Partnership Manager - Awarding Organisation in Cheshire, Warrington

£36k - £42k+ negotiable depending on experience plus performance related bonus - must have access to own vehicle. National coverage - remote based with regular travel to Head office in York and frequent national travel to prospective centres, employers, events, conferences, and industry meetings. Overnight stays are a requirement for the role - paid for by our client.

Benefits include 25 days holiday plus 3 days gifted (at company discretion), 10% pension, all business mileage and business related expenses, and flexible working.

The Partnership Manager is responsible for securing new business, generating new revenue, and expanding our awarding body's presence across targeted providers, employers, and strategic partners. The role requires a proactive, opportunity-driven approach, strong communication and presentation skills, and the ability to operate effectively across a wide range of stakeholders within the education and skills sector. The Partnership Manager will also support the Partnership Director in retaining, expanding, and increasing business with existing accounts, supporting account management strategy.

Do you have a proven track record and significant experience in B2B sales or business development? Do you have experience in further education, apprenticeships, or the EPA/Awarding Organisation sector? Do you have experience managing a full sales cycle and achieving business targets, ideally with Hubspot CRM experience and developing business development strategies and pipelines? Do you have a detailed understanding of EPA and apprenticeships in England? Knowledge of Awarding Organisations and the English qualifications market is essential, as well as an understanding of relevant education and skills policy and up-to-date knowledge of apprenticeship assessment reform.

Desirable: Detailed understanding of apprenticeship policy and EPA processes and awareness of the international qualifications market.

Our awarding organisation is a leading, innovative awarding and apprenticeship assessment organisation. They operate across a wide range of sectors including engineering and manufacturing, food and drink, furniture, marine, retail, logistics, and more. As a not-for-profit organisation, they reinvest in their people, products, and customer experience. They are expanding the team to support continued growth in both qualifications and Apprenticeship Assessment, strengthening its presence in priority employer and provider markets.

Purpose of the Role: The Partnership Manager will drive new business activity by identifying, engaging, and converting new providers, centres, and employers. The Partnership Manager will also support the Partnership Director in expanding and increasing business with existing accounts, supporting account management, representing our awarding body at events, conducting market development activities, delivering persuasive sales meetings, and playing a key role in securing new contracts. We are looking for a dynamic, outward-facing candidate with lots of self-motivation, strategic thinking, and the ability to create strong relationships with key decision-makers.

• New Business Acquisition: Proactively identify, engage, and convert new centres, providers, and employers. Manage the full sales cycle from prospecting to contract signing. Prepare and deliver compelling sales presentations and discovery meetings. Build and maintain a high-quality new-business pipeline.
• Market & Opportunity Development: Conduct market research to identify trends, competitor activity, and emerging opportunities. Attend conferences, networking events, provider forums, and industry meetings. Support the development of our client's market intelligence to shape strategic targeting.
• Strategic Relationship Building: Build effective relationships with existing accounts, key industry stakeholders, senior decision-makers, and influencers. Represent our awarding organisation as an ambassador for its values, products, and services. Work collaboratively with the Partnership Director and other account managers to ensure effective handover and long-term retention.
• Reporting & Performance Management: Maintain accurate CRM records, forecasting, and pipeline reporting. Track progress against business development targets and KPIs. Provide regular updates to the Partnership Director, Senior Leadership Team, and the team.
• Collaboration & Internal Alignment: Work closely with Account Managers, Operations, Product Development, and Marketing. Feed market insights into product development and strategic planning. Support cross-team initiatives to improve customer experience and internal processes.

To apply for the Partnership Manager position, please email your CV to Tina Lacey Recruitment, a specialist recruitment agency dedicated to the skills, training, and employability sectors nationwide. We are committed to giving full free pre-interview advice and guidance throughout the interview process.