New Business Lead, Corporate Partnerships (18-month contract)

JOB PURPOSE 

We are seeking a dynamic, creative and experienced corporate partnerships new business expert to join our team.

This pivotal new role will be responsible for securing high-value, seven-figure (financial and non-financial) partnerships with corporate entities that protect and empower refugees globally.

The successful candidate will oversee the development and implementation of strategic partnership prospecting, manage relationships with key corporate prospects, and line manage a Senior Corporate Partnerships Officer.

This role is an 18-month fixed-term contract.


WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO  

United Kingdom for UNHCR is the United Nations Refugee Agency’s national charity partner for the United Kingdom. We generate public awareness of the plight of refugees and raise funds to help protect them through UNHCR’s humanitarian operations across the world.

Our supporters include UK private individuals, communities, corporate partners, trusts and foundations. The funds we raise help UNHCR deliver emergency relief such as shelter, medical care and basic supplies to people fleeing conflict and persecution, as well as healthcare, education and livelihoods opportunities for those who remain displaced over the long term.

Nobody chooses to be a refugee, but we can all play a part in their protection, and we want those who work with us to share our values and passion for the cause.


DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING 

We strongly value diversity and recognise that it is critical to our success and the cause that we serve. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all who work with us and strongly welcome applications from diverse backgrounds, particularly those with lived experience of being a refugee, asylum seeker, internally displaced person, or a stateless person.  

UK for UNHCR is proud to have Diversity & Inclusion Working Group. The Diversity & Inclusion Working Group is a group of colleagues focusing on tasks that drive action in the implementation of our D&I Approach.  The group also works to create safe spaces that brings colleagues together for events, discussions and learning experiences that celebrate and support diversity and tackle barriers to inclusion. 

We are also open to flexibility in many different ways, including an element of working from home and flexible hours. Please don’t be afraid to speak to us about this at the interview stage, so we can explore what’s possible.


Role Responsibilities  

• Develop and deliver a new comprehensive business development strategy that will lead to seven-figure, sustainable corporate partnerships, delivering both unrestricted and restricted income.
• Coordinate market research to identify potential high value, strategic corporate partners that can deliver income, visibility and shared value for UK for UNHCR and UNHCR.
• Proactively approach prospects for partnership discussions. 
• Develop stewardship plans for top prospects, ensuring full use of senior leadership, technical colleagues and established private sector network.
• Develop unique combined financial and non-financial partnership propositions that lead to transformational partnerships.
• Lead the prospecting cycle: from first meeting, through to opportunity development, through to negotiation and contracting.
• Supervise and mentor a Senior Corporate Partnerships Officer.
• Work closely with internal teams, including Philanthropy and Communications, to align partnership efforts with organisational priorities.
• Remain flexible and quickly respond to emergency situations, identifying and responding to fundraising opportunities at pace.
• Represent UK for UNHCR at industry events, conferences, and networking opportunities to enhance visibility and build connections.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to perform duties that are not detailed above.

Personal Attributes and Experience

Essential Experience

• Proven track record of securing seven-figure corporate partnerships.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and implementing new business strategies.
• Experience in partnership negotiation. 
• Experience of communicating complex themes and subjects to a variety of audiences, written and verbal.
• Proven success across all types of corporate support, including grant-based, brand-led, pro bono, in-kind and employee engagement.
• Managing, forecasting and monitoring budgets to deliver against income and expenditure targets 
• Management and development of direct line reports.

Essential Skills/Knowledge  

• Deep understanding of charity-corporate partnerships and the business case behind mutually beneficial collaborations.
• Excellent relationship management skills and the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders.
• Outstanding communication skills that inspire action from audiences.
• Distil complex information and themes into tangible, impactful partnership propositions.
• Prioritise and work at pace, sometimes under pressure.
• Creative and collaborative working style, and able to adapt to differing needs and priorities of teams spread across multiple locations.
• Strong IT skills to produce high quality proposals, presentations, and reports. 

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Business development in an international development or humanitarian organisation.
• Knowledge of sustainable and innovative financing mechanisms.
• Previous use of Salesforce.
• Awareness and understanding of CSRD and its potential implications.
• Ability to work flexibly and travel, and to work unsocial hours on occasion, as required. 

WHY JOIN UNITED KINGDOM FOR UNHCR? 

You will be part of a high performing agile team of talented people, all committed to build solidarity and raise funds for refugees and displaced people worldwide. You will be working in a flexible, supportive and inclusive environment, where your work will be recognised and appraised. 

What else?

Wellbeing 

• 28 days’ leave per annum plus bank holidays (or pro-rata for part time).
• Employee Assistance programme providing 24/7 access to online GP, mental health support and virtual wellbeing. 
• Hybrid and Flexible Working.
• Access to 100s of perks with discounts on everyday purchases.
• Office wellness perks.
• Discount on gym memberships. 
• Staff socials.

Financial

• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8%.
• Non-contributory group life assurance scheme.
• Non-contributory Income protection scheme.
• One-off contribution towards homeworking set up.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.
• Enhanced sick pay scheme. 

Development 

• Comprehensive training and continuing development opportunities.
• Individual training budget. 

 
HOW TO APPLY

If you have the relevant skills and the passion to use them to support refugees, please apply by completing our application form which is available in the documents section.  

Closing date: Midnight, Wednesday 23rd October.

Interviews date: w/c 28th October.

If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to the application or hiring process that may better facilitate your participation, please contact us using the email address provided when you click through to our online portal. We will make every effort to respond to your request for assistance as soon as possible. 

United Kingdom for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is registered with the Charity Commission (England & Wales), charity no. 1183415. It is the UK national partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency.