Retail Partnerships Manager

Smart Works is a dynamic, high profile and fast-growing UK charity that dresses and coaches unemployed women for success at their job interview. We empower each woman by giving her the clothes and the confidence she needs to succeed.

After visiting Smart Works, 67% of clients secure a job within a month, gaining financial independence and transforming their lives.

The Smart Works service is delivered in London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Newcastle, Reading, Bristol and Leeds. Over the past ten years, Smart Works has helped over 50,000 women, and last year alone we reached 10,600 women. It is our mission that any woman who needs our service should be able to find her way to a Smart Works centre.

In March 2025, Smart Works completed their Three-Year Plan that saw the charity double the number of women helped annually from 5,000 to 10,000 women a year. To achieve this, we grew our existing centres and opened a new centre.

About this role

This is an exciting role that will lead the relationship management of our most important, high value retail brands, without which our service could not be delivered. Supported by the Head of Events & Community Fundraising, you will work closely with the Partnerships Team and the Wardrobe Team to deliver essential client and events stock. In addition to delivering client and events stock, you will also focus on raising money from retail partners, particularly with activations linked to International Women s Day and Giving Tuesday.

The successful candidate will be responsible for building and maintaining a portfolio of retail brands, conducting excellent stewardship, bespoke tailored support, with a real understanding and insight into the challenges and opportunities within the retail sector, and an ability to influence and negotiate on the charity s behalf.

We seek an excellent relationship manager, with strong written and verbal communication skills, an ability to influence senior stakeholders and exceed set targets. An understanding of women s fashion would also be advantageous.

Smart Works has a collaborative environment, with dynamic teams and ambitious plans. It is also a rewarding place to work and a lot of fun, with valuable opportunities to attend nationwide fundraising events, expert leadership panel discussions, fashion sales and exclusive events.

The Partnerships team is based in London. This is a hybrid role, with time split across all 3 of our London sites in Islington, Ladbroke Grove and Croydon. Some evening and weekend work is occasionally required to support our wider partnership and fundraising events.

If you are a dynamic, proactive self-starter, with a sense of urgency, and exceptional interpersonal skills, then this could be the ideal opportunity for you. We would love to hear from you.

How to Apply

Please submt a CV and a cover letter through our recruitment system by 5pm on Monday 22nd September.

1st round interviews will take place on either 1st or 2nd October and will take place in person in our North London centre in Islington.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or alterations for the application and recruitment processes, please send us an email and we'd be happy to accomodate.

Smart Works is committed to best practice employment practices, including reducing the burden for those seeking work. Smart Works will therefore reimburse reasonable costs of travel to interviews if required.