Programme & Partnerships Manager

Location: Madrid, Spain – Hybrid

Contract: Fixed Term

Start Date: October 2026

End Date: 31 July 2027

Salary: €27,000–€34,000 per annum, depending on experience

European Mobility, Made Possible

We are building ThinkEurope – a specialist provider of international education and mobility programmes across Europe.

Powered by Think Pacific, we design and deliver high-quality Erasmus+, Turing Scheme and bespoke international mobility programmes for colleges, schools and universities.

Our programmes connect education with industry, culture, sustainability and future skills, giving students meaningful international experiences that build confidence, employability and global citizenship.

As ThinkEurope launches its first programmes in Madrid in January 2027, we are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Programme & Partnerships Manager to establish and lead our first European delivery hub.

The Role

Based in Madrid, you will initially focus on building the partnerships, programmes, suppliers and operational systems required for launch.

You will develop relationships with businesses, community organisations, educational partners and suppliers, translating college requirements into engaging 14-day programmes across a wide range of curriculum areas.

From January 2027, you will lead the Madrid delivery team and oversee safe, high-quality programmes for successive groups of UK further education students.

The role is hybrid, combining independent working with structured team days from coworking locations and regular travel across Madrid to meet partners, suppliers and student groups.

As ThinkEurope expands across Spain, there is significant potential for the role to develop into wider regional and senior leadership responsibilities. Any contract extension will be discussed at least three months before the end date.

Key ResponsibilitiesPartnerships & Programme Development

You will establish and maintain a strong network of Madrid-based partners, including:

• Businesses and vocational organisations relevant to different curriculum areas
• Accommodation and transport providers
• Community and educational organisations
• Cultural, activity and experience providers
• Other local suppliers required for programme delivery

You will work closely with colleges and the UK team to create programmes that meet educational objectives while providing engaging cultural and professional experiences.

Programme & Operational Management

You will lead the operational delivery of ThinkEurope programmes in Madrid, including:

• Managing multiple student groups throughout the programme season
• Overseeing programmes for 400+ students annually
• Coordinating accommodation, transport, activities and daily logistics
• Managing programme schedules, bookings and operational planning
• Maintaining programme budgets and monitoring expenditure
• Implementing safeguarding, health & safety and risk management procedures
• Acting as the senior operational lead during programme delivery
• Managing incidents, emergencies and welfare concerns
• Maintaining high standards of programme quality and participant experience
• Reporting regularly to the UK team and senior management

Team Leadership

As the Madrid hub develops, you will help recruit and lead the local delivery team. Responsibilities will include:

• Supporting recruitment and selection
• Training and onboarding team members
• Managing rotas and operational schedules
• Providing day-to-day leadership and support
• Conducting regular check-ins and performance reviews
• Supporting staff wellbeing and professional development
• Creating a positive, collaborative team culture
• Ensuring staff understand ThinkEurope’s values, safeguarding procedures and operational standards

Emergency Response & Duty Management

During programme delivery periods, primarily January to July, you will participate in a scheduled 24/7 duty management rota.

During designated on-call periods, you will manage the ThinkEurope emergency phone and act as the first point of contact for operational incidents and emergencies.

This may include coordinating responses to medical, welfare or safeguarding concerns; supporting access to medical treatment or emergency services; liaising with local organisations; escalating serious incidents to UK Senior Management; and completing appropriate incident records and follow-up reports.

You should be comfortable making informed decisions under pressure while prioritising participant safety and wellbeing.

Regional Development

As ThinkEurope grows, you may also support:

• Development of new educational experiences
• Improvements to existing programmes
• Expansion into additional destinations across Spain
• Site visits to potential programme locations
• Meetings and networking events with prospective partners

About You

We are looking for an experienced operational leader who enjoys building relationships, managing people, solving problems and delivering exceptional educational experiences.

You will be proactive, organised and adaptable, with the confidence to work independently in Madrid while collaborating closely with a UK-based team.

Essential Experience

You will have:

• Fluent Spanish and professional working English
• Experience establishing and managing partnerships with businesses, education providers, community organisations or suppliers
• Experience designing programmes, itineraries or projects around client objectives
• Experience with Erasmus+, Turing Scheme or other international student mobility programmes
• Strong project and operational planning skills
• Experience coordinating multiple partners, bookings and deadlines
• Experience preparing budgets, comparing supplier proposals and monitoring expenditure
• Experience supervising staff or leading delivery teams
• Strong safeguarding and student welfare awareness
• Calm, practical decision-making when plans change or incidents occur
• Excellent communication skills with students, educational institutions, partners and colleagues
• Confidence working independently and reporting to a remote management team

Experience working with UK further education colleges would be particularly valuable.

Why Join ThinkEurope?

This is an opportunity to become one of the founding operational leaders of ThinkEurope.

You will help launch our first European mobility hub, deliver programmes for more than 400 students, build a network of local partners, recruit and lead a growing Madrid team, and help shape our systems and standards from the outset.

As ThinkEurope expands into additional cities and countries, successful Managers will be well positioned to progress into regional and senior leadership roles, supporting multiple destinations and helping shape our long-term European strategy.

To Apply

Applicants must complete the following application form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6Op7N1DOJZW9yVcEU_41rQY0PX9tjhtY4nnd3FjYDkKYOxA/viewform

Madrid – Programme & Partnerships Manager: Application Form

For questions about the role or application process, please contact Alicia Brown at Think Pacific via alicia@thinkpacific.com

Thank you for your interest in ThinkEurope. We look forward to receiving your application.