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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead income generation and partnerships to empower young people across the UK.
- Company: Join a dynamic charity focused on social mobility and youth opportunities.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and a supportive team culture.
- Why this job: Make a real difference while developing your leadership skills in a meaningful role.
- Qualifications: Experience in fundraising and partnership management is essential.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with excellent career growth and networking opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 62000 ÂŁ per year.
Application Deadline: 28 April 2026
Department: Partnerships & Income Development
Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time
Location: London, UK
Reporting To: Chief Executive
Compensation: ÂŁ60,000 / year
Description Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent
Salary Band: ÂŁ60,000, plus ÂŁ2,200 London weighting if applicable
Location: Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Manchester or Newcastle
Hours: 5 days per week; 9AM-5.30PM (flexible working hours available)
Start date: As soon as possible, as agreed with candidate
The Opportunity
As Head of Partnerships & Income Development you will own the development and delivery of the SMF’s income generation strategy so that we can raise the funds and build the partnerships we need to meet our ambitions. Commercially minded and experienced at building and stewarding strong, mutually beneficial funder relationships, the successful candidate will be an inspiring leader who can empower their team to be creative, proactive and tenacious and leverage our networks of support to tap into new opportunities. You will be passionate about providing access and opportunity for young people across the UK, capable of working at the very highest level, and excited by the personal professional growth this role and the organisation could offer you. You will be accountable for overseeing and developing our impressive portfolio of corporate funding relationships and partnerships, through which we deliver on our strategic priorities and generate most of our £3.2m income. You will also lead and develop our other income streams including trusts and foundations, earned income from the Social Mobility Employer Index, and philanthropy. As well as setting strategy and giving direction to the team, you’ll enjoy managing some of our most significant partnerships yourself and building the foundations for diversifying our income. As a valued member of the senior management team, you will work closely with the board of trustees, Chief Executive and senior leadership colleagues to shape and deliver our strategy and business plan and develop our charity and our people.
Key Responsibilities
- Set and implement a robust income generation strategy to enable the SMF to achieve its strategic ambitions, setting targets, monitoring and reporting on income performance and supporting accurate forecasts and projections.
- Lead a culture of excellent fundraising and relationship management across the SMF and ensure the right resources, systems and skills are in place to support all staff that hold funding relationships.
- Represent the SMF externally with funders, partners and other stakeholders, seeking opportunities to increase our network and build our influence and reputation as an effective charity partner.
- Work with the Head of Finance and Operations to ensure strong processes to support income generation including income forecasts, budgets and partnership reports and records.
- Oversee the SMF’s portfolio of corporate partnerships including strategic partnerships and partnerships focused on enabling and enhancing our student programmes.
- Manage individual high value corporate partnerships and ensure excellent stewardship of all our corporate partnerships.
- Oversee the development of compelling cases for support and a robust new business pipeline for corporate partnerships.
- Oversee our corporate volunteering offer including employee volunteering with our student programmes and skilled volunteering/pro bono support.
- Oversee the delivery and development of the Social Mobility Employer Index.
- Oversee the design and development of other products and services for employers through which the SMF can earn income and influence workplace social mobility.
- Oversee the SMF’s relationships with trusts and foundations, building a strong long‑term funding pipeline.
- Build and manage relationships with key trusts and foundations.
- Oversee the development of our supporter community and opportunities for individual giving and fundraising through challenge events.
- Identify opportunities to build philanthropic relationships with individual donors and supporters.
- Manage, motivate and develop the team, setting team and individual goals and evaluating performance, coaching and motivating staff and supporting professional development and staff wellbeing.
- Lead across the organisation, fostering a collaborative and high performance culture and modelling the SMF’s leadership behaviours.
- Work with the CEO and the rest of the SMT to shape the SMF’s strategic priorities, set the annual business plan, budget and key projects, and monitor delivery and performance.
Person Specification
We need someone who will demonstrate our organisational skills-based competencies - as listed below:
- Leadership
- Communication
- Adaptability
- Professionalism
- Decision-making
Technical Knowledge, Understanding and Experience Required
- Experience in managing a significant funding portfolio, stewarding and developing partnerships and ensuring effective account management.
- Experience in securing funding, including scoping opportunities and prospects, setting targets and building a pipeline, and shaping proposals.
- Confident in representing the SMF externally and engaging with senior stakeholders.
- Able to motivate, develop and inspire a team and ensure that high standards of performance and behaviours are maintained.
- Ability to develop and manage budgets and forecasts, team and individual income targets and monitor income performance.
- Familiar with using a CRM as a tool for partnership and income development.
Ways of Working
Most of our work is office based, but you will spend a lot of time collaborating with other teams and clients via email, telephone and other communications channels such as Teams or Zoom.
Travel
Able to travel around the UK as necessary. Some travel to other offices and other locations will occasionally be expected.
Benefits
- 36/37 days (England & Wales and Scotland respectively - includes bank holidays) calculated on a pro rata basis with 3 of these days reserved for the annual end of year office closure.
- Cycle to Work Scheme.
- 5% Salary sacrifice pension scheme with enhanced matching employer contributions.
- Employee Assistance Programme available to staff and their family.
- Flexible work options such as hybrid working, flexitime, part-time.
- Regular staff team building and business planning “away days”.
Head of Partnerships & Income Development employer: Socialmobility
Contact Detail:
Socialmobility Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Partnerships & Income Development
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to potential partners or mentors. You never know who might help you land that dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Understand their mission and how your skills can contribute to their goals. Practise common interview questions and have your own questions ready to show your interest and enthusiasm.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in making a lasting impression. It shows your appreciation and keeps you on their radar as they make their decision.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge. Plus, it’s super easy to keep track of your applications this way!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Partnerships & Income Development
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of Partnerships & Income Development role. Highlight your experience in managing funding portfolios and building partnerships, as this is what we’re really looking for!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: We want to see how you can inspire and motivate a team. Share examples of how you've led teams in the past and the impact it had on your projects. This will help us understand your leadership style and how you can fit into our culture.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and enthusiasm.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it helps us keep everything organised!
How to prepare for a job interview at Socialmobility
✨Know Your Income Generation Strategy
Before the interview, make sure you understand the income generation strategy of the organisation. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals and how you can contribute to raising funds and building partnerships.
✨Showcase Your Relationship Management Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed partnerships in the past. Highlight your ability to build and maintain strong relationships with funders and stakeholders, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Qualities
As a potential leader, be prepared to discuss your leadership style and how you motivate teams. Share specific instances where you've inspired your team to achieve targets or overcome challenges.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and adaptability. Think about challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you navigated them, especially in fundraising or partnership contexts.