Business Development and Partnerships Manager, GOOD THINGS FOUNDATION

Guardian Jobs; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits

Flexible working patterns

Hybrid/Home working

Job summary

Good Things Foundation in the UK is seeking a resourceful business development all-rounder to secure unrestricted income through corporate partnerships, tenders and sponsorship. You will sell social impact with commercial sharpness and credibility, and shape propositions aligned to our mission.

Based in Sheffield, London or nearby with UK travel, this external-facing role sits in the Partnerships and Fundraising Team.

Qualifications

• External-facing role requiring face-to-face relationship building, networking and public speaking.
• Ability to translate social impact into compelling business cases for investment.

Responsibilities

• Drive corporate business development from opportunity creation through to close and growth.
• Develop and take to market Good Things Foundation’s consultancy offer.
• Secure funded roles for Good Things as a social value partner in public-sector procurements.
• Build innovative partnerships enabling pro bono expertise, donated products and non-cash value.

Job description

Role Description

We are looking for a resourceful, imaginative business development all-rounder. We want you to secure income for the charity aligned with our goals - whether from fundraising with corporate and other partners, winning commercial tenders, or sponsorship. You will be able to sell social impact with commercial sharpness, warmth and credibility, and have the judgement and drive to make things happen.

Role Description

We are looking for a resourceful, imaginative business development all-rounder. We want you to secure income for the charity aligned with our goals - whether from fundraising with corporate and other partners, winning commercial tenders, or sponsorship. You will be able to sell social impact with commercial sharpness, warmth and credibility, and have the judgement and drive to make things happen.

Good Things Foundation is the UK’s leading digital inclusion charity. Our mission is to ensure everyone can participate in our digital society, driving impact through the National Databank, National Device Bank and National Digital Inclusion Network - the nation’s social infrastructure for digital inclusion.

People Need Three Things To Participate In Digital Society

• Connection: access to data and devices.
• Confidence: training and skills, including digital, AI and media literacy and online safety.
• Support: trusted, local help at the point of need.

Our 2026-2028 Strategy Has Three Priorities

• delivering data, devices and skills training at scale through our 9,000-strong National Digital Inclusion Network, whose local organisations work directly with people facing digital exclusion across the country;
• building evidence about what works by running pilots and testing new approaches in towns and cities, then sharing the findings through the What Works? Co-Lab for Digital Inclusion; and
• advocating for fairer digital systems through partnerships and policy change.

Delivering our strategy depends on building ambitious, long-term corporate partnerships. Securing them requires consultative, relationship-led business development: understanding what matters to each organisation and translating measurable social impact into a compelling case for investment.

You will drive corporate business development from opportunity creation through to close and growth. Your core mandate is to secure unrestricted income for Good Things’ wider work, funding for ambitious digital inclusion programmes and innovation at scale, and device donations for the National Device Bank.

You will also develop and take to market Good Things’ consultancy offer; secure funded roles for Good Things as a social value partner in major public-sector procurements; and build innovative partnerships that unlock pro bono expertise, donated products and services, joint go-to-market opportunities and other non-cash value. These partnerships should strengthen our products, services and operations, extend our reach or release budget for mission delivery.

This is an external-facing role, centred on face-to-face relationship building, networking, events, pitching and public speaking. You will be able to work autonomously and be trusted to shape propositions, make decisions and take proportionate risks, while working across Good Things to ensure every offer is strategically aligned, credible and deliverable.

The role is permanent and sits within the Partnerships and Fundraising Team. Corporate funding and partnerships are the clear priority; direct government tenders and trusts and foundations are occasional supporting responsibilities.

Important details

• Location: Hybrid/Home Working. Good Things Foundation is headquartered in Sheffield. We welcome candidates based in Sheffield, London or somewhere with practical access to both. Staff work flexibly across home and face-to-face settings. The role requires regular UK travel, particularly to Sheffield and London, for meetings, networking, events and public speaking. Travel to Sheffield to fulfil your role duties is considered normal commuting and the costs or time will not be reimbursed.
• Salary: £39,000-£44,100 depending on experience, plus excellent benefits
• Contract: Full-time. Flexibility of working patterns may be discussed with candidates if required
• Closing date: 11.55pm Sunday 6th September
• Provisional interview dates: 1st stage, informal chat - Thursday 17th September; 2nd stage, interview - Thursday 24th September

Please read our note to candidates on the use of AI in your application.

Please note, we are not currently in a position to offer remote working from abroad or provide sponsorship at this time. We will only be able to consider applications from candidates based in the UK who already have the right to work full time hours.