The Partnership Development Manager for Trusts, Foundations and Public sector funders will implement and monitor Comic Relief’s strategy for partnership development with other funders. This role will coordinate with roles across the Impact & Investment department to ensure there is a clear and compelling business case for funders to partner with Comic Relief, and that these partnerships are aligned with our Social Change Strategy.                                                 

Key responsibilities

• To implement and monitor Comic Relief’s strategy for partnerships with trusts, foundations and public sector funders – including government, UN and multi-national bodies as well as corporate foundations

• To deliver against a clear income target of £15-25 million annually, including through new business, whether through grant income, contractual income, partnership or match giving alliance

• To clearly negotiate contractual and legal frameworks for partnerships that deliver restricted and unrestricted income to help deliver Comic Relief’s social change strategy

• To ensure consistency and clarity in Comic Relief’s unique offering to potential new funding partners

• To bring together learning from successful and unsuccessful funding partnership bids and negotiations

• To act as a focal point for any general queries related to Trust, Foundation and public sector funders

• To work with Media to promote the achievements and learning coming from these partnerships.

• To work with portfolio managers and Heads of to ensure that sufficient core costs and management fees are included in all funder partnership agreements, working closely with Finance and Legal to manage this consistently

• To support relevant portfolio managers to ensure Comic Relief remains compliant with all partnership contractual obligations.  Relationship management will be the responsibility of the portfolio managers.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• Solid experience of high-level relationship management and support which enables senior stakeholders to grow income and networks

• Proven experience of negotiating and managing large, multi-faceted funding partnerships in the voluntary sector.

• Experience of building and sustaining effective working relationships both internally in a cross-organizational capacity and with a range of external stakeholders

• Knowledge of Trusts, Foundations and Institutions Funding sector in the UK

• Exceptional communication, networking, influencing and persuading skills.

• Experience of writing and pitching successful funding bids and meeting often conflicting deadlines

• A proactive professional, able to use their initiative to achieve successful outcomes

• Excellent attention to detail, time management and organisational skills

Desirable criteria:

• Knowledge of Trusts, Foundations and Institutions Funding sector internationally

Inclusivity at Comic Relief

We recognise diversity and inclusion are a source of strength in achieving our mission. We therefore welcome everyone, trusting what makes us different brings creativity, styles and experiences to help us collectively do our best work. That’s regardless of your gender, ethnicity, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, and cultural identity. We especially welcome those from under-represented groups in modern grant-making and fundraising. We are on a journey, but if you join our team you will be part of a community that is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where we want you to:

• Be valued for being yourself

• Do your best work, and be supported to break down barriers so you can succeed

• Be heard, respected, and treated as an equal, whatever your level, experience or background

• Be part of a team that is committed to making this happen – with our colleagues, partners, and contributors.

Comic Relief is committed to preventing and protecting all people from harm in their interactions with us. We expect all those that act in our name to uphold our approach to doing no harm.