Business Development Manager (Maternity Cover)
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Business Development Manager (Maternity Cover)
Are you a relationship-builder with commercial instinct, a passion for partnerships, and a love of all things canine? Join the Royal Kennel Club and help shape the future of our partnership, sponsorship and licensing programmes - all while driving meaningful impact for dogs, owners and the wider community.
About the role
As our Business Development Manager (Maternity Cover), you'll play a key role in supporting and growing a portfolio of strategic partnerships. You'll bring commercial creativity, excellent stakeholder management and sharp strategic thinking to ensure our partnerships deliver real value: for our members, for our customers, and for dogs everywhere.
This is a chance to make your mark in an organisation with purpose, joining a collaborative, mission-driven team at the heart of canine wellbeing.
What you'll be doing
Partnership Management & Activation
• Support and develop our flagship commercial partnerships, ensuring delivery against commercial, customer and reputational KPIs.
• Maintain high-quality governance - dashboards, review cycles, risk management and detailed ROI reporting.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Marketing, Events, Digital, Product and Operations to deliver first-class sponsorship activations.
• Ensure timely and accurate contract development, compliance and renewals.
Commercial Growth & New Business
• Identify and evaluate new partnership, sponsorship and licensing opportunities that align with our strategy and values.
• Lead sponsorship proposals, pitch submissions and renewal negotiations.
• Drive growth in royalty and licensing programmes while safeguarding brand integrity.
Leadership & Influence
• Role-model customer-centric thinking, collaboration and commercial acumen.
• Provide insightful reporting, highlighting opportunities, risks and performance metrics.
• Contribute to strengthening partnership capability across the partnership team.
Key success measures
• Partnership, sponsorship and licensing revenue growth
• Strong KPI performance across strategic partnerships
• High-quality governance and contract delivery
• Increased value across the partnership portfolio
• Positive stakeholder feedback and collaboration effectiveness
What you'll bring
• Proven experience in business development, sponsorship, partnerships or account management
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to balance opportunity with risk
• Experience in licensing (desirable)
• Excellent presentation, communication and relationship-building skills
• Strong planning, organisational and reporting capability
• Ability to work independently, adapt quickly and stay calm under pressure
• A collaborative mindset and commitment to continuous learning
Why join the Royal Kennel Club?
At the Royal Kennel Club, you'll be part of a passionate, purpose-led organisation dedicated to improving the health and welfare of dogs across the UK. You'll join a supportive, values-driven team where collaboration, innovation and integrity are celebrated.
We offer:
• Hybrid working
• Opportunities to grow your skills
• A friendly, mission-focused culture
• The chance to work with partners that share our love for dogs and our commitment to canine wellbeing
Ready to apply?
If you're a commercially minded communicator who thrives on building relationships and driving value - and you want to use your talents for a purpose that matters - we'd love to hear from you.