At a Glance
- Tasks: Coordinate partnerships and funding relationships to support athletes' transitions beyond sport.
- Company: Join Switch the Play Foundation, the UK's only charity for athlete transition support.
- Benefits: Flexible working, 25 days leave, pension contributions, and a supportive team culture.
- Other info: Exciting growth phase with opportunities for personal and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in athletes' lives while growing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Two years in partnerships or project management, with strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 33000 € per year.
Based at: Home-based, but with some expectation of travel
Reports to: Director of Fundraising
Remuneration: £30,000 - £33,000, dependent on experience
Hours: Full time
Contract: Permanent
About Switch the Play
At Switch the Play Foundation, we believe every sportsperson deserves the support, confidence and opportunity to thrive, during and beyond their sporting career, and that's why we exist! We are the UK’s only charity dedicated to helping sportspeople successfully transition to life outside sport. Through person-centred support, wellbeing services, training and career development, we empower athletes to navigate change, unlock potential, and build fulfilling futures. In 2025 alone, we supported more than 3,500 athletes across the UK, and we’re only just getting started. As we continue to grow our reach and impact, the Senior Partnerships Coordinator will play a pivotal role in ensuring we support many more athletes.
As we continue to embed our new five-year strategy, this is a truly exciting time to join our team and help to scale our impact across the UK.
Role summary
As our Senior Partnerships Coordinator, you will work closely with the Director of Fundraising and our Athlete Services Team to develop and coordinate key funding and stakeholder relationships, supporting the organisation to streamline workflows relating to our growing portfolio of corporate partners and national sporting bodies and organisations. Your proven partnerships expertise will help the team rationalise and coordinate key funding and programme-delivery outputs, and you will be the central lynchpin that enables partnerships to thrive and grow across Switch the Play Foundation.
What you’ll bring
It’s a really exciting time of growth here at Switch the Play, and this brand-new role offers you the opportunity to grow with us! You will be supported to develop the systems and processes needed to manage relationships across all levels of our charity. From drafting partnership proposals and coordinating/attending meetings with prospective & current partners, to tracking partnership activity across the organisation, your ability to calmly manage processes and juggle multiple partnerships will enable us to standardise our approach and ultimately grow and deepen our partnerships across the UK. You will also enjoy building meaningful relationships with key stakeholders and will bring strong interpersonal skills and stewardship experience. You will have a meticulous eye for detail that enables you to accurately coordinate, systematise, and relationship-manage partnerships across the organisation. As a member of a small, energetic and ambitious team, you will work remotely but will also enjoy working collaboratively. You will be willing to travel regularly to attend in-person events and team workshops. Above all, you will bring a passion for supporting elite sportspeople across the sporting ecosystem to thrive.
Our offer to you
- We are a talented and committed team who work hard and enjoy a culture of flexibility, mutual respect and trust.
- Be part of a values-led, supportive and ambitious team
- Help shape a growing organisation at a pivotal moment
- Flexible working and a culture of trust and wellbeing
- 25 days annual leave + bank holidays + 3 days off at Christmas
- Employer pension contribution and CPD budget
- Tech allowance and expenses for UK travel
- Your voice matters—everyone contributes to our strategy and direction
Key Responsibilities
- Partnership tracking: Embedding a system and CRM that will allow full oversight and tracking of all corporate / partnership activity.
- Manage partnership workflows: Establishing and coordinating the workflows needed to progress corporate / delivery partnerships from initial contact to the ultimate goal of them becoming a key funding and/or delivery partner.
- Establish a partnership tiering system: Working with Dir of Fundraising to establish a tiering system that celebrates different levels of charitable support and motivates partners to progress to the next level.
- Partnership prospecting and ethics: Taking a proactive approach to prospecting for new potential partners - aligned to a newly developed ethical framework - both for funding, and for supporting our athletes into future careers.
- Partnership fundraising opportunities: Coordinating income generation opportunities across our partner network (including via events, direct donations, Charity of the Year partnerships etc) to ensure that no windows of opportunity for fundraising or repeat giving are missed, and that funding proposals are submitted by relevant team members in a coordinated and timely manner.
- Impact reporting: Drafting and coordinating annual impact reports for all key partners and ensuring timely submission.
