Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager

This job is with Virgin Media O₂, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community.

We have an exciting new opening for a Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager to be accountable for managing and developing strategic relationships with key Internet Service Provider (ISP) customers and partners. You'll act as the primary interface between the organisation and its customer base, focusing on strengthening customer engagement, ensuring effective governance of strategic partnerships, driving service excellence, and identifying opportunities to deliver additional business value through collaboration and relationship management. Working across multiple internal functions, the role is responsible for representing customer requirements, aligning internal stakeholders to customer priorities, and maintaining strong executive-level relationships to support business growth, retention, and customer satisfaction.

At Virgin Media O₂, we connect people to the moments that matter most. Virgin Media leads the UK for broadband reliability, speed and overall performance, while O₂ keeps people connected on the move with award-winning coverage. We're also proud to be named one of the Financial Times Top 500 Best Employers for 2026, based on one of the UK's largest employee satisfaction surveys. Join us and you'll be part of a team that stays curious, positive and focused on making life easier for our customers and each other. We're investing in the future of connectivity, from expanding next-generation 5G to exploring satellite-supported solutions that help reach rural communities and hard-to-connect places. You'll work with people who back good ideas and give you plenty of room to grow. So if you're looking for a place where you can feel supported, trusted and genuinely valued, you'll feel right at home here.

We're a flexible-first organisation, because we know people do their best work when they have choice and clarity. To support meaningful collaboration, we ask everyone to spend at least eight days a month connecting with each other in person. That doesn't just mean time in the office - it could be team meetings, offsites, volunteering days, cross-functional projects, or away days. What matters is making those moments count - so when we come together, it benefits everyone.

We believe a better tomorrow starts with the choices we make today. That means moving the dial on diversity, building equity into everything we do and putting inclusion at the heart of our business. Virgin Media O₂ is an equal opportunities employer and we work hard to remove bias and barriers. We want every person who joins us - and everyone thinking about joining us - to feel seen, heard and supported. When you work with us, you'll have access to our award-winning employee network groups. These communities bring people together, champion allyship and create uplifting spaces where you can learn, share and feel part of something bigger. They play a big role in helping people feel connected from day one.

The must haves:

• Proven experience managing strategic supplier, partner, wholesale, telecommunications or ISP customer relationships, with a strong track record of developing long-term trusted partnerships and influencing executive-level stakeholders.
• Strong capability to engage, influence and align stakeholders at all levels, internally and externally, with proven success in driving outcomes, resolving competing priorities and securing customer and business alignment.
• Sound understanding of commercial drivers, customer value, contractual obligations and growth opportunities, with evidence of delivering tangible business outcomes.
• Proven experience leading governance forums, service reviews and partner performance discussions, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement.
• Strong understanding of supplier management, contractual governance, service delivery and telecommunications operations, supported by demonstrable examples from previous roles.

The other stuff we are looking for:

• Ability to champion customer outcomes and coordinate cross-functional teams to deliver service excellence.
• Previous experience working with other major national telco providers, or similar strategic telecommunications partners is highly desirable.
• Experience managing customer performance, service reviews and governance processes.
• Skilled at managing complex issues, customer escalations and achieving positive outcomes.

What's in it for you:

We know life isn't just about work, so our benefits are built to support you in the moments that matter. You'll get Bupa healthcare, wellbeing support, life cover, a pension and generous holiday - plus your birthday off. And there's more. Enjoy some extra perks on us, with optional electric vehicle lease and Cycle2Work schemes, dental insurance, neurodiversity assessments, and brilliant discounts on broadband, TV and mobile. You'll even get access to the Virgin Family platform and the O₂ Priority app, with exclusive rewards, experiences and chances to attend events at The O₂ and beyond.

Next steps:

If this feels like a place where you can belong, we'd love to see what you can do. Once you apply, the next steps might include a call with a recruiter, a video interview, an interview with the hiring manager and a task or assessment. We'll also ask about any adjustments you might need, and we'll do our best to make them happen. We review applications and interview throughout the advert window, so it's worth applying sooner rather than later. If you're offered the role, the offer will be subject to background checks, including a criminal record check and, for some roles, a financial background check.