Senior Partnerships Manager

Overview

We started our journey back in 2005, building the first ever peer-to-peer lending company. In 2020 we launched Zopa Bank, redefining what it feels like to work in finance. We aim to put people first and empower everyone to aim high, every day, to move finance forward. Zopa is proud of its achievements, including being named among the UK\\\’s Most Loved Workplaces. If you thrive on unconventional challenges and want to make an outsized impact, you\\\’ll fit in here at Zopa.

We are expanding our partnerships business and are seeking a Senior Partnerships Manager to help take Zopa to the next level. This role supports our growth strategy by finding and delivering several new large partnerships across loans, car finance, and credit cards, over the next 12 months. Working with the Partnerships Director, you will identify new prospective partners, shape pitches, and manage the delivery and launch of new partnerships. You will scope, deliver, and launch partnerships with stakeholders across Zopa and with partner organisations.

Note: Please keep in mind that no candidate will meet every single qualification. If your experience differs, we would still love to hear how you could add value.

Responsibilities

• Develop the partnership pipeline for loans, cards and car finance; originate new opportunities using tools such as LinkedIn, your network, events, etc.
• Qualify leads at a high level to ensure they meet our criteria, including the commercial size of the opportunity.
• Run weekly sales meetings to track pipeline status and key priorities for the team.
• Book and lead partnership meetings, presenting Zopa\\\’s key USPs and shaping the partnership opportunity.
• Lead the development of compelling partnership pitches, working with design and marketing colleagues.
• Lead contractual and commercial negotiations once partnerships are secured.
• Define the scope of the partnership with the partner and stakeholders across Zopa (originations product teams, risk and compliance, design, marketing, operations, data analytics, credit decisioning, and more).
• Lead the delivery of new partnership relationships, shaping project plans, defining roles and responsibilities, and monitoring progress.
• Complete all change governance required for delivering new partnerships.
• Manage ongoing relationships after launch, focusing on growing the partnership with the respective product team.
• Demonstrate experience in launching partnerships that deliver strong customer and commercial results.
• Adapt communication style and build relationships quickly to gain buy-in.
• Demonstrate tenacity, focus on goals, and ability to work in fast-paced environments.
• Operate with a customer-oriented mindset, recognizing that partnerships must meet genuine customer needs.

Qualifications

• Experience in developing and delivering large partnerships, ideally in financial services or related sectors.
• Proven ability to prospect, qualify, negotiate, and close partnerships with cross-functional teams.
• Strong collaboration skills with product, risk, design, marketing, and operations stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills; ability to tailor pitches to different audiences.
• Comfort with change governance and managing multiple partnerships simultaneously.
• Resilience and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Customer-centric mindset with a track record of delivering measurable outcomes.
• From September 2025, Zopa will open a new office in Manchester; hybrid role requires 2-3 days per week in the Manchester office. Optional remote work from abroad for up to 120 days a year where allowed. Right to work in country of choice required.

Benefits and Working Style

We value flexible ways of working, face-to-face collaboration, and a healthy work-life balance. This hybrid role includes in-person time in Manchester and offers options for remote work where permitted.

Diversity Statement: Zopa is committed to a workplace free from discrimination. Diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds leads to better products and a unique culture. We are nearly 50 nationalities strong and have a DE&I forum. We are happy to provide reasonable adjustments in the hiring process upon request.