Senior Corporate Partnerships Development Manager

National Literacy Trust
£50,000-£52,000 per annum
London (hybrid working)
FTC 12 months (35 hours per week)

Charity People is delighted to be working in partnership with the wonderful National Literacy Trust as they recruit a new Senior Corporate Partnerships Development Manager to lead on the development of bold, strategic corporate partnerships at a pivotal moment in the charity’s journey.

“The National Literacy Trust is on a mission to give children and young people from disadvantaged communities the literacy skills they need to succeed in life. This is an incredible opportunity to join our Corporate Partnerships team at a hugely exciting time – with the freedom to be creative, entrepreneurial and truly impactful at scale.”

About the National Literacy Trust

The National Literacy Trust empowers children, young people and adults from disadvantaged communities with the literacy skills they need to succeed. We work directly with young people and families, with over 5,000 schools, and through nurseries, prisons, YOIs and community literacy programmes in some of the UK’s most disadvantaged areas.

2026 is a landmark year for National Literacy Trust, as they act as the primary delivery partner for the National Year of Reading 2026, making now a truly exciting time to join.

About the role

Corporate partnerships sit at the very heart of NLT’s strategy, sustainability and impact. This newly created role in our new business development team will focus exclusively on securing high-value, strategic partnerships that deliver six- and seven-figure impact.

As Senior Corporate Partnerships Development Manager, you will sit within a team of experienced relationship managers, but your remit will be firmly centred on originating, designing and landing new partnerships. Once secured, relationships are transitioned into account management, allowing you to stay focused on developing the next opportunity while working closely and collaboratively across the team.

This is a senior role where you’ll be trusted to:

• Lead the full partnership journey, from prospect research and idea generation through to pitch and close
• Craft creative, compelling and bespoke propositions in close partnership with programme colleagues
• Build a strong, proactive pipeline aligned to NLT’s strategic priorities and funded programmes
• Engage confidently with senior corporate stakeholders and decision‑makers

NLT’s corporate partnerships are known for being highly strategic rather than transactional, with complexity, credibility and ambition. There is significant scope to shape propositions, and bring new ideas to life.

About you

We’re open to candidates from the charity sector and those bringing highly transferable experience from commercial backgrounds who can demonstrate the skills and alignment to the work of NLT.

You’ll bring:

• Proven experience of developing and securing strategic high‑value partnerships
• A strong sales and new business mindset, comfortable owning the full partnership lifecycle
• Confidence presenting and negotiating with senior stakeholders
• The creativity and judgement to craft thoughtful, impactful propositions that align commercial priorities with social purpose
• A collaborative, values‑led approach and genuine interest in NLT’s mission

This is a role for someone comfortable taking ownership, leading from the front, and spotting opportunities others might miss.

Location and flexibility

You will be able to work regularly from home around the requirements of your role for in person meetings or travel. However, you will be contracted to our office at 68 South Lambeth Road, London SW8 1RL, and responsible for your travel to London when necessary. We expect this may be up to two or three days per week at times, including team office days on Tuesdays, but will often be much less.

Key dates

• Application deadline: Midday, 6 May
• First‑stage interviews (online): 13-14 May
• Second‑stage interviews (in person): 20 May

To apply

To request a full job pack and to arrange a confidential briefing call, please contact
Kevin Croasdale at Charity People (kevin@charitypeople.co.uk)

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with