Creative Plus Business is seeking a part-time Partnership Manager to lead the business development and growth outlined in our new strategic plan.
About the Job
We’re looking for an exceptional individual with a comprehensive knowledge of the Australian creative industries landscape to join our team. We need a passionate, creative, and persuasive advocate to lead our new partnership and business development strategy, closely linked to our new strategic plan.
You will be instrumental in helping us to build on the impeccable reputation of Creative Plus Business and expand our work as a national social enterprise. We create partnerships and commercial relationships with all levels of government, educational institutions, peak bodies, and commercial companies, all with the shared aim of developing the entrepreneurial skills of Australia’s creative practitioners and arts professionals.
You are the magical combination of someone who is equally at home in a pitch meeting or networking event as you are researching and writing a grant application. You will be liaising with our current clients, and helping us to find new ones, driving our long-term strategy through creating and sustaining key relationships. We are a social enterprise, the merging point between a commercial company and a NFP, and your role is central as our partnership and business development guru.
The role
Your role will include:
● Collating, co-ordinating, finding and managing all leads using our CRM.
● Seeking out new commercial revenue opportunities with partner organisations.
● Creating collateral to assist with business development, including pitch presentations.
● Managing and maintaining positive relationships with our existing clients.
● Seeking out opportunities for grants, procurement, and other forms of funding.
● Assisting with applications for funding, EOI and tender writing with support from our Director.
● Developing and implementing systems and processes to assist you in your work.
● Helping to brainstorm new products and services that can support our growth.
Please note, once you have completed your training and probationary period you will have an annual financial target and KPI to help you stay on track and focussed.
You will work with the support of our full team in a fun and relaxed environment. We take our work very seriously, but we also like to have fun. We can offer:
● Flexible working arrangements (although we need you in the Sydney office 2-3 days a week)
● A family and dog friendly office in Surry Hills, close to Central Station
● Generous leave entitlements, including extended annual leave over Christmas and TOIL
● Opportunities for professional development, some travel, and growth.
● A commitment to work/life balance.
You will report to the Director and the General Manager, and you will receive 12 weeks training as part of the role, with a 6-month probationary period.
Key Responsibilities
● Identifying and evaluating opportunities, including conducting market research and analysis to identify potential business opportunities, partnerships, and target markets.
● Developing, creating, and implementing strategies to drive business growth and generate revenue.
● Establishing, nurturing, and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, including clients, customers, partners, and suppliers. This includes networking and attending industry events.
● Creating and delivering presentations, pitching ideas, and establishing regular communication with clients fostering trust and collaboration, including organising meetings.
● Generating leads and converting them into sales, including identifying potential customers, pitching our products and services, negotiating contracts, and closing deals.
● Researching funding opportunities and identifying potential funding sources, including government grants, social enterprise funding and procurement.
● Maintaining the internal C+B Funding Folder and staying informed about funding trends, eligibility criteria, and application deadlines.
● Writing compelling funding applications and proposals that effectively communicate program/project objectives, project's budget, timeline, and expected outcomes, while addressing the specific requirements of each funding opportunity.
● Funding application management, to ensure that all required documents, forms, and supporting materials are gathered and submitted within the specified deadlines. This includes helping with acquittal and outcomes reports.
● Building relationships with new funders, and maintaining relationships with existing funders, providing updates on projects and outcomes to ensure continued support.
● Collaborating effectively with C+B team, helping with marketing with regards to client outreach and our LinkedIn strategy, assisting in product development, and working with the admin team to align business strategies and ensure smooth implementation of projects.
● Staying updated on industry trends, competitors, and market dynamics, to identify opportunities for differentiation, assess market positioning, and make informed business decisions.
● Monitoring and evaluating the performance of business development and funding initiatives by tracking key metrics, analysing data, tracking revenue generated, and measuring the effectiveness of all partnership strategies.
This is a part-time position with a competitive salary commensurate with experience.
Key Selection Criteria
● Completion of a degree level qualification in a related field, or equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.
● Significant demonstrated experience in a similar role with a recognised organisation.
● Demonstrated ability to successfully raise revenue through government funding sources and procurement.
● Demonstrated ability to successfully raise revenue through commercial relationships.
● Ability in initiating and managing significant partnerships with demonstrated positive impact, including the development and management of commercial agreements.
● Experience representing organisations and presenting engaging and persuasive pitch content to a variety of audiences.
● Demonstrated knowledge and experience of the Australian creative and cultural industries, preferably as a practitioner in a field of creativity.
● Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills and the ability to liaise effectively with internal staff, consultants, external parties and stakeholders on all levels.
● Excellent organisation skills and attention to detail.
● Demonstrated ability to track and measure professional progress against goals and strategic plans.
● Strong, friendly communication and presentation skills.
● Demonstrated problem solving skills with the ability to deliver creative solutions and negotiate outcomes.
● Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a team player, to support colleagues and contribute to the improvement of administrative systems and procedures.
● Demonstrated commitment to equity and empowerment for creative practitioners locally and nationally, with the goal to create a fairer creative economy that is genuinely inclusive of all peoples and empathetic to the challenges and concerns of its practitioners.
Creative Plus Business is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive social enterprise. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, disability, or any other status protected by applicable laws. If you fit the bill above and have a passion for the creative and cultural industries in Australia, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity to join our team.
About Creative Plus Business
Creative Plus Business is a social enterprise dedicated to helping creative practitioners and arts professionals to develop their entrepreneurial skills. Our programs include workshops, advisory services, consulting and more covering a range of topics including small business skills, financial literacy, and marketing. We help a range of clients from recent university graduates and professional artists to tertiary institutions and government departments through a suite of learning and mentoring programs which can be accessed both online and in-person. The training and mentoring we provide builds capacity and increases commercial success within the creative industries, and all our programs are designed to foster self-sufficiency through self-employment. We're passionate about giving creatives the tools they need to self-determine their professional career and become less reliant on external funding. Our head office is based in Sydney, but we work nationally with offices in Melbourne and the Gold Coast, regularly travelling across the country to deliver mentoring services, workshops, keynotes, and other fun events.
