At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and manage impactful partner relationships to drive growth and co-selling success.
- Company: Join a Microsoft Solutions Partner recognised for using technology for positive change.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving partnerships that deliver tangible business value.
- Qualifications: Experience in business development and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Simpson Associates transforms raw data into actionable insights that drive positive change. Our Microsoft data expertise, our specialist sector knowledge, plus our innovative and trusted advice and guidance are just some of the reasons clients choose to work with us. Our mission is to help purpose‑led organisations from within the public and private sectors to harness data as a lever for change and enable them to realise business value more quickly. We provide the full range of services to support organisations on their data transformation journey. From advisory support and data strategy, to developing Data & AI solutions, right through to providing a range of managed services.
We are a Microsoft Solutions Partner, holding Specialisations in AI Platform on Microsoft Azure, Analytics on Microsoft Azure, Data Warehouse Migration to Microsoft Azure and Migrate Enterprise Applications to Microsoft Azure, as well as holding Solutions Partner designations in Data & AI (Azure); Digital & App Innovation (Azure); Infrastructure (Azure) and Security. We are proud to be recognised as the winner of the 2024 Microsoft Community Response Partner of the Year award, reflecting our dedication to using technology for positive change. We are also a Databricks partner, and an IBM Gold Partner, specialising in Cognos Analytics and Planning Analytics. With offices in York and Sheffield, and a team based throughout the UK – we champion creativity, innovation and collaboration in the workplace.
The Role
Our Alliance Manager will build, manage and scale high impact partner relationships that drive pipeline growth, co‑selling success and long‑term revenue. The role is focused on building partnerships that deliver tangible sales opportunities and fostering relationships between Simpson Associates salespeople and their relevant equivalents in the partner organisation to ensure alliance partners are enabled, engaged and delivering results. You will work alongside our Partner Manager, who owns our strategic vendor partnerships. You will be the primary internal owner for your portfolio of strategic alliances, ensuring that we have clear joint understanding of our opportunities for co‑selling and co‑delivery. This will include initial identification of partnership opportunities, establishing a commercial relationship, providing sales enablement support to partner sales teams, and driving their engagement with Simpson Associate offerings. To maximise effectiveness in this role, you will need to establish a regular rhythm of face‑to‑face meetings with your partner portfolio, and therefore regular UK‑wide travel will be required.
Key Responsibilities
- Partner Strategy and Revenue Growth
- Work with stakeholders across the business to define an alliances strategy and operational plan, identifying target partner organisations which offer potential for substantial commercial opportunity.
- Act as a primary point of contact for agreed co‑delivery partners, ensuring strong alignment on strategy and execution.
- Identify realistic potential for co‑sell revenue, working with partner stakeholders to drive a joint plan and forecast.
- Build strong relationships, acting as an evangelist for Simpson Associates’ capabilities, and selling the value of working with us to target and existing partner organisations.
- Drive pipeline generation through partner led opportunities to deliver an agreed target.
- Equip partners with essential tools, training and resources, enabling and motivating partner sales teams to incorporate Simpson Associates services into their sales plans.
- Establish operational processes to track and drive partner opportunities.
- Support straightforward opportunities through the whole sales process and engage the relevant pre‑sales and sales resource for more complex opportunities as needed.
- Foster and support relationships between Simpsons Associates sellers and relevant contacts in our partner organisations.
- Marketing and Ecosystem Engagement
- Drive awareness of our brand through networking with partner sales, leadership and enablement teams.
- Work with Marketing to maximise opportunities for joint GTM messaging with partner organisations.
- Support and coordinate joint marketing and promotional activities with partners.
- Share learnings and insights back into the business to inform sales and strategic execution.
- Governance and Operational Alignment
- Ensure all internal processes required to support a partner‑co‑sell GTM motion are in place and documented.
- Manage partner portals for logging and maintaining opportunities, funding and certifications.
- Ensure that partner opportunities are accurately logged and kept up to date in Hubspot.
- Use Hubspot effectively to track your sales and networking activity with partner organisations.
Skills and Attributes Required
- Proven business development experience within data transformation or related professional services businesses, ideally with experience in an alliance or partner management role.
- Ability to identify, evaluate and prioritise partner organisations that can drive meaningful commercial value.
- Technical aptitude, able to understand and articulate services and product offerings.
- Demonstrated ability to source and develop revenue opportunities via partner ecosystems.
- Excellent communication skills, able to articulate business value and service propositions in a partner context.
- Experience of sales enablement activity, with confidence in producing materials, training and messaging to promote service offerings to partner teams.
- Strong forecasting and pipeline management, maximising CRM systems to support your work.
- Proven influencing and networking skills, able to initiate and sustain productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Able to build influence through expertise, reliability and consistent value delivery.
- Collaborative mindset, naturally working across teams and recognises that partnerships rely on shared success.
- Experience of selling into a public sector environment would be beneficial.
Alliance Manager employer: Simpson Associates
Contact Detail:
Simpson Associates Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Alliance Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential partners or colleagues on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for data transformation! When you get the chance to chat with someone from a company like Simpson Associates, make sure to express your enthusiasm for how data can drive change. Share your ideas and insights; it shows you're not just looking for a job, but you genuinely care about the mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those face-to-face meetings! Research the companies you’re interested in and come armed with questions and suggestions. This will demonstrate your commitment and help you stand out as a candidate who’s ready to hit the ground running.
✨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 the team and are willing to take that extra step.
We think you need these skills to ace Alliance Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Alliance Manager role. Highlight your experience in business development and partner management, and show how your skills align with our mission at Simpson Associates.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of how you’ve driven revenue growth or built successful partnerships in the past. We love seeing tangible results that demonstrate your impact!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We value creativity and collaboration, so don’t hesitate to express your passion for data transformation and how you can contribute to our team.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role without any hiccups!
How to prepare for a job interview at Simpson Associates
✨Know Your Partners
Before the interview, research Simpson Associates and their partner ecosystem. Understand their key partnerships and how they leverage these relationships for growth. This will help you articulate how you can contribute to building and managing these alliances effectively.
✨Showcase Your Sales Enablement Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully enabled partner sales teams in the past. Be ready to discuss specific tools or training you've provided that led to increased sales or improved collaboration. This will demonstrate your ability to drive pipeline growth through effective partner engagement.
✨Demonstrate Your Strategic Thinking
Think about how you would approach developing a partner strategy for Simpson Associates. Be prepared to discuss potential target organisations and how you would evaluate their commercial value. This shows that you can think critically and strategically about partnership opportunities.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice articulating your thoughts on data transformation and the value of partnerships. Clear communication is key in this role, so ensure you can convey complex ideas simply and effectively. This will help you connect with the interviewers and showcase your excellent communication skills.