Partnerships Manager

Ashinaga UK is seeking a driven and well-organised Partnerships Manager to propel our fundraising efforts, with the goal of advancing the Ashinaga Africa Initiative by securing funding to create new scholarships and opportunities for orphaned youth. This role will play a key part in expanding our impact and supporting the education and leadership development of young leaders from sub-Saharan Africa.  

The Ashinaga movement was founded in Japan in the 1960s and has since expanded across the globe, empowering over 110,000 orphaned youth with access to education and support to achieve their full potential. The Ashinaga Africa Initiative was launched 10 years ago with the aim of equipping future leaders for Africa through undergraduate scholarships and leadership development opportunities. Ashinaga UK is proud to be part of this global movement, contributing to the mission of transforming lives and communities through education. Our work is primarily in the UK through collaboration with key university partners and donors. 

The Partnerships Manager will be responsible for securing and building funding partnerships, overseeing external communications, and spearheading grant applications. The Partnerships Manager will work closely with the Managing Director. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Work with the Managing Director to develop and execute the fundraising strategy. 
• Manage existing funding partnerships and establish new relationships to further Ashinaga UK’s mission. 
• Secure partnerships with corporations, foundations, individual donors, and UK universities. 
• Identify new funding opportunities, cultivate relationships, write proposals, and report on progress. 
• Write high-quality grant proposals to secure funding from grant-making bodies. 
• Oversee the partnerships database, donor reporting, and contribute to the annual Charity Commission trustee report. 
• Create external communication materials, including website content and promotional materials. 
• Collaborate with key team members to develop partnerships related to scholarship programming and opportunities for scholarship recipients. 
• Plan and coordinate external-facing events, such as donor receptions, corporate sponsor events, and webinars to enhance engagement and raise awareness of Ashinaga UK's mission.

Essential Criteria 

• Right to work in the UK.  
• Candidates must be based in the London area or able to commute. The role requires working from the office one to two days per week. 
• Proven track record in establishing and nurturing partnerships to advance a charity’s mission. 
• Strong experience forming and managing new funding partnerships successfully. 

Desired Criteria 

• Proven track record of leading successful fundraising projects and winning funding. 
• Ability to strategize and develop innovative approaches to engage potential donors and advance them along a partnership ladder. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to diverse audiences, including corporate partners, individual donors, and internal stakeholders. 
• Demonstrate experience in writing compelling proposals to secure funding from grant-making bodies. 
• Knowledge of the charity sector and fundraising regulations. 
• Experience fundraising within the international development, widening participation and/or education sector. 
• Experience planning and coordinating events, such as donor receptions, corporate sponsor events, and webinars. 
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with organisational objectives. 
• Ability to create new or upgrade existing processes and structures to allow for the effective delivery of strategy. 
• Able to efficiently use a wide range of online tools, including spreadsheets, databases, and cloud-based applications. 
• Experience using CRM systems to manage and analyse data and produce reports. 
• Ability to work in French and/or Portuguese is a plus but not essential. 

Personal Characteristics 

• Passion for Ashinaga UK's mission: A genuine commitment to empowering orphaned youth through education and supporting the Ashinaga Africa Initiative's mission. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills: Strong relationship-building abilities, with the capacity to engage and manage a variety of stakeholders, including donors and corporate partners. 
• Adaptable and resourceful: Comfortable working in a dynamic environment with some degree of ambiguity, able to create processes that may not yet exist and get involved in projects that may require learning new skills. 
• Organised and detail-oriented: High level of attention to detail in managing data, preparing reports, and ensuring accuracy in all communications and documentation. 
• Self-motivated: Ability to work independently, take initiative, and meet deadlines with minimal supervision. 
• Collaborative mindset: Willingness to work closely with colleagues, volunteers, and external partners to achieve shared goals. 

Other Information 

• Ashinaga UK takes a flexible approach to working, with core hours and an understanding and consideration for work life balance and personal commitments. 
• Interviews will be conducted on an ongoing basis, so we encourage early applications. 
• Ashinaga Association in the UK is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and ensuring that all job applicants receive fair treatment, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.