Brand Partnerships Manager

The brand partnerships manager will play a pivotal role in identifying, developing and maintaining corporate sponsorship and brand partnerships that align with Somerset House’s mission and artistic objectives. This includes cultivating new business, managing existing relationships and coordinating the delivery of partnership activations across a variety of events and projects.

What you’ll be doing

• Support the delivery of Somerset House’s Brand Partnerships strategy, working with the Senior Brand Partnerships Manager to meet agreed income targets.
• Proactively identify and cultivate prospective brand and agency partners across sectors aligned with Somerset House’s programmes.
• Build and maintain a healthy new‑business pipeline informed by market insight, trend monitoring and competitor analysis.
• Represent Somerset House at industry events, meetings and networking opportunities to raise visibility and generate new leads.
• Undertake initial outreach to prospective partners, including cold approaches where appropriate.
• Research brand prospects in accordance with due diligence processes and produce detailed reports to support cultivation and engagement.
• Build and manage a personal portfolio of brand and agency prospects, using systematic processes to identify, cultivate and convert new partnership opportunities.
• Secure brand partnerships and sponsorships at the five and six‑figure level to support Somerset House’s development targets.
• Work with internal teams to shape and refine partnership products, opportunities and assets, ensuring they meet market needs and appeal to brand partners.

Sponsorship Rights, Pitching & Sales

• Work with internal teams to gather project information, understand rights and assets, and help shape partnership packages.
• Develop tailored, creative proposals and pitch materials that align partner objectives with Somerset House’s mission and creative programmes.
• Support the Senior Brand Partnerships Manager and Head of Development with negotiations and contracting, ensuring agreements are accurate, timely and compliant.
• Maintain current knowledge of trends in sponsorship, brand partnerships, marketing and cultural collaboration.

Account Management & Activation

• Act as day‑to‑day contact for selected partners, providing outstanding partner care and ensuring relationships are managed professionally, positively and responsively.
• Manage renewal cycles for existing partners, identifying opportunities to extend, enhance or grow partnerships in line with organisational priorities.
• Coordinate partnership delivery across departments, ensuring contractual rights and benefits are fulfilled to a high standard.
• Assist with the planning and execution of activations, working with colleagues across Marketing & Communications, Production, Programming teams and Visitor Experience.
• Produce timely and insightful reporting and evaluation materials for partners.
• Maintain accurate records of all activity, contacts, proposals, contracts and financial information using Tessitura and internal systems.
• Provide regular reports, updates and analysis on your portfolio including financial reporting and pipeline analysis.
• Liaise with Somerset House Trust’s Head of Legal to draft and issue sponsorship and partnership contracts.
• Request and process invoices and monitor payment schedules of brand partners and sponsors.
• Work collaboratively across Somerset House to ensure brand partnerships contribute positively to artistic, commercial and public objectives.

General Responsibilities

• Contribute to a culture of partnership excellence, upholding high standards of stewardship, service and relationship management.
• Champion the value of brand partnerships internally, helping colleagues understand how they support Somerset House’s wider mission.
• Undertake any other duties reasonably required in support of the Development team and Somerset House’s organisational objectives.

We are looking for someone who has Experience & Knowledge – Essential

• Demonstrable track record of securing brand partnerships or sponsorships at the four‑ and five‑figure level, working to commercial income targets.
• Experience cultivating and managing partnerships in a brand, agency, commercial, cultural or not‑for‑profit environment.
• Evidence of delivering strong stewardship and relationship‑building activity, leading to renewals or partnership growth.
• Strong understanding of marketing, communications and audience engagement principles, especially how brands activate within cultural or creative contexts.
• Familiarity with partnership rights, approval processes, brand governance and asset management.
• Knowledge of GDPR, data protection and relevant aspects of the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Practice, where applicable.

Desirable

• Experience managing brand partnerships in a cultural or creative organisation.
• Experience developing or shaping new partnership products or packages.
• Experience securing higher‑value partnerships (six‑figure and above).
• Experience working within the arts, culture, media or creative industries.
• Strong financial literacy, including experience reporting on partnership value, income forecasting and pipeline management.
• Experience collaborating on or delivering co‑branded marketing campaigns, social content plans or creative activations.

Skills

• Creative, Communication & Presentation Skills
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling proposals, pitch decks and partnership narratives.
• Demonstrable ability to generate creative partnership ideas, content concepts and activation approaches that align partner and organisational goals.
• Confident presenter, able to communicate persuasively with brands, agencies and senior stakeholders.
• Ability to translate complex artistic or cultural projects into clear, commercially relevant opportunities for partners.

• Relationship Management & Collaboration
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including negotiation, expectation setting and relationship building at all levels.
• Excellent networking skills and confidence representing Somerset House externally.
• Collaborative working style, able to work effectively across marketing, programme, production and communications teams to deliver integrated partnerships.

• Organisational & Operational Skills
• Meticulous attention to detail and consistently high standards of accuracy.
• Strong administrative and project‑management skills, with the ability to manage a varied workload and meet deadlines.
• Confident CRM user (ideally Tessitura), with the ability to maintain accurate contact, financial and pipeline records.
• Ability to act with tact, discretion and professionalism at all times.

Benefits to working at Somerset House

• Mental Health & Wellbeing
• Access to our external Employee Assistance Programme (CiC) for free 24/7 confidential advice and support, including up to 6 free counselling sessions per year where needed.
• Mental health support and guidance from our in‑house trained Mental Health First Aiders.
• Hybrid working based on having 3 days in the office per week (pro‑rata if part‑time).
• Contribution towards eye tests and glasses.
• Trust life insurance scheme.

• Holiday
• Enhanced annual leave – 25 days plus bank holidays (pro‑rata).
• Birthday leave – additional day leave.
• Celebration day – to celebrate anything of your choice.

• Other Leave
• Sick leave – 20 days full pay, followed by 20 days half pay (pro‑rata & following 3 months service).
• Emergency dependent care – option to use 25% of paid sick leave for emergency care of a dependent (pro‑rata & following 3 months service).
• Enhanced maternity pay.

• Pension
• 8% employer pension contributions, no employee contribution required*.
• Option for salary sacrifice.
• Interest‑free loans.
• Season ticket loan.
• Cycle to Work scheme.

• Discounts, offers and free stuff
• The list is endless and includes tickets to Somerset House events and entrance to other London Heritage sites.
• Discounts in Somerset House cafes and restaurants.
• Discounts with various high‑street retailers and restaurants.
• Discount to local leisure centres.

*following 3 months employment