Job Description

The University of Manchester are seeking to appoint a dynamic and experienced Partnership Director.


This is a senior professional services role in a top 50 globally ranked Business School, which will see the Partnership Director providing senior leadership, strategic direction, and management across all partnership activity in Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS), and ensuring high quality commercially driven provision and proactive delivery in the pursuit of the School and University's strategic goals.


The role will require continuous delivery of strategic insight, market intelligence and tactical advice about corporate, public / third sector, and international partnerships to the Head of School, Director of School Operations and School Senior Leadership Team. The postholder will act as the focal point for all activity and effectively work in close partnership with senior academic and professional services colleagues to deliver a coordinated, high-impact partnership portfolio. Revenue generation will be a key focus of the role.


The role is pivotal in delivering the School's strategic vision, enhancing its reputation, and ensuring AMBS is a key player in regional, national, and international ecosystems of innovation, education, and impact. Seamless connectivity with Unit M, Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange (BEKE) and Development and Alumni Relations (DDAR) will be critical measures of success.


The Partnership Director will also deputise, as required, for the Director of School Operations and will have specific oversight, line management and remit responsibility for business school accreditations, rankings and MBA/PGT careers.


Additionally, the Partnership Director will ensure that the School complies with University, Faculty and School rules and regulations as well as with those imposed by external organisations both in the UK and Overseas.

Person Specification

Possess a good first degree or relevant professional qualification and/or have significant proven experience of senior leadership in partnership development, preferably in a higher education or complex organisational context. Have commercial and international business experience, with wide cultural experience. Possess a demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives with measurable impact. Have senior level experience of collaboratively working across organisational structures to deliver collective goals. Have a proactive and highly developed client-oriented approach and a strong understanding of delivering service excellence. Be able to demonstrate a strong and successful outcome and results focused approach. Possess highly developed leadership, diplomacy and interpersonal skills, with a record of: setting strategic direction and delivering against it influencing decisions and policies building high performance, outcomes focused and operationally effective teams building and maintaining external and internal professional working relationships working positively and collaboratively with a range of colleagues from diverse backgrounds. Possess strong creative problem-solving skills and the ability to evaluate alternative courses of action and formulate recommendations. Have a growth mindset and innovative approach to navigating commercial and/or educational delivery. Have experience of leading and delivering business and organisational change. Have experience in managing governance structures and reporting to senior leadership.

As one of the leading Universities our employees enjoy exclusive access to excellent benefits and schemes including:

Generous annual leave allowance, including Christmas/New Year closure Pension scheme membership to provide benefits for you and your family Well-being programme with counselling, fitness and leading sports facilities Learning and development opportunities Season ticket loans for public transport Cycle to Work Scheme Workplace nursery scheme Staff recognition schemes Staff discounts on a range of products and services including travel and high street savings

The University of Manchester is part of the prestigious Russell Group of universities and highly respected across the globe as a centre of teaching excellence and research innovation and discovery.


As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments will be made on merit.


We reserve to right to close the advert early in the instance that we receive a high volume of suitable applicants.


Any CV's submitted by recruitment agencies will be treated as a gift.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Jen Pass, Talent Acquisition Business Partner


Email: Jennifer.pass@manchester.ac.uk

General enquiries:

Email: People.Recruitment@manchester.ac.uk

Technical support:

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date. We reserve to right to close the advert early in the instance that we receive a high volume of suitable applicants.