Strategic Partnerships Manager

Shape the partnerships that strengthen sight loss services across Greater Manchester. As Strategic Partnerships Manager at Henshaws, you will open doors across health, public sector, business and community networks, turning relationships into sustainable income and lasting impact.

Location: Greater Manchester office, with travel required
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week. We welcome interest from applicants who may prefer to work part time
Weeks per year: 52
Salary: £23.06 per hour, £41,969.20 per annum
Annual leave: 5 weeks plus 10 bank holidays
Closing date: 12 noon, 14 June 2026
DBS: Enhanced DBS check with the child barring list required

About the role

We are looking for a confident and proactive Strategic Partnerships Manager to help grow sustainable income and strengthen Henshaws Sight Loss Services across Greater Manchester.

This is a key role for someone who can spot opportunities, build influential relationships and turn conversations into contracts, partnerships and income. You will work across public sector commissioning, corporate partnerships, VCSE networks, community organisations and wider Greater Manchester systems to help position Henshaws as a trusted partner in sight loss support.

You will identify and pursue opportunities with NHS, Local Authority, ICS and ICB partners, public health, social care, SEND and sight loss pathways. You will also grow corporate income through proactive prospecting, sponsorship approaches, employer engagement and partnership development.

Working closely with our Sight Loss operational teams, you will help shape service models, proposals, bids and tenders that reflect local need and clearly demonstrate the impact of Henshaws work.

What you will be doing

You will:

• Identify and develop commissioning, contract and funding opportunities across Greater Manchester.
• Build relationships with NHS, Local Authority, public health, social care, VCSE, corporate and community partners.
• Lead activity across the commissioning cycle, including horizon scanning, relationship building, tender development, pricing input and mobilisation support.
• Work with Sight Loss operational teams to shape service models, delivery plans, outcome frameworks and costed proposals.
• Develop compelling corporate proposals and pitches that clearly show social value, impact and return on investment.
• Build and manage a structured pipeline of prospects, tracking activity from first contact through to secured income.
• Represent Henshaws at Greater Manchester meetings, locality groups, VCSE alliances, prevention networks and sight loss sector forums.
• Support collaborative or joint bid opportunities where partnership working strengthens Henshaws position.
• Contribute to wider fundraising activity, including events, supporter stewardship and departmental initiatives.
• Produce reports, forecasts and performance updates to support decision making and future planning.

About you

• We are looking for someone who is opportunity focused, resilient and confident building relationships with senior decision makers.
• You will have experience in business development, sales, income generation or strategic partnerships within a target driven environment. You will understand the sales cycle, from prospecting and first contact through to scoping, pitching, negotiation and relationship management.
• You will be confident preparing bids, tenders or commercial proposals, and able to translate service knowledge, financial information and policy priorities into strong, persuasive proposals.
• You will be highly organised, comfortable managing a structured pipeline, and able to balance competing priorities while maintaining momentum.
• Experience within a charity, VCSE, health or education setting would be valuable. Experience engaging with public sector bodies such as the NHS or Local Authorities would also be beneficial, but we welcome applicants with strong transferable experience and the willingness to quickly develop knowledge of the sight loss landscape.

Our values

At Henshaws, our values guide how we work with the people we support, our colleagues, partners and supporters.

• Ambition - You will help us grow sustainable income by spotting opportunities, building strategic partnerships and strengthening our impact across Greater Manchester.
• Respect - You will build trusted, professional relationships across public sector, corporate, VCSE and community networks, acting with integrity in every interaction.
• Empowerment - You will help partners understand the difference they can make, working with colleagues and stakeholders to create services and opportunities that support people to thrive.

Why join Henshaws?

You will be joining a charity with a clear purpose and a strong commitment to supporting people living with sight loss and a range of disabilities.

This role offers the chance to shape meaningful partnerships across Greater Manchester, influence local systems and help secure the income that strengthens vital sight loss services.

We welcome interest from applicants who may prefer to work part time, and we offer 5 weeks annual leave plus 10 bank holidays.

Additional information

Henshaws welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

We will make reasonable adjustments for applicants who require support due to a disability.

Henshaws is committed to safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. The successful candidate may be required to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check, including relevant barring lists.

Closing date: 12 noon, 14 June 2026