Engagement and Partnership Manager

Melbourne Business School; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Melbourne Business School in Carlton is seeking a Partnerships and Engagement Manager on a fixed-term parental leave replacement, commencing January 2027. The role leads corporate engagement experiences, develops sponsorship revenue and builds partnerships with sponsors, donors, alumni and clients.

Reporting to the Director, External Relations, you will design high-profile events, manage partnerships, and collaborate across External Relations, Marketing, Faculty and Executive Education to

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering high-touch engagement programs for corporate partners, sponsors, donors, alumni and VIP stakeholders.
• Experience overseeing an annual calendar of flagship events and external engagement activities.
• Proven ability to identify, cultivate and manage a pipeline of prospective engagement partners and sponsors.
• Proven ability to develop, pitch and negotiate sponsorship opportunities across events, publications and platforms.
• Experience managing partnership agreements, deliverables, recognition rights and reporting obligations.

Responsibilities

• Designing and delivering high-touch engagement programs for corporate partners, sponsors, donors, alumni, clients and other VIP stakeholders
• Overseeing the School’s annual calendar of flagship events and external engagement activities
• Identifying, cultivating and managing a pipeline of prospective engagement partners and sponsors
• Developing, pitching and negotiating significant sponsorship opportunities across MBS events, publications, research and audience platforms
• Managing partnership agreements, deliverables, recognition rights and reporting obligations
• Demonstrating value and return on investment through tailored partner and sponsor reporting
• Strengthening CRM practices, opportunity management and performance reporting
• Providing leadership and direction for the planning and delivery of premium, high-profile events
• Leading, mentoring and developing the Engagement Lead
• Collaborating across External Relations, Marketing, Faculty, Executive Education and MBS centres and institutes
• You are a commercially minded relationship builder who can deliver memorable stakeholder event experiences and turn ideas into compelling engagement partnership opportunities.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Event management

Sponsorship sales

CRM usage

Strategic partnerships

Job description

Fixed-term parental leave replacement commencing in early January 2027 through to late January 2028

Full-time based at our Carlton campus

Lead high-profile stakeholder event engagement and build partnerships and sponsorships

About Us

Melbourne Business School (MBS) is home to Australia’s leading MBA and business analytics programs, executive education courses and custom learning solutions.

Our purpose is to unleash ideas and leaders for a sustainable future. We aim to be among the top-ranked providers of business education in the Asia-Pacific region and the first choice for students and clients seeking outstanding educational experiences.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director, External Relations, the Partnerships and Engagement Manager plays a key leadership role in strengthening relationships with MBS corporate partners, sponsors, donors, alumni, clients and the wider business community.

You will lead the School’s corporate engagement experiences, support key stakeholder relations and develop event and sponsorship revenue opportunities. Working collaboratively across MBS, you will create high-profile events and reputation-building activities for the School’s most influential audiences.

You will also lead and support the Engagement Lead, ensuring the delivery of exceptional stakeholder event experiences that build the MBS profile and foster enduring relationships.

Key responsibilities include:

Designing and delivering high-touch engagement programs for corporate partners, sponsors, donors, alumni, clients and other VIP stakeholders

Overseeing the School’s annual calendar of flagship events and external engagement activities

Identifying, cultivating and managing a pipeline of prospective engagement partners and sponsors

Developing, pitching and negotiating significant sponsorship opportunities across MBS events, publications, research and audience platforms

Managing partnership agreements, deliverables, recognition rights and reporting obligations

Demonstrating value and return on investment through tailored partner and sponsor reporting

Strengthening CRM practices, opportunity management and performance reporting

Providing leadership and direction for the planning and delivery of premium, high-profile events

Leading, mentoring and developing the Engagement Lead

Collaborating across External Relations, Marketing, Faculty, Executive Education and MBS centres and institutes

About You

You are a commercially minded relationship builder who can deliver memorable stakeholder event experiences and turn ideas into compelling engagement partnership opportunities. You are equally comfortable developing strategy, presenting to senior decision-makers and working closely with colleagues to deliver complex initiatives.

To succeed in this role, you will bring:

Demonstrated experience leading, budgeting and delivering large-scale, premium events for corporate audiences. Experience managing partnerships, sponsorships and stakeholder engagement programs, ideally within a higher education or corporate environment

A strong record of developing, negotiating and generating revenue from corporate events and engagement partnerships and sponsorships

Advanced communication, influencing and negotiation skills

The confidence and professionalism to engage effectively with senior executives and influential stakeholders

Exceptional project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously

A strategic, creative and results-focused approach

Experience using CRM systems and data to support engagement and business development

Demonstrated leadership and people management capability

The flexibility to attend occasional evening or weekend events as required

Why Join Us?

At MBS, you will work with talented colleagues and engage with an influential community of business leaders, alumni, academics and corporate partners.

You will join a collaborative and purpose-driven organisation that values diversity, respect, experimentation, integrity, accountability and excellence. This is an opportunity to make a visible contribution to the School’s external profile while creating partnerships and experiences that deliver genuine value.

Melbourne Business School is committed to creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants.