Business Development & Partnerships Manager

The opportunity

MASA is looking for a commercially driven relationship builder who can open doors with employers, win new paying patrons, secure sponsorship and grow lasting partnerships.

You will take ownership of opportunities from first contact through to agreement and renewal. This means generating leads, leading commercial conversations, presenting a compelling proposition and securing commitments.

Alongside delivering growth, you will represent MASA externally and help connect employers, education providers and communities to improve opportunities across apprenticeships and skills.

About MASA

The Multicultural Apprenticeship and Skills Alliance brings together employers, training providers, universities, awarding bodies, policymakers and community organisations to improve representation, inclusion and social mobility.

Our work includes a national patron community, the Apprenticeship Diversity & Social Mobility Forum, the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards, the Apprenticeship Branding Conference and the Festival of Apprenticeships.

Delivered by Pathway Group, MASA gives organisations opportunities to build partnerships, contribute to sector discussions and support better outcomes for underrepresented communities.

Your responsibilities

• Win new business: Identify and approach potential patrons, commercial partners and sponsors through calls, email, LinkedIn, referrals and events. Generate your own opportunities and progress existing leads.

• Build senior employer relationships: Engage Heads of Apprenticeships and Early Careers, HR Directors, inclusion leads and social value teams. Understand their priorities, budgets and decision-making processes.

• Lead the sales process: Run discovery meetings, deliver tailored pitches, prepare proposals, handle objections and negotiate within agreed parameters to secure paid commitments.

• Grow and retain patrons: Build active relationships through effective onboarding, regular reviews, relevant introductions and timely renewal conversations.

• Represent MASA: Attend conferences, webinars, forums and stakeholder meetings as a confident ambassador who can explain MASA’s purpose and commercial value clearly.

• Support programmes and engagement: Coordinate partners, speakers and follow-up activity for events, forums and programmes. Help shape thought leadership and policy discussions using employer and community insight.

• Deliver partner value: Work with colleagues to fulfil agreed commitments, gather feedback, demonstrate outcomes and identify opportunities to develop successful relationships further.

• Manage performance: Maintain an accurate CRM pipeline, record opportunity values and next steps, and report progress against agreed income, conversion, retention and engagement targets.

What we need from you

• Proven experience in B2B sales, business development, sponsorship or commercial partnerships, with examples of opportunities you personally won.

• Experience working towards revenue or growth targets and taking prospects from initial approach through to agreement.

• Confidence approaching senior decision-makers, presenting a proposition, asking for a commitment and handling objections.

• The ability to retain and develop relationships by understanding what matters to each partner and delivering value.

• Strong presentation and proposal-writing skills, with the confidence to represent an organisation publicly.

• Consistent follow-up, good organisation and confidence using a CRM to manage opportunities and performance.

• A commitment to social mobility and inclusion, with the ability to build trust across different communities and professional backgrounds.

• The initiative to identify opportunities, prioritise your activity and take responsibility for results.

Experience that would strengthen your application

Experience in apprenticeships, skills, education, membership organisations, corporate partnerships or sponsorship would be valuable.

Existing employer networks, community engagement, event delivery or policy experience would also be useful. We welcome candidates from other sectors who can demonstrate relevant commercial results and an informed interest in MASA’s mission.

What success looks like

Within your first 90 days, you will understand MASA’s proposition, establish relationships with existing patrons, agree priorities and targets, and build a qualified pipeline with active meetings, proposals and clear next steps.

By six months, you will have secured new paid partnerships, demonstrated progress against agreed growth targets and developed active patron relationships that support retention and renewal.

What the role offers

• £35,000 to £45,000 per annum, depending on experience.

• Direct access to the Founder and CEO and the opportunity to influence MASA’s growth.

• Autonomy to develop partnerships and build a national professional network.

• The opportunity to connect commercial success with improved access to apprenticeships, skills and employment.

• A Birmingham head office base, with flexibility to work from home where appropriate.

• Travel expenses covered.

Travel across England is typically required one to two days per week, depending on partnership and programme activity. Occasional evening and weekend attendance will be required for events.

How to apply

Apply with your CV and a short supporting statement covering two examples of business, sponsorship or partnerships you personally secured. Explain your contribution, the value or measurable outcome, and the timeframe. Client names may be anonymised.

Shortlisted candidates will prepare a 15-minute presentation covering their first-90-days growth plan, a live patron pitch to a chosen employer and how they would measure success.

Please let us know about any adjustments you need during the recruitment process