The Business Engagement team leads the RSPB’s work with the private sector and plays a central role in the charity’s strategy, working with businesses as agents of change. With a clear strategy and strong ethical foundations, the team are well positioned to raise £15 million through corporate partnerships by 2030 – and this role is central to making this happen.
Reporting into the Head of Business Engagement, you will oversee and grow a portfolio of multi-million-pound, strategic corporate partnerships, and ones that have the potential for this, ensuring they deliver both significant income and deep impact for nature. Partnerships include Tesco, Co-op, Ella’s Kitchen, Cemex and Barratt.
Working closely with the Head of New Business & Impact and the Head of Business Practice & Advocacy, you will deliver on RSPB’s Business Engagement Strategy, which focuses on:
- Investing in nature at scale
- Driving business practice change
- Influencing policy and systems
- Reaching new audiences through customers, employees and B2B engagement
About the role
As Head of Partnership Delivery, you will:
- Lead RSPB’s most strategic corporate partnerships, overseeing a portfolio that includes Tesco, Co-op, Cemex and Ella’s Kitchen. These relationships are already delivering conservation impact and income, but there is more potential to unlock.
- Manage and mentor a skilled team of four, with a collaborative, empowering leadership style and people-first approach
- Drive income growth and unlock new value from existing partners – including funding for restoration, nature projects, biodiversity in supply chains, engaging with business customers and employees’ and behaviour change initiatives
- Work across internal teams – including Global Conservation, Country teams, Fair to Nature, Policy & Advocacy, Finance and Communications – to integrate technical expertise and policy influence into our partnerships
- Play an active leadership role across the Business Engagement team and wider RSPB, helping evolve their approach to corporate engagement and championing the role of business in nature recovery
About you
Ideal skills and experience:
- A track record of leading and growing high-value, strategic partnerships at a multi-million-pound scale
- Strong strategic and commercial thinking, with the ability to balance income generation and mission-driven impact
- A collaborative, empowering leadership style with a people-first approach (team leadership experience is essential)
- Experience of influencing and engaging senior stakeholders, both internally and externally
- Confident managing sensitive ethical considerations and public scrutiny
- Experience or interest in sustainability, ESG or climate is helpful, but not essential
- Could suit someone stepping up from a senior partnerships role
Employee benefits
This is a home-based role, open to candidates across the UK, with a preference for someone based in England. Regular team meetups in London or at Sandy HQ (Bedfordshire), with travel costs reimbursed.
Benefits include:
- 34 to 38 days’ annual leave depending on length of service, including bank holidays (flexible dates)
- Up to 7% employer contribution pension scheme
- Life assurance (5x salary)
- Four-week paid sabbatical after five years
- One paid volunteering day per year
- Generous sick pay