Institute for Government
Partnerships Manager
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Are you an accomplished communicator with a strong track record in sales, business development, or fundraising – ideally within the think tank, public affairs, public policy, or research sector? Are you skilled at building strong relationships, managing complex projects, and turning nuanced policy ideas into clear, persuasive proposals that resonate with a wide range of audiences?
The Institute for Government (IfG) is seeking a Partnerships Manager to lead the business function within our partnerships team, and to support the Head of Partnerships as the team adapts to the opportunities provided by a new strategic direction for the Institute.
About the Role
This is a great opportunity for an experienced professional who understands the dynamics of the think tank environment and has demonstrated success in securing funding, sponsorships, and/or strategic partnerships. You’ll play a central role at the heart of this leading think tank, supporting our mission to make government more effective.
In this role, you’ll leverage your expertise to drive income generation, influence policy, and engage senior stakeholders, while supporting the success of the wider team. The position offers a clear progression path to Senior Partnerships Manager as you take on larger portfolios, and more strategic accounts and further leadership responsibility.
Responsibilities
- Drive resource generation and fundraising activities: Grow externally funded activity that advances the Institute’s mission, owning a personal resource-generation target and contributing to the team target.
- Business development: Originate, qualify, and progress a 12–18-month pipeline, including corporates, academia, professional bodies, trusts & foundations, and research councils.
- Project delivery: Oversee sponsored research, public events/webinars (including party conference activity), private roundtables, and IfG Academy work, ensuring IfG’s impartiality, independence and reputation are protected.
- Proposal development: Design and pitch offers across co-branded research, events, workshops, and content sponsorship, tailoring to funder priorities, IfG priorities and current political trends.
- Strategic initiatives: Working with the Head of Partnerships to help pivot partnerships activity to best deliver for the IfG’s new strategy. This will include working on existing trusts and foundations strategy, support research-council bids and piloting new revenue-generating initiatives.
- Governance and reporting: Drive weekly funding rhythm, maintaining clean data and contributing to team reports. Oversee contracting, invoicing, and audit standards.
- AI leadership: Champion safe and effective use of Microsoft 365 Copilot and other AI tools to accelerate prospecting, proposal drafting, and reporting, maintaining a prompt/workflow library and applying critical checks to AI outputs in line with IfG policies.
- Team leadership: Line-management, set objectives, coach business development craft, and model best practice.
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Essential skills and experience
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- Minimum 5 years’ experience in public affairs, sales or partnerships in Westminster, with a proven business development/fundraising track record.
- Experience originating and closing partnerships across corporates, academia, professional bodies, and trusts and foundations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write clearly and persuasively and with strong attention to detail.
- Knowledge of UK politics, public policy, and the workings of government.
- Hands-on project/event delivery in a policy/public-affairs setting; a willingness to be involved in all stages of project delivery, when necessary.
- CRM literacy (Salesforce/Zoho) and familiarity with email-marketing/campaign tools (e.g., ActiveCampaign).
- Collaborative, team-oriented approach with excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to build and develop relationships at all levels.
- Previous line-management experience.
Desirable Skills
- Experience within the think tank, public affairs, public policy, or research sector.
- Understanding of funding, sponsorships, and strategic partnerships
For more details, including a person specification, please read the job application pack available on our website. We recommend that all candidates read the job application pack before starting their application.
How to apply
To apply, please follow this link: https://app.beapplied.com/apply/z0mjxlysfm
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