Higher Education Academy - Job Description
Job Title
PARTNERSHIP MANAGER
Salary band:
Grade G
Flexible – the post may be based at home/area based or York (Subject to business
need) but the post holder will be required to attend York at least 3 days a month if
home/area based. UK-wide travel and direct working with higher education
institutions will be a key feature of this role.
Location:
Job purpose
The Partnership Manager will provide the key interface between the HEA and Higher
Education Providers institutions in order to retain existing customers and generate
new and repeat business.
The post holder will develop strong, positive and active relationships with Higher
Education Providers and increase institutional engagement with the HEA and its
services to help the HEA develop new products and services, build customer loyalty
and satisfaction and grow the organisation’s commercial revenue streams.
Principal
Responsibilities
Accountable for the achievement of annual retention and new income generated from
other HEA products and services, to include agreed margins and contributing to team
effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
Provide regular reports on achievements of targets against plan to include strategies
to ensure targets are met and reforecasting when required.
Keep management informed by submitting activity and results reports, such as
monthly and annual territory analyses and, support the Head of Partnership
Management in the production of monthly work plans.
Provide regular updates and reports to the HEA on individual institutional priorities
and challenges and perceptions of the HEA and flag up any potential areas for concern
(e.g. potential non-renewal of subscription).
Keep the CRM system up to date on all relevant information to support institutional
retention and business growth.
Maintain up-to-date records of interactions and engagements with portfolio of
subscribing HEIs on the HEA’s stakeholder management system.
Act as the HEA’s champion in the sector, in particular to: promote the HEA to the
portfolio of subscribing institutions and in the sector generally, market the HEA’s full
range of services to those institutions and maintain/develop positive perceptions of
the HEA’s reputation, services and the value of engaging with the HEA.
Provide a single point of contact for senior managers of teaching and learning within
institutions.
Develop and maintain strong personal relationships with institutional contacts and
establish the HEA’s presence within individual HEIs through: regular dialogue (virtual
and face to face). Additionally, identify priority HEIs and proactively develop the
strategic relationship, with a view to improving usage and reputation.
Understand individual institutional priorities and challenges in order to develop new
products and services, increase repeat sales and focus efforts to ensure customer
retention.
Effectively manage their portfolio of products/services.
Proactively raise, follow up, negotiate and track business opportunities to ensure
client expectations are met.
Liaise with the relevant HEA staff to ensure business opportunities are responded to,
delivered and followed up to meet client expectations.
Work with defined customer segments to support new product development and sale
of HEA services to specific cohorts.
Provide opportunities for institutions to provide feedback and shape the ongoing
development of the HEA’s offer.
Work as part of the wider stakeholder management team to contribute to the HEA’s
understanding of the issues and concerns of different groups or types of institutions.
Undergo a formal training programme including attending the initial induction and
thereafter, regular briefing meetings.
Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops;
reviewing professional publications; participating in professional societies.
Attend regular 1:2:1’s and team meetings
Engage with HEA core systems and processes and take responsibility for own
administrative processes.
Any other duties commensurate with the grade.
Responsible to:
Head of Partnership Management
Responsible
for:
Working
Relationships
This post has no budget or line management responsibilities
Internally: with colleagues across the HEA, and particularly the team Heads and the
communications team.
Externally: with subscribing HEIs, regional HE associations and other groups as
appropriate.
Person Specification
Essential
Knowledge
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Understanding of effective systems for managing
relationships with key clients (including key
account management)
An enterprising approach, able to identify and
help exploit academic enterprise opportunities
that align with the HEA’s mission
Desirable
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Knowledge of the key
challenges and academic
development issues
affecting learning and
teaching in HE
Knowledge of effective
Experience
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A higher degree or equivalent
teaching and learning
practices.
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Significant track record of income generation
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Experience of achieving new business through
account management

Evidence of managing external
stakeholder/partner/customer relationships
Experience of providing consultancy services.
Experience of working to and achieving
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individual and team targets
Experience of working in partnership with senior
level staff (e.g. PVCs in HEIs) to effect strategic
level change
Experience of academic or
professional leadership in
Higher Education
Recent experience of
leading and/or managing
institution-wide teaching
and learning related activity
Evidence of effective
engagement (s) with
national/regional agendas
which are relevant to the
role
Experience of working in
learning and teaching/
professional development/
scholarship
Experience team working
Experience of quality
enhancement/assurance
practices which support
excellent student learning
experiences
Demonstrable experience
of managing innovation,
change and development
within academic
environment(s)
Fellow or Associate of the
Higher Education Academy,
or evidence of eligibility to
work towards Fellowship
status
Substantial and significant
teaching and/or academic
staff development
experience in HE 1
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Skills
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1
Proven ability to promote high quality focussed
provision in relationship to partnership
development and providing timely support for
subscribing institutions
Ability to raise and follow up business
opportunities to ensure client expectations are
met
Excellent verbal and written communication
skills.
High level interpersonal, networking and
representational skills, including effective
influencing and negotiating skills

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Ability to understand and
address the learning and
teaching issues of
academics and senior
managers in HEIs
Effective strategic and
creative thinking around
the strategic enhancement
of institutional
partnerships/networks
Substantial = volume of teaching. Significant = development, delivery and assessment of teaching and learning outcomes not
work merely work incidental to these areas.
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Ability to develop, maintain and utilise effective
networks, relationships and alliances to deliver
results through extensive partnership working
Ability to work independently, undertaking a
high level of personal responsibility and initiative
as required within the role.
High level organisational and time management
skills, including the capacity to work under
pressure
Excellent computer skills, including use of MS
Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)