University Partnerships Manager

University Partnerships Manager

We are seeking an experienced relationship manager to develop university partnerships that improve access to higher education for disadvantaged students.

Salary: £20,004 pro rata (£33,340 FTE), or £21,804 pro rata (£36,340 FTE) for those living in a London borough
Location: Remote within England, Scotland or Wales, with bimonthly meetings in London and occasional UK travel
Hours: Part-time, 22.5 hours per week over three days (between Monday to Friday)
Contract: Fixed term until 31 December 2027
Closing date: Monday 28th September at 9am

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to manage and grow a portfolio of university partnerships built around a shared commitment to widening participation and improving educational opportunities.

You will provide excellent account management and stewardship, ensuring university partners receive timely communication, meaningful engagement and high-quality impact reporting. You will strengthen existing relationships, support partnership renewals and identify opportunities to secure continued or increased funding.

Working closely with senior leaders and colleagues across fundraising, communications and programme delivery, you will:

• Manage relationships with university partners and key stakeholders
• Coordinate partnership milestones, events and engagement activities
• Produce clear and compelling proposals, reports and cases for support
• Support the research and development of new university partnerships
• Monitor higher education and widening participation policy and sector trends
• Raise the organisation’s profile across the higher education sector
• Maintain accurate CRM records, income pipelines and forecasts
• Ensure fundraising activity complies with regulations and sector best practice

About you

You will be a confident and credible relationship manager with experience of developing partnerships, generating income or achieving successful fundraising or sales outcomes.

You will need:

• Good knowledge of widening participation and the higher education policy landscape
• Strong relationship-building, influencing and negotiation skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• The ability to develop persuasive proposals and cases for support
• Strong organisational and project management skills
• The ability to manage competing priorities and work collaboratively
• A genuine commitment to educational equity and social mobility

Experience within higher education or charity fundraising would be advantageous, as would experience of impact reporting and using a fundraising database such as Salesforce.

About the organisation

You will be joining an education charity that supports young people from under-resourced backgrounds to access leading universities. Through a combination of tuition and in-school mentoring, the organisation helps students improve their grades, navigate the university application process and fulfil their potential.

Benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave p.a. (pro rata) plus Bank Holidays and 5 Winter closure days
• PerkBox
• Employee Assistance Programme, a 24-hour helpline for staff.
• Online Medical assistance
• Interest-free travelcard loan
• Cyclescheme loans
• 2 paid Volunteering Days and 1 paid Wellbeing Day
• Employer’s pensions contributions (3%).
• Learning and Development opportunities.

The organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

As a proud to be a Level 1 Disability Confident employer, if you require any reasonable adjustments please contact us. Please note, if you are selected for appointment to the role, you will be subject to a DBS check.

Applications are particularly welcomed from people from under-represented backgrounds and those with lived experience connected to the organisation’s mission.

Appointment is subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including a DBS check.

Other roles you may have experience of could include University Partnerships Officer, Higher Education Partnerships Manager, Widening Participation Manager, Corporate Partnerships Manager, Fundraising Manager, Account Manager, Relationship Manager, Partnerships Development Manager or University Engagement Manager.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, NFP People. #INDNFP