Head of managed partnerships

Join us at WWF-UK – Head of Managed Partnerships

Location: Living Planet Centre, Woking, Surrey Contract: Permanent, fulltime (35 hours) Hybrid working: Minimum 40% in person collaboration per month Salary: £57,986+ excellent benefits Safeguarding level: Level 1

We're excited to be recruiting for a Head of Managed Partnerships (of which there are 2) to lead a portfolio of some of WWF-UK's most significant and strategic corporate partnerships, helping to drive meaningful impact for nature, climate and people.

Partnerships play a vital role in delivering WWF's mission. They help us influence business action, engage new audiences, raise essential income and create lasting environmental impact. Through strong and ambitious partnerships, WWF-UK works with organisations to tackle some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing our world.

As Head of Managed Partnerships, you will lead a high-performing team responsible for developing, delivering and growing a portfolio of long-term strategic partnerships. Working closely with major partners and colleagues across WWF-UK and the wider WWF Network, you will help ensure partnerships deliver ambitious outcomes across income, advocacy, public engagement and impact.

This is a senior leadership role within the Partnerships Management Unit and the wider Fundraising team. Alongside leading and developing a talented team, you will play a key role in shaping partnership strategy, driving growth across our existing portfolio and ensuring WWF-UK continues to build strong, influential and impactful relationships with the business community.

We're looking for an experienced partnership leader who combines strategic thinking with excellent relationship-building skills, strong commercial awareness and a passion for creating partnerships that deliver meaningful and lasting change.

Skills and experience

• Significant experience leading and growing complex strategic partnerships within a large organisation, charity, NGO or corporate environment
• Proven track record of developing partnership strategies and plans that deliver measurable income, engagement, influence or impact outcomes
• Extensive experience managing and growing corporate partnerships across areas such as fundraising, employee engagement, consumer engagement, advocacy or sustainability
• Strong leadership experience, including building, managing and developing high-performing teams
• Experience coaching and supporting senior managers and partnership professionals to deliver strong results
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish credibility and influence at senior and executive levels
• Experience leading complex negotiations and managing high-value partnership agreements
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including budget management, forecasting and strategic planning
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple teams and disciplines to deliver shared objectives
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making skills, with the ability to balance long-term partnership growth with day-to-day delivery
• Ability to represent an organisation confidently and credibly with senior external stakeholders
• Strong understanding of sustainability, environmental or social impact issues and the role partnerships can play in driving change
• Commitment to WWF's mission and values
• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
• Experience working within an international organisation, charity or NGO
• Experience working with sustainability, climate, nature or environmental agendas
• Experience operating within complex matrix organisations and international networks
• Understanding of business advocacy, public engagement or campaigning within a partnership context
• Experience contributing to organisational strategy and senior leadership team decision-making
• Knowledge of engaging with financial sector and professional services

What we offer

• Annual leave starting at 26 days a year, rising one day each year to 31 days plus bank holidays
• Flexible working options, to support your work-life balance
• 7.5% employer contribution to pension, rising to 10% with employee contribution
• Learning and development opportunities to help you grow
• Regular wellbeing initiatives to support your health and happiness

This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

This role is hybrid with a minimum 40% of your contracted hours spent at our beautiful UK head office, the Living Planet Centre in Woking, Surrey, where you’ll have a hot desk among trees and gardens.

Our Diversity Promise to You

At the heart of our mission is a simple truth: the planet needs everyone. That means you - in all your uniqueness, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or how you choose to express yourself.

We don’t do stereotypes. We work together with purpose, driven by passion and enhanced by respect, courage, and integrity. We pull together from all walks of life to fight for a better future, and we want you to feel supported every step of the way.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and identities.

So, if there’s anything we can do to make your application or interview experience more comfortable or accessible, just give our Talent Acquisition Team a shout at recruitment@wwf.org.uk

Safeguarding Commitment

Just as we celebrate diversity in all its forms, we are equally dedicated to creating a safe environment for every person we work with or encounter.

Our commitment extends to children, adults at risk, and individuals experiencing any form of vulnerability, whether temporary or permanent.

We proudly stand behind CAPSEAH (Common Approach to Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment) and put this commitment into action through clear policies, thorough training, and recruitment checks tailored to each role, which may include external vetting.

If you ever have a concern, however big or small, know that there are confidential channels ready to support you at WWF-UK. We promise to respond promptly and with care, because protecting every individual is at the heart of everything we do.

WWF‑UK is a registered charity in England and Wales 1081247 and in Scotland SC039593 and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales 4016725.