VodafoneThree - Partner Development Manager

## Location: Newbury \+ Hybrid Salary: Excellent basic salary plus bonus and Vodafone benefits Working hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week – Monday to Friday Hybrid We believe that through collaboration and connection with our colleagues we can achieve great things. Our hybrid working approach allows our people to work both in the office and at home, providing the flexibility and resources you need to succeed in your role. We don't require you to be in on specific days; instead, we ask people to come into the office 2-3 days each week, for at least 8 days per month. You should work with your line manager to understand what their expectations are for you, your specific role and your team. ## Who We Are We’re here to build a network the UK can count on – one that connects people, places and potential. Because no matter where you live, what your background is, or how you get online – we think everyone deserves the same chance to stay connected, and with VodafoneThree, that future’s being built – today. We’re creating more than the UK’s best network. We’re helping close the digital divide, empower communities and drive meaningful progress. We believe that everyone should feel they belong. Whoever you are and whatever your story, there’s space for you here. We’re building a workplace where different perspectives are welcomed, voices are heard, and everyone feels safe to show up as themselves. You’ll join a team that genuinely cares – about each other, about our customers, and about the future we’re building. From day one, you’ll be welcomed, valued and encouraged to bring your whole self to work. Why VodafoneThree Join us and you’ll be at the heart of change. That means building responsibly, investing sustainably and creating opportunities that last. We’re not just expanding connectivity; we’re reimagining what a connected nation looks like. With £11bn invested in 5G and digital infrastructure, your work will directly power businesses, services, and communities across the country. You’ll work on real challenges, with real impact, across every corner of the country. Wherever you join us, whatever your role, you’ll be helping to build a future that works better for everyone. We move at pace, because what we’re building matters – and we’re learning as we go. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, but we’re just getting started. Be part of our Business UK function, a team that are revolutionising how customers use technology and connectivity. With our extensive range of products and services, we help all kinds of organisations – from small, local businesses to multi-national corporations – unlocking the potential of new technologies, including 5G, AI and the Internet of Things (IoT). ## What you’ll do You will identify where partnerships can accelerate Vodafone Business' strategy, translate customer and proposition needs into clear partner requirements, assess the market to identify the strongest potential partners, and build the strategic and commercial case for working together. You'll work across strategy, propositions, product, sales and commercial teams, and with some of the world's leading technology businesses, to turn business needs and market opportunities into compelling partner plays. This isn't a traditional partner management role. You'll be focused on what comes next: where Vodafone should partner, who we should partner with, what role each organisation should play and whether the opportunity genuinely stacks up commercially. * Identify where partnerships can create value - Work with Strategy, Product, Propositions, Sales and Commercial teams to identify capability gaps, customer needs and growth opportunities where an external partner or ecosystem could accelerate Vodafone Business' ambitions. * Translate business needs into clear partner requirements - Turn sometimes ambiguous proposition or customer requirements into a structured view of the capabilities, commercial model, delivery requirements and partner characteristics needed to succeed. * Understand and assess the partner market - Develop a strong understanding of the technology and partner landscape, identifying and evaluating potential partners across both Vodafone's existing ecosystem and the wider market rather than defaulting to established relationships. * Build a consistent partner assessment approach - Create and apply clear frameworks for evaluating partners, considering capability, strategic fit, customer relevance, differentiation, delivery credibility, commercial attractiveness, scalability and broader value to Vodafone. * Shape partner and ecosystem strategies - Determine where individual partners are best placed to play, where capabilities overlap, and where multiple organisations can be brought together to create stronger propositions or routes to market. * Build the commercial case - Develop robust business cases and commercial models for new partner opportunities, testing value creation for Vodafone, the partner and the customer before recommending investment or commitment. * Develop opportunities through to an agreed partner play - Take priority opportunities from initial hypothesis through market assessment, partner engagement, commercial evaluation and internal alignment to a clear recommendation and executable proposition. * Build Vodafone's partner development capability - Create repeatable tools, market intelligence and decision frameworks that improve how Vodafone identifies, evaluates and selects partners, including clearer guidance on which partners are best suited to different capabilities, propositions and customer requirements. ## Who you are * Experience in strategy, business development, strategic partnerships, corporate development, innovation or proposition development, with responsibility for developing new growth opportunities. * Experience turning business problems into structured, evidence-based recommendations. * Strong experience assessing opportunities, business models, commercial viability and building business cases. * Experience evaluating markets, partners and competing capabilities to identify the strongest options. * Track record of taking opportunities from initial concept through evaluation, alignment and mobilisation. * Strong experience securing alignment and driving action across senior, cross-functional and external stakeholders. * Strong understanding of, or ability to rapidly navigate, areas such as AI, cloud, security, connectivity and managed services. Worried that you don’t meet all the desired criteria exactly? We know that everyone is unique, with multiple aspects to their identity and different experiences behind them. We are passionate about Inclusion for All and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive, whatever their personal or professional background. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align exactly with every part of the job description, we encourage you to apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or another role, and our recruitment team can help you see how your skills fit in. ## What we offer We care about our people’s success by offering great pay, bonuses, up to 28 days off plus bank holidays, and paid time for charity work. You can personalise our benefits for you and your family, like discounts, vouchers, a pension plan and loads more. We help with your career through our amazing learning tools and top-notch parental leave policies. Need to Know We are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and all offers of employment for this role are subject to background checks, including criminal (DBS) and financial checks to meet the regulators standards. If you require any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request as part of your recruitment journey, for example, extended time or breaks in between online assessments, a sign language interpreter, or assistive technology, please refer to the Accessibility section of our Careers website (https://careers.vodafone.com/uk/reasonable-adjustments/) for guidance. We use AI in different parts of our business to boost innovation, improve efficiency, and create new opportunities. We know many candidates use AI to fine-tune their CVs or prepare for interviews, but what we really care about is your unique experiences and achievements. During the interview, we want you to rely on your own knowledge and skills to show us who you really are—your personality, creativity, and abilities. Above all, we’re looking for authenticity and can’t wait to get to know the real you. ## #VodafoneThree #LI-Hybrid