Partnerships Manager

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Additional paid time off

Cultural and community leave

Professional development/training

Job summary

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is seeking a Senior Partnerships Manager to drive strategic partnerships across corporate, government, media and philanthropy sectors. You will lead high-value proposals, secure multi-year sponsorships and manage key partners to maximize impact and revenue.

This role collaborates across Marketing, Events and Finance to deliver partner activations for the Festival and year-round programs, while advancing inclusion and community impact.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years' experience managing corporate partnership portfolios or similar.
• Understanding of social impact and CSR principles.

Responsibilities

• Identify, develop and secure new partnership opportunities.
• Lead partnership proposals, negotiations and contracting for sponsorships.
• Manage a portfolio of existing partners including renewals and growth.

Skills

Corporate partnerships

Negotiation

Account management

Business development

Project management

Budget monitoring

Stakeholder engagement

Community partnerships

Education

Tertiary qualifications in communications/commerce/marketing/business

Job description

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras – Sydney CBD NSW

Senior Partnerships Manager (Strategic Partnerships & Growth) Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Sydney | Full Time

Build partnerships that create impact, drive growth and help shape one of Australia's most iconic organisations.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a leading not-for-profit organisation producing the iconic Mardi Gras Festival and Parade, alongside a growing portfolio of community events throughout the year.

Since 1978, we have been on a mission to amplify the voices and raise the visibility of LGBTQIA+ communities. We aim to inspire the world to love boldly and celebrate diversity in all its forms through arts, creativity and pride.

Guided by our belief that "Our Joy is Power", we continue to champion inclusion, equity and social justice in Australia and beyond.

About the role

Reporting to the Senior Partnerships Manager, you'll join a collaborative, commercially minded and purpose-driven team that maintains highly visible relationships across corporate Australia, government, media, philanthropy and community sectors — representing one of Australia's most recognised and respected brands.

Key responsibilities include:

• Identifying, developing and securing new partnership opportunities through proactive research, business development and outreach, aligned with organisational priorities and revenue targets
• Leading partnership proposals, presentations, negotiations and contracting, and identifying opportunities to grow sponsorship value and multi-year commitments
• Managing a portfolio of existing partners to a world-class standard, leading renewal planning and developing account growth plans to maximise retention and value
• Coordinating the delivery of partnership benefits across the Festival and year-round programs, including Parade, Fair Day, ticketing, hospitality, social, digital and marketing deliverables
• Leading the planning and delivery of partner activations, working closely with our Festival & Events, Operations and Marketing teams and external contractors
• Maintaining an accurate partnership pipeline, revenue forecasts and partner records within CRM, and providing regular reporting on performance, renewals and business development activity
• Monitoring partnership invoicing, contracting and payments in collaboration with Finance
• Supporting broader revenue initiatives, including donor, supporter and fundraising activity

This role may require domestic travel and work outside core business hours, including evenings and weekends, during periods of peak workload.

About You

You're a commercially minded relationship builder with a strong track record in managing corporate partnerships, and a genuine passion for creating value for both our partners and our communities.

You’ll bring:

• 5–7 years' experience managing corporate partnership portfolios, high-value not-for-profit and business partnerships, or commercial key accounts
• A demonstrated understanding of social impact and corporate social responsibility principles and practices
• Proven negotiation skills, with a sound understanding of sponsorship contracts and basic legal language
• Experience developing and delivering partner creative and operational plans, including brand activations and large-scale events
• Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple partnerships, deadlines and competing priorities
• Strong financial management experience, including budget and variance monitoring
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the confidence to engage and influence senior corporate, media and community stakeholders
• The ability to balance commercial outcomes with community impact and organisational values
• Strong links to the LGBTQIA+ and First Nations communities
• Tertiary qualifications in communications, commerce, marketing, business or a related field, experience in not-for-profit, community or LGBTQIA+ organisations, and knowledge of current for-purpose sector trends will be highly regarded but are not essential.

Why Join Us?

• A genuinely inclusive, values-led workplace where you can bring your whole self to work.
• Additional paid time off between Christmas and New Year.
• Access to cultural and community leave, including for significant community and cultural events.
• Ongoing training and professional development, including in cultural safety and inclusive practice.
• The chance to do work that genuinely matters to our communities.

Inclusion and Diversity

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is committed to being an inclusive and equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in all its forms and are dedicated to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, supported and able to bring their authentic selves to work.

We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability, and people of all sexualities and gender identities.

We believe that a diverse workforce strengthens our organisation, our work and our impact, and we are committed to a culture grounded in equity, inclusion and belonging.

We are happy to make reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process, including alternative formats, extra time or a support person to make sure it is accessible to you. Just let us know what you need when you apply.

Applicants are welcome to use their chosen name and pronouns throughout the recruitment process, regardless of what appears on formal identification documents.