Partnership and Investments Manager

Medway Council is seeking an ambitious and strategic Partnerships and Investments Manager to help deliver our vision:

To position Medway as a nationally recognised leader in leisure, sport, and environmental innovation — an attractive, trusted partner for investment, collaboration, and pioneering programmes that deliver lasting impact for our communities.

This is a unique opportunity to move beyond traditional service delivery and play a central role in establishing Medway as a strategic leader, innovator, and partner of choice across leisure, sport, and environmental development.

Reporting to the Head of Service, you will lead the development, management, and performance of key partnerships, contracts, and investment programmes. You will take a whole-system approach, ensuring that services, projects, and partnerships contribute to wider outcomes such as health, wellbeing, environmental resilience, and economic growth.

You will:

• Lead strategic contract and partnership management, including oversight of the Medway Norse joint venture
• Position Medway as a credible and visible destination for investment, innovation, and pilot programmes
• Identify and secure capital and revenue funding to support priority projects
• Build strong, trusted relationships across local, regional, and national networks
• Provide a lateral overview across leisure and environmental systems, aligning priorities and managing expectations
• Drive high-performing contract delivery, ensuring quality, value, and innovation
• Lead procurement, financial planning, and budget management
• Oversee delivery of capital infrastructure projects that support thriving communities
• Work within a high-performing team and foster a culture of innovation and collaboration

You will be a confident leader with a strong track record in partnerships, investment, or contract management, and the ability to operate strategically across complex systems.

If you are passionate about partnerships, investment, and system leadership, and want to shape the future of leisure, sport, and environmental services in Medway, we would love to hear from you.

If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager, please call Bob Dimond on bob.dimond@medway.gov.uk

Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) have been introduced for all roles at Medway Council. These frameworks provide a mechanism for employees to take ownership of their development within their post and be rewarded accordingly. The salary you will be offered will be at level A. There will be further opportunity once in post to progress from level A to B, and B to C.

When writing your application, it is important to ensure you identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the CPF assessment. Your application may be rejected if the minimum required criteria is not met. Further information relating to the requirements for this role can be found in the CPF Guidance document attached.

The person specification of a job profile is split into three levels:

Level A details the essential criteria that all applicants must be able to demonstrate through their application and interview.

Level B details the developed competencies that an individual who is practised in this role would be able to demonstrate and will be a progression of knowledge, experience and skills from level A.

Level C requires the highest level of competence and applicants would need to fully meet and demonstrate all aspects of the job profile, including qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience.

We are seeking a Partnership & Investments Manager to join the team at level A. This is the entry point of the role, so you will need to be able to demonstrate the relevant knowledge, experience and skills to get you started, but you will be supported to develop in your role through induction, probation and a supportive Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation. All elements of level A listed within the person specification are essential. Through your induction you will be introduced to the Career Progression Framework (CPF), which will help you to identify your areas of strength and any development needs.

Important Information-

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate all criteria at level A which are essential for appointment to the role.
• Medway Council is not able to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship, so candidates must already possess the right to work in the UK.
• For further information, and for details of the benefits of working for Medway Council, please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.
• Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.
• We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.