Strategic Partner Acquisition Manager

Job description

Buyagift and Red Letter Days are the UK’s leading gift experience provider. We’re all about turning special moments into extra-special memories. With a gifting range of 4000+ experiences from spa days and skydives to gourmet treats and once-in-a-lifetime adventures, we make it easy to give the gift of wow. 🎁 As part of the Moonpig Group, we’re proud to share that our vision is to become the most trusted platform in the UK gift experience market. Our mission is to spread happiness through thoughtful, joy-filled experiences. People are at the heart of everything we do. Since joining the Moonpig Group in 2022, we’ve been powered by strong values, bold ideas and a shared passion for making a real difference. Here, you’ll have the chance to shape the kind of experiences people never forget – and help us build connections that truly matter. ### **Strategic Partner Acquisition Manager | 📍London – Hybrid, 2 days per week in the office | 💰Competitive Salary + Benefits** ### ### **About the Role** For more than 20 years, **Buyagift and Red Letter Days** have helped millions of customers create unforgettable memories through experiences. Now, as part of Moonpig Group, we’re combining data, technology and creativity to build an even more dynamic, customer-focused experiences proposition. We’re looking for a commercially driven **Strategic Partner Acquisition Manager** to grow our Experiences partner network across the UK. Based in **London with hybrid working**, you’ll spend 2 days per week in our Central London office, with some travel to meet prospective partners and attend industry events. You’ll report into the **Head of Partner Growth** and be part of our fast-growing **Partner Acquisition Team**. You’ll find and secure experience partners that give customers more choice, fill category and regional gaps, improve product quality and support long-term commercial growth. You’ll own the full partner acquisition journey, taking prospects from research and first contact through pitching, negotiation and contract signature, before handing them over for onboarding. Working closely with Category Managers, Buying, Onboarding and Commercial teams, you’ll turn category priorities into a focused acquisition pipeline and lasting commercial partnerships. We aim to tailor the complexity of prospects to your experience level, giving you the opportunity to build your skills and impact as part of the team. This is an individual contributor role for someone who combines strong B2B sales skills with commercial judgement, curiosity and a thoughtful approach to building trusted relationships. **Dependent on performance and business requirements, there is potential for the role to extend beyond 6 months.** ### Key Responsibilities: - Own and manage a prioritised target list of prospective experience partners. - Research, identify and approach high-potential partners across key categories. - Build and manage a qualified pipeline from first outreach through to signed agreement. - Develop tailored outreach using email, phone, LinkedIn, referrals, events and meetings. - Create and deliver compelling proposals for Buyagift and Red Letter Days. - Pitch confidently to business owners, founders, operators and **C-level decision-makers**. - Understand each prospect’s business model, goals, capacity and customer fit. - Negotiate commercially sound agreements that support customer value, margin and long-term growth. - Work with Category Managers to understand supply gaps, customer demand and acquisition priorities. - Source partners that improve portfolio quality, breadth, regional coverage and category strength. - Share market insight and prospect feedback to help shape future acquisition strategy. - Work with Onboarding and Category teams to ensure a smooth handover after signature. - Provide clear information on commercial terms, expectations, product details and launch risks. - Collaborate with internal teams to remove blockers and support successful partner launches. - Build relationships across the UK experiences, hospitality, leisure, travel, wellness and entertainment sectors. - Attend relevant industry events and networking opportunities to find new partners and represent our brands. - Monitor competitor activity, market trends and partner sentiment. ### About You: - Proven experience in B2B sales, business development, partnerships or commercial acquisition. - Strong track record of prospecting, pitching, negotiating and closing new business relationships. - Excellent commercial judgement, with the ability to assess partner fit, customer relevance and long-term value. - Confident communication, influencing and relationship-building skills. - Self-motivated and target-driven, with the ability to work autonomously. - Strong organisational skills and experience managing a multi-stage pipeline. - Comfortable using CRM tools and reporting on pipeline activity and performance. - Experience in a marketplace, e-commerce, travel, hospitality, leisure, gifting or experience-led business would be valuable. - An existing network across hospitality, leisure, wellness, entertainment, tourism or premium lifestyle would be beneficial. - Experience with partner onboarding, catalogue launches, product setup or supplier activation would be useful. - Understanding of category management, product curation, customer proposition or supply acquisition would be beneficial. ### Interview Process: - **Stage 1:** TA Screen – 30 minutes - **Stage 2:** Hiring Manager Screen – 45–60 minutes - **Stage 3:** Final Interview – 60 minutes with the Hiring Manager / Senior Stakeholder. Task details TBC. Our process may vary depending on role and availability. We keep candidates informed of any changes.