Partnerships Manager

a2b Global Media Ltd; Exeter; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

a2b Global Media Ltd in Exeter is seeking a proactive Partnerships Manager to identify and secure new business opportunities across global transport sectors. You will manage end-to-end sales cycles, nurture long-term client relationships and coordinate quarterly business reviews to maximise value from partnerships.

This office-based, full-time role requires strong consultative selling skills, excellent communication, and willingness to travel to UK and European events.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of the Sandler sales methodology and its practical use in B2B sales.
• Proven track record in B2B sales, business development, partnerships or account management.
• Strong prospecting, relationship-building and negotiation skills.
• Ability to present performance data to clients and run quarterly reviews.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• New business: identify, prospect and develop opportunities across platforms; manage full sales cycle from outreach to agreement; build long-term client relationships; represent the company at events.
• Account management: manage client portfolio; run quarterly business reviews; provide marketing guidance to maximise ROI; identify renewal and upsell opportunities.
• Internal/admin: coordinate with sales, marketing, editorial and account management; maintain accurate records in CRM; monitor performance and contribute to growth.

Skills

Sandler sales methodology

B2B sales

Prospecting

Relationship building

Negotiation

Client management

Communication skills

Time management

CRM proficiency

Tools

HubSpot

Apollo

Claude

Slack

Job description

Location:

Exeter, Devon, UK (full time, office based, with UK and international travel to events)

Employment Type:

Full time, permanent

Company Description

a2b Global Media Ltd is a growing B2B digital media company specialising in connecting businesses and professionals across the global transport and mobility industries.

Through our five digital platforms, Railway-News, Aviation Industry-News, Bus-News, Future Transport-News and our newest platform, Maritime Industry-News, we provide industry leading news, insights, marketing solutions and advertising opportunities to a global audience of transport professionals.

With a combined annual readership of approximately 3 million, we help our clients increase brand awareness, reach key decision makers and achieve their marketing objectives.

We pride ourselves on building long term relationships, delivering measurable results and providing a consultative, customer focused approach to sales.

As we continue to expand, we’re looking for a motivated and commercially driven Partnerships Manager to join our growing team at our Exeter office.

Role Description

The Partnerships Manager is a full time, office based position in Exeter, Devon, responsible for identifying new business opportunities, developing strategic partnerships and building long term relationships with businesses operating across the global transport and mobility sectors.

This is a consultative B2B sales role, focused on understanding prospective clients' business objectives, identifying their challenges and recommending tailored digital marketing and advertising solutions that deliver measurable value.

Winning the business is only half the job. Once a client is on board, you run that relationship. You will run quarterly business review meetings with your clients looking at their campaign statistics with them and advise them on how to get more value from their partnership in the quarter ahead.

The role also includes travel to industry events and exhibitions. These are mainly in the UK and Europe, with occasional travel further afield.

Our sales approach is a consultative, hybrid methodology built on the principles of Sandler and Caliber and other consultative sales methods. That means a strong emphasis on relationship building, effective questioning, qualification and understanding client needs rather than traditional high pressure selling.

Key Responsibilities

New business

• Identify, prospect and develop new business opportunities across our five international transport and mobility platforms.
• Manage the full sales cycle, from initial outreach and discovery through to proposal, negotiation and agreement.
• Build and maintain strong, long term relationships with prospective clients, advertisers and industry partners.
• Represent a2b Global Media at industry events, exhibitions and conferences across the UK, Europe and occasionally further afield, meeting clients and prospects face to face.

Account management and QBRs

• Manage your own portfolio of clients and act as their main point of contact throughout their partnership.
• Run a Quarterly Business Review (QBR) with every client you manage, sitting down with them once per quarter to review their campaign statistics (such as website views, newsletter open and click rates, social media performance and banner impressions), explain what the numbers mean and agree what to do next.
• Offer practical marketing advice that helps clients get the best return from their investment, acting as a trusted adviser rather than just a supplier.
• Use QBRs to protect and grow accounts, identifying renewal, upgrade and cross platform opportunities based on each client's results and objectives.

Internal and admin

• Work closely with internal sales, marketing, editorial and account management teams to ensure a positive client experience.
• Maintain accurate records of sales activities, opportunities, client meetings and pipelines in HubSpot.
• Monitor sales performance, manage targets and contribute to the company's continued growth.

This job description covers the core of the role but is not exhaustive. As a small, growing company, you may occasionally be asked to support with tasks outside of those listed here.

The Tools You'll Use

You’ll use these tools every day, and we’ll support you in getting up to speed with them:

• HubSpot: our CRM, used to manage pipeline, deals, client records and activity.
• Apollo: prospecting, contact data and outbound sequencing.
• Claude: our AI assistant, used for research, call preparation, QBR preparation and drafting sales content.
• Slack: internal communication across the team.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential requirements

• Knowledge of the Sandler Sales Methodology principles (Caliber and other similar consultative sales methods), with the ability to apply them confidently within a consultative B2B sales approach.
• Proven experience in B2B sales, business development, partnerships or account management.
• Strong prospecting, relationship building and negotiation skills, with a track record of generating new business.
• Confidence managing existing clients, including presenting performance data and running regular review meetings.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to engage with decision makers and senior stakeholders.
• A consultative approach to selling, with the ability to ask insightful questions, identify client challenges and develop appropriate solutions.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple opportunities and priorities.
• Comfortable using CRM systems, sales tools and digital communication tools, and quick to learn new ones.
• Ability to work full time from our Exeter office. This is an on site position and is not a remote or hybrid role, though regular travel to events is part of the job.

Desirable experience

• Previous experience in digital media, advertising, marketing services or B2B publishing.
• Experience selling digital advertising, sponsorship, content marketing or integrated marketing packages.
• Experience running Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) or similar account reviews.
• Knowledge of the railway, aviation, bus, maritime or wider transport and mobility industries.
• Experience using HubSpot, Apollo or similar sales platforms, and using AI tools such as Claude in your day to day work.
• Experience managing international B2B client relationships.

Who You Are

Personality and attitude matter as much as experience in this role. We’re looking for someone who is:

• Coachable. You want feedback and act on it. You’ll receive regular guidance and coaching from the sales leadership team, supported by tools such as Claude, and you see that as a chance to get better, not as criticism.
• Open to new ways of working. However much experience you have, you’re willing to follow our process and adapt your approach. If you prefer to sell your own way regardless of how the team works, this role isn’t the right fit.
• Growth minded. You believe skills can always be developed, you learn from setbacks and you’re always looking to improve, both for yourself and for the business.
• Adaptable. We’re a growing company, so products, processes and priorities evolve. You’re comfortable with change and adjust quickly.
• Willing to pitch in. In a small company, things come up that aren’t written down word for word in a job description. You’re happy to help wherever the team needs it.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who enjoys building relationships, is naturally curious about businesses and their challenges, and understands that successful sales come from asking the right questions and delivering real value, both when winning new clients and when looking after them quarter after quarter.

The ideal candidate will be commercially minded, confident, coachable and motivated, with the ability to work independently while contributing to a supportive and ambitious sales team that is growing alongside the business.