd is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy and is an Equal Opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all backgrounds
Strategic Client Partnerships Lead in Manchester employer: National Skills Agency
The National Skills Agency in Hessle is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee development and well-being. With generous benefits such as 42 days of annual leave, a robust pension scheme, and private healthcare, we are committed to fostering a rewarding environment for our Mechanical Instructors. Join us to make a meaningful impact on the next generation of engineers while enjoying a fulfilling career in a vibrant community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Client Partnerships Lead in Manchester
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We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Client Partnerships Lead in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In the business intelligence field, showcasing your analytical skills is a must. Make sure your CV includes relevant experience with data analysis tools, programming languages like SQL or Python, and any projects where you've interpreted complex data sets to drive business decisions.
Showcase Your Business Acumen:Don't just focus on data; show us how you can apply your insights to real-world business problems. Highlight projects where you made a tangible impact on company performance, and be prepared to explain your thought process in your cover letter.
Tailor Your Documents for Us:When applying for a full-time role at National Skills Agency, tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect our organisational goals and strategies. Mention specific tools and methodologies that align with what we do—this shows you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in our mission!
Include Relevant Certifications:Certifications like Google Data Analytics or similar qualifications can really make you stand out in business intelligence. Include these in your application, as they demonstrate your commitment to the field and your willingness to stay current with industry standards.
How to prepare for a job interview at National Skills Agency
✨Show off your analytical skills
In a business intelligence role, you're going to need to demonstrate your analytical prowess. Be prepared to discuss specific tools you've used, like SQL, Tableau, or Power BI. Have real-world examples ready where you’ve turned data into actionable insights – this is what makes us shine in interviews!
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✨Portfolio of Projects
Since it's a full-time role, having a strong portfolio is key! Compile case studies demonstrating your previous projects, preferably showing how your insights led to business improvements. This can help us display how you think through complex datasets and your problem-solving process, which is what employers are keen on seeing.
✨Know their business model
Get familiar with National Skills Agency’s business model and recent data-driven decisions. Be prepared to discuss how your skills can specifically support their objectives or challenges. Understanding their landscape shows that you’re not just a data buff, but you’re also genuinely interested in how BI can impact their bottom line.
