Job Description

Strategic Business Development Manager - UK&I




We are seeking a Strategic Business Development Manager to join our fast-growing Business Development function, driving revenue expansion and ecosystem growth across our medium product portfolio. This is a high-impact role responsible for building, managing, and scaling strategic partnership programmes that accelerate Sage's presence across the UK & Ireland.




You will work across a dynamic partner landscape--including private equity firms, accountants, scaleups, and technology communities--to develop new go-to-market propositions and strengthen Sage's strategic position in the market. Your efforts will directly influence customer acquisition, retention, and revenue performance by creating meaningful partnerships and enabling seamless collaboration across marketing, sales, and customer success teams.




This is a hybrid position with 3 days per week in our London office

Key Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities




Strategic Relationship Management




Build and manage strategic partnerships with key business groups, membership organisations, and industry influencers.




Identify and engage with new ecosystem partners across priority verticals to extend Sage's reach and value proposition.




Negotiate and manage partnership agreements that drive measurable business outcomes.




Collaboration and Expertise




Partner closely with marketing, sales, product, alliances, and customer success teams to deliver aligned go-to-market strategies.




Develop deep understanding of partner and customer buying processes within target verticals.




Enable both direct and partner sales teams to effectively communicate Sage's value propositions.




Go-to-Market Strategy and Execution




Shape and deliver multi-channel go-to-market plans to strengthen brand awareness and product adoption.




Collaborate with marketing teams to create targeted messaging, campaigns, and event activations.




Represent Sage at industry events, conferences, and networking forums to promote our market leadership.




Operational Effectiveness and Performance




Monitor and report on partnership performance, pipeline generation, and conversion metrics.




Support sales cycles through strategic partnership engagement and lead conversion initiatives.




Contribute to the preparation of internal and external reports, providing insights and recommendations to drive continuous improvement.




Skills, Knowledge, and Experience




A well-rounded professional, confident operating across both commercial and technical environments.




Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, including experience engaging senior executives.




Proven ability to build and execute structured business development plans that deliver measurable results.




Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret market trends and translate insights into strategy.




A collaborative mindset with a strong work ethic and commitment to high performance.




Demonstrated adaptability to evolving business needs and market dynamics.




Preferred:




5+ years' experience in business development or partnership management.




Experience presenting to executive stakeholders.




Familiarity with the Sage partner ecosystem or a comparable software environment.




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