- Proposal writing: Drafting and coordinating new partnership proposals as required, working across the team to ensure all opportunities for funding or delivery support are explored.
- Stewardship: Coordinating a stewardship plan (linked to the tiering system) to ensure that all partners are regularly engaged with and feel valued and involved in our work.
- Partnership comms: Working with our Comms and Marketing Manager to coordinate a partnership comms calendar to ensure our partnerships are publicly celebrated (based on their tier) and that all external comms is tracked and monitored for reporting purposes.
- Meetings and events attendance: Supporting the wider team as necessary at partnership meetings and events (both fundraising and athlete-facing).
Person Specification
Skills- Supremely organised and motivated
- A team player who is happy to work autonomously as required
- Clear, concise and professional communicator - both written and verbal
- Able to support and coordinate relationships at the highest level
- A planner and good at managing detail
- Happy to be front-facing and represent the organisation at key networking events when required
- A quick learner who can adapt intuitively in high-level environments
- Ability to prioritise and juggle multiple workstreams
- At least two years of working in a similar partnerships role
- Experience in systems management and logistical coordination
- Project management experience
- Strong database management skills, including CRM management
- Highly competent in using online file sharing and collaborative spaces
- Experience of working in the third sector will be favoured, but is not essential for this role
- Experience of working in the sports sector will be favoured, but is not essential for this role
- A passion for sport and a drive to improve the support available for sportspeople
- Minimum of two years relevant experience
- Desirable: relevant business management or higher education qualification
- Commitment to the Switch the Play Foundation’s values
- Right to work in the UK
- Current UK resident
- Full driving licence and own vehicle
- Be able to work some evenings and weekends where needed
Switch the Play Foundation is committed to creating a safe working environment and all recruitment follows our Safer Recruitment Policy.
To apply, please send a cover letter outlining why you wish to apply for the role and why you are a suitable candidate, along with your CV.
Senior Partnerships Co-ordinator in Liverpool employer: Switch The Play Foundation
At Switch the Play Foundation, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions flexibility, mutual respect, and personal growth. Our supportive and ambitious team culture empowers you to make a meaningful impact in the lives of athletes while enjoying a healthy work-life balance, with generous benefits including 25 days of annual leave, a pension contribution, and opportunities for professional development. Join us at this pivotal moment in our journey and help shape the future of sportspeople across the UK.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Partnerships Co-ordinator in Liverpool
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the sports and charity sectors. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential partners. You never know who might help you land that dream role!
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for sport! When you’re chatting with potential employers or partners, let your enthusiasm shine through. Share your experiences and how they relate to the role. It’s all about making that personal connection!
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out to organisations you admire, like Switch the Play, and express your interest in working with them. A little initiative can go a long way in getting noticed.
✨Tip Number 4
Utilise our website! Check out the opportunities we have at StudySmarter and apply directly through our site. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Partnerships Co-ordinator in Liverpool
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Make sure to express your passion for supporting athletes and how your experience aligns with the role. Keep it concise but impactful, showing us why you’re the perfect fit for our team.
Tailor Your CV:Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor it to highlight your partnerships experience and any relevant skills that match the job description. We want to see how your background can help us grow and support more athletes.
Showcase Your Organisational Skills:As a Senior Partnerships Coordinator, being organised is key! Use your application to demonstrate your ability to manage multiple partnerships and workflows. Share examples of how you've successfully juggled tasks in the past.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Switch The Play Foundation
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Switch the Play Foundation's mission and values. Understand their approach to supporting athletes and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. This shows genuine interest and helps you connect your skills to their needs.
✨Showcase Your Partnerships Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles where you've successfully managed partnerships or funding relationships. Highlight your organisational skills and how you've streamlined processes in previous positions. This will demonstrate your ability to thrive in the Senior Partnerships Coordinator role.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Come prepared with questions that show your enthusiasm for the role and the organisation. Ask about their current partnerships, future goals, or how they measure success in their initiatives. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if the role is the right fit for you.
✨Be Yourself
While professionalism is key, don’t forget to let your personality shine through. The team at Switch the Play values a supportive and ambitious culture, so being authentic can help you stand out. Share your passion for sports and how it drives your desire to support athletes in their transitions.
