Strategic Partnerships Manager - Private Equity and Venture Capital

The Sage Group plc; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading software company in the UK is seeking a Business Development Manager to build and manage strategic partnerships with key business groups and influencers. Responsibilities include developing go-to-market strategies, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and monitoring partnership performance. Candidates should have over 5 years of experience in partnership management, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to engage executives. This role offers generous benefits, including bonuses, health coverage, and hybrid working.

Benefits

Generous bonuses

Pension scheme

25 days paid annual leave

Paid volunteering days

Comprehensive health coverage

Ongoing training and development

Hybrid working options

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in business development or partnership management.
• Ability to engage with senior executives.
• Familiarity with the partner ecosystem in a software environment.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage strategic partnerships with key business groups and influencers.
• Shape go-to-market plans to enhance brand awareness.
• Monitor and report on partnership performance.

Skills

Exceptional communication skills

Presentation skills

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Business development planning

Adaptability

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Build and manage strategic partnerships with key business groups, membership organisations, and industry influencers.
• Identify and engage with new ecosystem partners across priority verticals to extend Sage's reach and value proposition.
• Negotiate and manage partnership agreements that drive measurable business outcomes.

Collaboration and Expertise

• Partner closely with marketing, sales, product, alliances, and customer success teams to deliver aligned go-to-market strategies.
• Develop deep understanding of partner and customer buying processes within target verticals.
• Enable both direct and partner sales teams to effectively communicate Sage's value propositions.

Go-to-Market Strategy and Execution

• Shape and deliver multi-channel go-to-market plans to strengthen brand awareness and product adoption.
• Collaborate with marketing teams to create targeted messaging, campaigns, and event activations.
• Represent Sage at industry events, conferences, and networking forums to promote our market leadership.

Operational Effectiveness and Performance

• Monitor and report on partnership performance, pipeline generation, and conversion metrics.
• Support sales cycles through strategic partnership engagement and lead conversion initiatives.
• Contribute to the preparation of internal and external reports, providing insights and recommendations to drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications

A well-rounded professional, confident operating across both commercial and technical environments.

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, including experience engaging senior executives.
• Proven ability to build and execute structured business development plans that deliver measurable results.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret market trends and translate insights into strategy.
• A collaborative mindset with a strong work ethic and commitment to high performance.
• Demonstrated adaptability to evolving business needs and market dynamics.

Preferred Experience

• 5+ years' experience in business development or partnership management.
• Experience presenting to executive stakeholders.
• Familiarity with the Sage partner ecosystem or a comparable software environment.

Benefits

• Generous bonuses and pension scheme: Up to 8% matched pension contribution plus 2% top-up by Sage.
• 25 days of paid annual leave with the option to buy up to another 5 days and 8 bank holiday days.
• Paid 5 days yearly to volunteer through our Sage Foundation.
• 50% income protection.
• Holiday buy + sell.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Work away scheme for up to 10 weeks a year.
• Ongoing training and professional development.
• Hybrid working.
• Healthy Mind app membership.
• Access to various helpful memberships for finances, health and wellbeing.
• Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCMtTYUUiuU