Client Partnerships Manager

British Ecological Society

Length of contract
12 month

About the Organisation

British Ecological Society (BES) is the oldest ecological society in the world, dedicated to advancing ecological science. Founded in 1913, BES promotes the study of ecology through research, education, and policy engagement, supporting ecologists at all career stages. BES has a global membership of ecologists, including students, researchers, and professionals from academia, government, and industry. Members benefit from exclusive resources, networking opportunities, and access to grants.

About the role

The Client Partnerships Manager will lead on developing and managing the British Ecological Society’s relationships with businesses and consultancy clients. This is a client-facing role, combining business development, account management, and project delivery. This includes building and delivering creative partnerships, managing client accounts, overseeing sponsorship and advertising, and identifying new growth opportunities. The postholder will develop winning pitches, nurture strong clienrelationships, and ensure all partnerships and consultancy projects are impactful, commercially successful, and aligned with the BES mission.

Responsibilities

Business Development & Sales:

• Proactively identify and develop new consultancy and partnership clients, building a strong pipeline of prospects and opportunities.
• Create and deliver persuasive, tailored pitches and proposals that translate ecological science into compelling, goal-oriented client stories.
• Manage and grow the Society’s sponsorship and advertising income streams, developing creative packages linked to events, print, and digital platforms.
• Negotiate and agree consultancy and partnership contracts, ensuring deliverables and expectations are clear, achievable, and measurable.
• Work responsively with senior colleagues to shape and implement a commercial strategy that maximises BES’s expertise and impact

Partnership & Client Management:

• Act as account manager for consultancy clients and corporate partners, building strong, long-term client relationships.
• Be the first point of contact for clients, ensuring excellent service, regular communication, and high-quality delivery.

Project Management & Delivery:

• Lead the delivery of consultancy and corporate partnership projects, coordinating input from across BES teams.
• Manage the financial and legal administration of client work, including drafting and overseeing contracts, setting and monitoring budgets, and managing invoices and payments.
• Negotiate clear deliverables and terms with clients and partners, ensuring all agreements are fair, transparent, and aligned with BES policies.
• Ensure consultancy projects and partnerships deliver on time, on budget, and to a high standard.
• Translate technical ecological information into engaging client-facing outputs such as reports, presentations, and proposals.
• Monitor and evaluate project success, sharing learnings and applying them to future client work.

Cross-Society Collaboration:

• Support the Director of Policy in developing the Society’s wider commercial strategy.
• Contribute to the overall visibility and reputation of the BES as a trusted partner for ecological expertise.
• Work with colleagues across policy, events, publishing, grants, membership, and communications to maximise opportunities for corporate engagement and income.

Skills, Competencies & Experience

Essential:

• Proven track record in business development and sales, with demonstrable success in securing new clients, generating income, and meeting or exceeding commercial targets.
• Strong presentation and pitching skills, with demonstrable experience of creating and delivering winning proposals that convert prospects into clients.
• Demonstrable experience building and maintaining a robust pipeline of prospects, using insight and creativity to identify new opportunities.
• Demonstrable evidence of excellent client relationship management skills, including nurturing accounts and growing long-term value once relationships are established.
• Commercial awareness, with demonstrable experience in negotiating contracts, managing budgets, and ensuring financial sustainability.
• Demonstrable experience in project management, including coordinating multiple stakeholders, overseeing delivery, and ensuring projects are completed on time, on budget, and to a high standard.
• Demonstrable experience in distilling complex or technical information into clear, impactful stories that resonate with business audiences.
• Confident communicator, both written and verbal, with demonstrable experience in influencing and engaging senior decision-makers

Desirable:

• Experience in an agency, consultancy, or client-facing commercial environment.
• Familiarity with consultancy or commercial delivery models.
• An interest in ecology, science, and the environment.

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• To apply for this vacancy, please click 'Apply for this job' via our recruitment portal to submit:
  • Your CV - no more than 2x A4 sides detailing your education, training, and work history, as well as any relevant key skills
  • A covering letter - no more than 1 A4 side explaining why you wish to undertake this role at the BES
  • Your Equality and Diversity information - this voluntary information helps us to assess the diversity of our recruitment and further improve recruitment processes in the future. It has no bearing on the success of your application and is not considered part of the shortlisting process.

Interviews

• Interview: Tuesday 25th November 2025

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