Strategic Client Partnerships Lead

Job Title: Strategic Client Partnerships Lead

Location: Remote, with regular UK travel & occasional international travel

Salary: £45,000 - £50,000

We’re looking for an experienced Strategic Client Partnerships Lead to manage and grow a portfolio of key employer relationships across the UK.

This role combines strategic account management, relationship development and commercial growth. You’ll work closely with senior stakeholders to understand their workforce and talent priorities, demonstrate the value we deliver and identify opportunities to expand our apprenticeship, training and development services.

As the Strategic Client Partnerships Lead, you’ll be more than an account manager—you’ll become a trusted workforce development partner.

The role

You’ll take ownership of an agreed portfolio of strategic clients, with responsibility for retention, relationship growth and revenue.

Key responsibilities include:

• Build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including senior decision-makers.

• Develop and execute strategic account plans covering priorities, risks and growth opportunities.

• Lead effective quarterly business reviews, demonstrating performance, learner impact and value.

• Identify and develop opportunities to increase client engagement, programme utilisation and investment.

• Understand workforce, talent and capability challenges and translate them into relevant solutions.

• Develop new relationships and opportunities within existing client organisations.

• Generate pipeline through networking, referrals, targeted outreach and campaigns, while responding to inbound opportunities.

• Work collaboratively with sales, marketing, curriculum, operations and delivery teams to develop compelling solutions.

• Manage negotiations while protecting client relationships, quality and commercial value.

• Maintain accurate CRM records, pipeline forecasts and account information.

• Deliver agreed revenue, retention, conversion and account-growth targets.

What we’re looking for

You’ll be an accomplished relationship-builder with strong commercial instincts and a track record in strategic account management, consultative sales, client partnerships or business development.

You’ll bring:

• Experience achieving commercial or revenue targets.

• Confidence working with multiple stakeholders, including senior leaders.

• Strong consultative selling and opportunity-development skills.

• Excellent account planning, pipeline management and forecasting abilities.

• Strong communication, presentation, influencing and negotiation skills.

• Good commercial judgement and the ability to use data and insight effectively.

• Experience with CRM systems and Microsoft 365.

Desirable experience:

Experience in apprenticeships, education or training would be beneficial, but isn’t essential. We’d also welcome candidates with experience in:

• Workforce development, talent or skills.

• Complex B2B services or solution sales.

• Regulated or education-related environments.

• Apprenticeship funding or work-based learning.

• Working across different sectors and adapting solutions to different client needs.

The person:

Personable – able to build trust and rapport quickly. Commercially curious – skilled at uncovering needs and identifying opportunities. Influential – able to bring stakeholders together and create momentum. Entrepreneurial – proactive in creating opportunities rather than waiting for them. Insightful – able to turn data and conversations into action. Resilient – comfortable handling challenges and setbacks. Organised and accountable – reliable, proactive and focused on delivery. Professional and enthusiastic – a credible and engaging representative of the organisation.

What success looks like:

• Strategic clients choose to stay and grow with us.

• Relationships develop across a broader range of stakeholders.

• Apprenticeship and commercial training opportunities increase.

• The pipeline is healthy, accurate and well managed.

• Account plans and business reviews deliver genuine client value.

• Clients see us as a trusted strategic workforce partner.

• Revenue, retention and account-growth targets are consistently achieved.

Paul Feldman is the National Skills Agency Data Protection Officer. Your data will be stored until notice is given by you for it to be removed. Our Data Protection Policy will be forwarded to you on request. As we get a high number of applications we may be unable to give feedback to unsuccessful candidates. We will retain your details to keep you informed of other opportunities. National Skills Agency Ltd is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy and is an Equal Opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all backgrounds