Head of Corporate Partnerships – Maternity Cover

Description: 

• Closing Date: Friday 19th July

• Salary: £37,500 - £47,000 (inclusive of London Weighting)

• Working Pattern: 37.5 hours per week (Full-Time). We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements.   

• Contract: Fixed Term Contract (14 months Maternity Cover)

• Job Location: Flexible, with some travel to the London office

• Start date:  16th September

• Reporting to: Fundraising & Communications Director

 

About The Access Project

The Access Project is an education charity; we believe that every young person can make the most of education, unlocking their potential and creating a fairer society.

 

We support over 1,800 young people aged 14 to 18 across 40 schools. Our mission is to support students from under-resourced backgrounds to access top universities, through a unique combination of tuition and in-school mentoring. We work with them to make good applications, get the grades and transition to university.

 

We employ 70 people who work in locations in London, the Midlands, Yorkshire and the North West. We will turn over approximately £3.7 million in this financial year and our funding comes from a range of sources including: schools, businesses, major donors and grant-making trusts. 

 

The programme combats educational inequality and improves social mobility by raising students’ grades and supporting them to understand the pathway to a top university. Students who receive support from our programme are almost twice as likely to attend top universities as statistically similar students, according to UCAS.

We are a team passionately committed to our mission, and who support one another’s work. The vision of our people strategy is to enable and inspire all staff to achieve, grow, succeed and thrive. We co-created our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion vision and strategic objectives to ensure The Access Project can foster an equitable place to work.

 

Why we need you

 

We are looking for an ambitious, experienced Head of Corporate Partnerships with a track record of winning, retaining, and developing high value partnerships.

 

The Access Project has established partnerships with leading companies who are committed to social mobility, equality, diversity and inclusion, and want to provide real impact for young people. We have a fantastic volunteer tutor programme at the heart of The Access Project which provides engagement opportunities for employees of corporate partners. We have identified corporate funding as one of our largest growth areas. This role will take a lead in developing and driving forward our business partnerships strategy.

 

The successful candidate will be passionate about levelling the playing field for disadvantaged young people in education. You will be an exceptional relationship builder and communicator, able to motivate companies to support our mission. You will be an experienced manager of people with the ability to build a supportive, creative and inspiring environment for the corporate partnerships function. You will contribute positively to the culture at The Access Project and work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to achieve our strategic goals.  

 

What you’ll be responsible for

 

Leadership and management

 

• Working closely with the Fundraising and Communications Director to develop a corporate partnerships plan that focuses on the acquisition of corporate partnerships and excellent account management of existing partnerships, resulting in renewals and uplift in value.
• Leading, supporting and inspiring a team of two (Corporate Partnerships Manager and Fundraising Co-ordinator) to deliver the corporate partnerships strategy and individual giving strategy.
• Developing objectives and targets for the corporate partnerships team and ensuring accurate and timely reporting against these.
• Ensuring effective team use of Salesforce for relationship management, data management and providing information for financial reporting and audit purposes.
• Maintaining up-to-date knowledge and adherence to latest legislation, especially Fundraising legislation relating to corporate fundraising and best practice guidelines issued by the Fundraising Regulator, and GDPR. 

 

New business development

 

• Periodically refreshing our corporate offer with creative ideas, proposals and content to inspire decision makers. 
• Winning new business for The Access Project at the 5 and 6 figure level with support from the Director of Fundraising and Communications and the CEO/Executive team and Board.
• Managing the preparation and submission of major corporate partnership bids and coordinating internal teams to contribute effectively. 
• Leading research and development to identify new fundraising opportunities.
• Ensuring high quality and inspiring communications and materials are produced in accordance with brand guidelines.

 

Account management and stewardship 

 

• Delivering successful partnerships in your portfolio through excellent account management to maximise fundraising and volunteering potential and retain partners. 
• Ensuring corporate partnerships are celebrated through working with Communications colleagues. 
• Working collaboratively with the wider Fundraising Team, Volunteer Team, Programmes Team and other functions to deliver a fantastic partner experience and ensure an integrated and joined up approach. 

 

Skills, knowledge and attitudes we’re looking for

 

• An impressive track-record in corporate fundraising. We will also consider exceptional candidates who have excelled in another field of fundraising, partnership management or sales or with a corporate background.  
• Ability to work strategically, bringing others along with you, as well as being a hands-on fundraiser as part of a small team. 
• Demonstrable ability to lead a happy, passionate team, creating an environment in which people can do their best work. 
• Excellent verbal communication, listening, writing, and presenting skills. Able to relate to people from all walks of life in both informal conversations and more formal presentations.
• A collegiate attitude, prioritising fantastic working relationships and cross-team working towards a common goal.  
• Good knowledge of the corporate marketplace and trends. 
• A creative, solutions-oriented approach. 
• Ability to persuade and negotiate while building strong relationships. Able to have candid conversations with sensitivity and tact. 
• Passionate about the mission of The Access Project and able to convey this. 

 

Desirable:

 

• Experience using Salesforce and/or database development. 
• Fundraising accreditation or qualification. 
• Direct experience in the education sector and the knowledge of the landscape that this brings.

 

Benefits: 

• 25 days annual leave p.a. (pro rata) plus Bank Holidays and Christmas closure. 

• PerkBox – offering nationwide shopping discounts, gym memberships, holidays, learning and much more. 

• Employee Assistance Programme, a 24-hour helpline for staff 

• Online Medical assistance – access 24/7 to a qualified GP within minutes, with referrals and prescriptions available same-day. 

• Interest-free travelcard loans 

• Travel-allowance for expenses over £10 per day, where applicable 

• Cyclescheme loans 

• 3 paid Volunteering Days 

• Employer’s pensions contributions (3%) 

• CPD options 

• The Access Project welcomes requests for flexible working arrangements 

 

Safeguarding Statement 

The Access Project is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

Equal Opportunities Statement 

The Access Project is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. We are working towards improvements with equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging. 

 

Disclosure of a Criminal Record 

The Rehabilitation of Offenders 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order 1986 applies to posts where there is access to children. This means that applicants for employment that involves working with children and young people must disclose anything listed in their criminal record, with the exception of protected cautions and convictions. All Disclosures are carried out in the strictest confidence and are made only in connection with your application for employment and for no other purpose.   The application for a DBS check at a level appropriate to the job role will be activated before your first day of work. Members of staff who are not eligible for a standard or enhanced DBS check are required to undertake a basic DBS check only in line with legal requirements. If you are selected for appointment to the role, you will be subject to this procedure. 

 

Present or most recent employment 

It is important to give full information, including the organisation you work in, or most recent employment if not currently working, full dates, address and explanation of any gaps in employment. 

 

References 

All appointments are subject to verification of employment and suitability of the candidate for the post applied for. We reserve the right to approach any previous employer for a reference and to verify their identity but will request your permission before doing so. If you have experience of working with children, please include this as one of your references.