Partnerships Manager (12 month FTC - Maternity cover)

We're looking for a commercially sharp, driven Partnerships Manager to join our Partnerships team and take ownership of key experience categories across our portfolio, on a 12 month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave.

The Partnership team are the trend-setters in everything experiences. We’re racing to find the next best thing to keep inspiring our customers. We source, grow and retain outstanding experiences, and manage relationships with our fantastic partners. The front line of the business, we work our hardest to meet the needs of all stakeholders to deliver incredible results.

About the role

At Virgin Experience Days, we curate the ultimate moments - whether that’s an indulgent afternoon tea, a 5* luxury spa stay, an adrenaline-pumping driving day, front-row theatre tickets, or an unforgettable weekend escape.

As a Partnerships Manager, you’ll relish finding and expanding the very best experiences for our customers to enjoy, while continuously driving strong commercial performance.

You’ll take true ownership of a defined portfolio of experience categories (which could include a combination of Adrenaline, Theatre, Days Out, Tours, Drinks & Tastings, and Events). You’ll be responsible for proactively managing partner accounts, developing strong business relationships to maximise sales, and optimising overall portfolio performance - taking full commercial accountability for buying in margins (BIM).

Whether working with boutique venue owners, major national chains, or niche activity suppliers, you’ll nurture existing partner accounts to drive maximum value, while aggressively chasing the next big partnership to captivate our customers and boost profitability.

This role will suit a natural relationship builder with a sharp commercial mindset, strong sales ambition, and a proven track record in account management. You don't need to come from a specific category background - we value highly transferable skills in pitching, contract negotiation, numerical fluency, and strategic account growth.

This is a fixed term contract covering maternity leave, starting ASAP until January 2028. Working full-time hours, on a hybrid basis, with a minimum of 2 days office based per week. Our office is located in Bourne End (Buckinghamshire, SL8 5YS).

What you'll do:

• Commercial Portfolio Ownership: Truly own your assigned experience categories with end-to-end accountability for driving volume, revenue, and buying in margins (BIM).

• Strategic Growth & Partner Acquisition: Identify market gaps, source high-converting experience partners across the UK, and pitch to onboard the best suppliers in the industry to build a market-leading product portfolio.

• Data-Driven Account Management: Utilise Microsoft Dynamics and Power BI to track, report, and analyse category performance - using sales data and margin insight to make smart commercial decisions on future experience offerings.

• High-Impact Pitching & Negotiation: Conduct confident pitch presentations to win new partnerships, clearly articulating the benefits of our brand while negotiating terms, overcoming pricing or capacity challenges, and securing optimal BIM.

• Joint Business Planning: Build out annual plans with key partners to introduce new products, exclusive promotional offers, and supplier-funded deals that align with seasonal marketing campaigns.

• Trend & Market Scouting: Display insatiable curiosity by researching consumer and lifestyle trends - attending trade events, networking, and keeping your finger on the pulse of what's next in leisure and experiences.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with the wider Product team to identify bundle opportunities and communicate brilliantly with Customer Service and Product Support to ensure capacity, service, and delivery run smoothly throughout.
  

What you'll need:

• Commercial Acumen & Data Skills: A strong grasp of calculating margins, analysing sales data, and understanding how partner performance impacts the bottom line.

• Strong Account Management & Relationship Building: Proven experience managing, growing, and retaining partner or client relationships with exceptional interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.

• Negotiation & Deal-Closing: Outstanding negotiation skills with a track record of converting leads, managing commercial terms, and securing high-performing, win-win deals.

• Transferable Commercial Drive: Highly adaptable with the ability to quickly get up to speed on new product categories and consumer markets - whether that's leisure, hospitality, events, or lifestyle services.

• Communication & Presentation: Confident presentation skills with the ability to pitch to decision-makers, handle pushback smoothly, and represent the brand with authority.

• Agility & Passion: Comfort working in a dynamic, fast-moving, target-driven environment where proactive relationship building and curiosity fuel success.

Perks to make work feel less ordinary:

• Time for you: 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell up to 2 days each year

• Freedom to work your way: 2 days in-office (Tuesdays a mandatory in-office day), Flexi-working hours around our core 10-4, so your day works for you (8.5 hours per day with a 1 hour lunch)

• Wellbeing that works: Access to an award-winning employee assistance programme; Health Plan cover (plus family add-ons) with cash back for a variety of health & wellbeing costs; Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes (post probation).

• Future proofing you (and your finances): Company pension (5% you, 3% us) after 3 months; Discretionary bonus and life assurance after probation.

• Giving back & all the anti-ordinary extras: 2 volunteer days each year; Free breakfast when in the office; Personal re-loadable multi-choice gift card (topped up on your birthday, lifetime milestones and internal celebrations); Yearly £150 experience voucher; Discounts on experiences and across the Virgin Group; Refer a Friend bonus and generous team celebrations throughout the year.