Job Introduction

Regional Partnerships Manager

Turn school relationships into sustainable growth

You will develop relationships with schools, academy trusts and education partners, turning conversations into long-term partnerships and commercial growth for Ductu.

This is a sales and business development role with clear revenue targets. You will prospect for new business, manage opportunities from first contact through to conversion and grow existing accounts. The role is home-based with regular regional travel to schools, partner sites, meetings and events. Your success will be measured through pipeline development, new partnerships, sales performance and customer retention.

Location: South West England - this is a regional role covering the South West, including Bristol, Bath, Swindon, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Taunton, Exeter, Plymouth and surrounding areas. Regular travel across the region will be required. 

This is a term-time only role, working 42wks per year. The salary shown is the full-time equivalent (FTE) and will be pro-rated to reflect the 42-week working year. 

Before you apply: the essentials

To be considered, your CV and application must clearly demonstrate:

• Proven experience in business development, sales, partnership management or account management, with evidence of measurable commercial results.

• Evidence of achieving sales, revenue, growth or comparable commercial targets.

• Experience developing new business, including prospecting and managing opportunities through a sales pipeline to conversion.

• Evidence of building and managing professional relationships with senior stakeholders or organisational decision-makers.

• Experience understanding customer needs, influencing decisions and using a consultative approach to develop appropriate solutions.

• Evidence of commitment, reliability and consistently delivering high standards of work.

• Ability to present your recent employment history clearly, including explaining gaps or short-term roles during the previous five years.

• Confident working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and CRM systems, with the ability to learn and adapt to other software and digital systems.

• Ability to meet the role's regular regional travel requirements.

Useful, but not essential

• Experience working with schools, academy trusts or other education organisations.

• Experience within education, training, employability or the public sector.

• Continuing professional development in sales, partnerships, education or business development.

The real job

Your job is to create and grow school partnerships that generate sustainable revenue.

You will identify prospective schools, academy trusts and education organisations, open conversations with decision-makers and understand the challenges they are trying to solve. You will then position relevant Ductu services and progress worthwhile opportunities from initial contact through to agreement and implementation.

This requires proactive prospecting and lead generation, not simply managing incoming enquiries.

You will maintain a credible sales pipeline, follow up consistently and use sales information to understand where opportunities are progressing, stalling or being lost. You will work towards weekly, monthly and term-based sales objectives.

Existing relationships matter too. You will maintain regular contact with partners, identify opportunities for account growth and support retention, repeat business and positive referrals.

You will represent Ductu at school meetings, regional events and networking opportunities and share customer feedback and market intelligence to help improve our commercial approach.

Accurate CRM records, forecasting and timely reporting are an important part of the role.

What success looks like

Within your first 6-12 months, you should have developed a strong regional pipeline, built a network of relevant education stakeholders and converted opportunities into new school partnerships.

Your existing accounts should receive responsive, credible support that encourages retention and growth.

Ultimately, you will be able to demonstrate measurable commercial results through new partnerships, sales performance, account growth and customer retention.

The working reality

This is a commercially accountable role. Conversations and meetings matter only when they develop into a credible pipeline and, ultimately, sustainable business.

Schools will have competing priorities, sales cycles may take time and opportunities will not always convert. You need to be comfortable prospecting for new business, following up persistently and being held accountable for sales results.

The role is home-based with regular travel to schools, partner sites, regional meetings and events. Occasional attendance outside standard working hours may be required for relevant events.

Reward and performance opportunity

In addition to salary, eligible colleagues may participate in Ductu's sales commission framework.

The current structure includes:

• Weekly commission based on qualifying sales performance.

• Additional term-based commission linked to average sales performance across an academic term.

• Uncapped earning potential subject to the terms of the commission schedule.

• Commission arrangements are non-contractual and may be reviewed or amended in line with business requirements.

What you get

• 25 days' annual leave, increasing with service.

• Vitality health and wellbeing support, including GP services, mental health support and physiotherapy.

• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, including up to six counselling sessions a year and legal, financial and debt guidance.

• Workplace pension, with salary sacrifice available subject to eligibility and scheme rules.

• Share buy scheme.

• Up to £360 a year through IncentFit for eligible activities.

• Wellbeing, retail, fitness, travel and mobile discounts, including 20% off eligible EE mobile plans.

About Get Set UK

Get Set UK delivers employment, skills, apprenticeships, health and justice services, helping people overcome barriers and progress towards meaningful, sustainable employment. We are part of Palladium, a global impact organisation with more than 60 years' experience delivering programmes and solutions internationally.

Our values are Be Ambitious, Be Proud, Be Considerate, Be Inspiring and Own It, and they shape how we work with colleagues, participants and partners.

Recruitment process

Apply through our recruitment platform and complete the short initial questionnaire. If you start your application through Indeed or LinkedIn, you will still need to complete this step before we can review your application.

We assess your CV and application against the minimum essential criteria for the role and the evidence you provide. Keep your CV clear and concise and focus on what you personally did, owned, improved or delivered. One to two pages will suit many applicants, although up to three may be appropriate where your relevant experience requires it.

If shortlisted, the process may include a recruitment call or Teams conversation, role-related questionnaire, assessment or testing, and a hiring-manager interview with a task, presentation or practical exercise where relevant.

Get Set UK is committed to safer recruitment practices to help protect our colleagues and the people we support.

As part of our recruitment process, you will be required to provide a complete and accurate history of your employment and other relevant activity for the previous five years, including explanations for any gaps, together with referee details covering the previous three years.

Please ensure the information you provide is complete and accurate, as we may be unable to progress your application until our safer recruitment requirements have been completed.

Depending on the role, further pre-employment checks may include references, right-to-work checks, DBS checks and/or other appropriate vetting.

Any offer is conditional on satisfactory applicable checks. Preparation, responsiveness and attention to detail matter throughout the process.

Eligibility and checks

You must have the full right to work in the UK. Sponsorship is not available for this role.

Get Set UK is a Disability Confident and Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout recruitment.

If you can open doors, build credible school relationships and turn opportunities into sustainable commercial growth, apply today.

Additional information 

We reserve the right to close applications early, so we encourage early applications. Get Set UK is a Disability Confident and Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals and are committed to supporting physical and mental wellbeing at work. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process. This role is subject to satisfactory recruitment checks and a commitment to safeguarding learners and clients. Get Set UK does not accept unsolicited CVs from agencies.