Job Description
Strategic Partnerships Manager
Hybrid Working – Preston / Employer Travel Required
LT Selection is proud to be recruiting exclusively on behalf of our client.
We believe that everyone we connect with an employer positively impacts the further education, skills, and employment sector.
Our client is a forward-thinking training and workforce development provider delivering funded and commercial learning solutions to employers across technical and vocational sectors. Their approach is centred around employer engagement, practical delivery, and building long-term partnerships that support workforce growth and skills development.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced business development and partnerships professional who enjoys consultative selling, strategic relationship building, and supporting employers with workforce development solutions rather than transactional sales.
The organisation is seeking a Strategic Partnerships Manager to lead employer engagement activity, develop new business opportunities, and establish long-term strategic partnerships across funded and commercial provision. The role combines business development, employer consultancy, and workforce planning, with a focus on sustainable growth and repeat business relationships.
Key Responsibilities
• Develop and secure new employer partnerships across funded and commercial training provision
• Manage the full employer engagement and sales cycle from prospecting through to onboarding and account growth
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities aligned to employer demand and workforce development needs
• Achieve agreed sales and engagement KPIs
• Conduct market research to identify employer trends, funding opportunities, and sector demand
• Build long-term employer relationships that support repeat business and partnership growth
• Provide consultative advice around apprenticeships, funded training, levy utilisation, and workforce development planning
• Develop tailored training proposals and workforce solutions aligned to employer objectives
• Support employers with workforce planning and future talent pipeline development
• Identify opportunities to cross-sell funded and commercial training solutions
• Represent the organisation at networking events, employer forums, and industry engagement activities
• Work closely with operational and enrolment teams to ensure smooth onboarding and delivery processes
• Maintain accurate CRM records and pipeline reporting
• Provide market intelligence and performance updates to senior leadership
• Ensure all employer engagement activity complies with funding and internal quality requirements
• Support commercial proposals, tenders, and partnership opportunities where required.
Essential Criteria
• Proven experience in B2B sales, employer engagement, or partnership development
• Strong networking, relationship-building, and negotiation skills
• Experience managing sales pipelines and CRM systems
• Commercially aware and target driven
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Collaborative and accountable approach to work
• Ability to travel to employer sites and events when required.
Desirable Criteria
• Experience within apprenticeships, adult skills, funded learning, or training environments
• Understanding of training funding and workforce development solutions
• Experience supporting bids, tenders, or commercial proposals
• Knowledge of employer-led training or technical skills provision.
Why Join?
This role offers the opportunity to work with an ambitious and growing organisation that values partnership, innovation, and long-term employer impact. You will play a key role in shaping business growth while helping employers develop sustainable workforce and skills strategies.
Additional Information
• Hybrid working model
• Employer and stakeholder travel required
• Full-time permanent opportunity
• Flexibility may be required during funding or operational peak periods.
Safeguarding & Compliance
This organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of learners and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Requirements
Business development, employer engagement, partnership management, stakeholder engagement, B2B sales, consultative selling, workforce development, apprenticeships, adult skills, levy, CRM, account management, networking, relationship building, pipeline management, commercial growth, training solutions, tender support, proposal writing, market research, employer partnerships, sales cycle, presentation skills, negotiation, funded provision, commercial provision, business growth, strategic partnerships, workforce planning, employer relations, lead generation, account growth, cross selling, client engagement, reporting, market intelligence, training sector, stakeholder management, communication skills, collaboration, target driven, hybrid working, learner onboarding, employer solutions, skills strategy.