Partnership Manager

West of England Partnership; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Hybrid working

Pension scheme

Bus travel discounts

Job summary

West of England Mayoral Combined Authority seeks a Partnership Manager to lead a portfolio of strategic partnerships, aligning with regional priorities and delivering measurable outcomes. You will develop strong relationships across local government, business, education and the voluntary sector to tackle shared challenges and maximize impact.

The role emphasizes governance, performance monitoring and providing strategic guidance to partners and senior leaders, with a hybrid working model and

Qualifications

• Experience managing and developing complex, high-impact partnerships and stakeholder networks.
• Able to build credibility with senior leaders and partners from diverse sectors.
• Skilled at influencing, negotiating and bringing people together around common objectives.
• Uses evidence and strategic thinking to support decision-making and improve outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead a portfolio of strategic partnerships, ensured to be well-governed and outcome-focused.
• Develop relationships with public, private and voluntary sector stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities, resolve challenges and support delivery of regional programmes.
• Provide expert advice and strategic support to partners and senior leaders.

Skills

Partnership management

Stakeholder networks

Influencing & negotiating

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Collaboration

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - 70 Redcliff Street, Bristol

Introduction to the role and applicant profile

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) is seeking to appoint aPartnership Manager, to join the Partnership Development team.

Your key responsibility will be to build, manage and strengthen strategic partnerships that help deliver the Mayor's priorities and create positive, lasting outcomes for people, businesses and communities across the West of England. You will play a key role in bringing together partners from across local government, business, education and the voluntary sector to tackle shared challenges, unlock opportunities and maximise collective impact.

We're looking for a strategic and collaborative professional who is passionate about partnership working and creating meaningful change through strong relationships and shared ambition.

This is acritical time in our transformation and growth journey, and you'll be pivotal in helping us achieve our ambitions by:

• Supporting the development and delivery of high-impact regional partnerships and initiatives.
• Developing strong relationships with key stakeholders across the public, private and voluntary sectors.
• Ensuring partnership activity is aligned to regional priorities and delivers measurable outcomes.
• Completing robust planning, governance and performance monitoring activities to support successful delivery.
• Providing expert advice, insight and strategic support to partners, colleagues and senior leaders.

What you’ll be doing

Are you someone who can build trusted relationships, influence a wide range of stakeholders and bring people together around a shared vision?

As Partnership Manager, you'll lead a portfolio of strategic partnerships, ensuring they are well-governed, outcome-focused and aligned with the Combined Authority's priorities. You'll work collaboratively with partners to identify opportunities, resolve challenges, develop new initiatives and support the successful delivery of regional programmes.

You'll represent the Combined Authority with confidence and credibility, helping to secure commitment to shared ambitions and ensuring partners are supported to achieve meaningful outcomes for the region.

What you’ll bring

You'll be an experienced partnership professional with a proven track record of working across organisational boundaries to deliver shared goals.

We're particularly interested in people who:

• Have experience managing and developing complex, high-impact partnerships and stakeholder networks.
• Can build credibility and trust with senior leaders and partners from diverse sectors.
• Are skilled at influencing, negotiating and bringing people together around common objectives.
• Use evidence, insight and strategic thinking to support decision-making and improve outcomes.
• Thrive in collaborative environments and are motivated by making a positive difference to places and communities.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills and can translate complex issues into clear and engaging messages

Why choose us?

The Partnership Development Team plays a central role in fostering collaboration across the West of England, helping partners work together to tackle shared challenges and deliver long-term regional priorities.

This is an opportunity to make a real difference by shaping partnerships that support economic growth, stronger communities and improved opportunities for people across the region. You'll work alongside passionate colleagues and influential partners while contributing directly to the Mayor's vision for the West of England.

We will accept secondment applications for this role.

Find out more

There’s more role-related formation is in the job description, but if you have any questions for the recruitment team you can contact us on [e-mail] .

We are based ina new bright and airy office, with all the latest technology, close to Bristol Temple Meads Train Station.

Alongside the opportunity to make a real differenceto the people who visit, live and work in the West of England, we offer an excellent benefits package including:

• 26 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years continuous service. There is also the option to increase your annual leave with our annual leave purchase scheme.
• 2 days ofpaid leave each year to volunteer
• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• Flexible, family friendly and hybrid working options to ensure you achieve the best work/life balance and career goals. We followa hybrid working model with typically 2 or 3 days in the office each week
• Reduced bus fare travel across the West of England

We believe in fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, empowering you to thrive in your career. We prioritise your growth and success byprovidinga diverse range of learning and development opportunities. Our goal is to keep you motivated, equipped with essential skills, and confident in delivering excellent services.

The salary for this role is £48,738 - £53,051. This is the full-time equivalent salary, and will be pro-rata for part-time . We advertise salary ranges for job roles, with new appointments for external candidates typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, where higher skill levels or experience are applicable, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees.

Good Employment Charter https://www.goodemploymentcharter.co.uk/ As a founding Member of the West of England Good Employment Charter and accredited Living Wage Employer, we’re committed to creating a diverse environment where all our employees can thrive. We make sure all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment and we particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or citizenship status.

Fair and Inclusive Recruitment

We want everyone to have a fair opportunity to work with us. We are committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Our recruitment processes are designed to be fair, accessible and free from unlawful discrimination, in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Reasonable Adjustments If you have an accessibility need, disability, condition or need any additional support that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process (for example, you might need to submit your application in a different format), please get in touch with our Resourcing Team at [e-mail] . We are here to assist and accommodate your needs.

Closing dates Our roles close at midnight on the closing date. Please note this vacancy may close early or be extended depending on the number of applications so if you have started your application, we’ll give you notice of the new closing date by email.

From a recruitment agency?

We’re not engaging with agencies for this role. Any CVs received from agencies will be considered as unsolicited and the property of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, with no obligation to pay agency fees.