Strategic Partnerships & Business Development Manager – Full-Time
Strategic Partnerships & Business Development Manager – Full-Time
Location: Canary Wharf, London
Salary: Competitive, based on experience
Reference ID: SPBDM
About SSV SmartPay
SSV SmartPay is a unique, open banking-powered solution that enables customers to make payments and businesses and charities to receive them through a customisable QR & link-based system, both in-store and online.
We provide a modern, secure, and cost-effective alternative to traditional payment methods, helping merchants reduce transaction costs, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the customer experience. Our mission is to empower businesses with innovative payment technology that drives growth, reduces friction, and promotes financial inclusion across the UK.
Position Overview
We are seeking an ambitious and commercially driven Strategic Partnerships & Business Development Manager to join our growing team. This role will focus on identifying, developing, and managing strategic partnerships that drive customer acquisition, revenue growth, and market expansion.
You will be responsible for building relationships with key stakeholders across the payments, fintech, charity, retail, and business sectors, creating mutually beneficial partnerships, and delivering growth opportunities for SSV SmartPay. Working closely with senior management, sales, marketing, and product teams, you will play a key role in shaping our commercial strategy and expanding our market presence.
This position is well-suited to a commercially minded candidate with some prior experience who is looking for rapid progression and significant exposure within a high-growth environment. However, we are open to a range of experience levels for the right individual who demonstrates strong capability, ambition, and potential.
Key Responsibilities
- Identify and proactively reach out to potential business clients across target sectors to onboard them onto SSV SmartPay
- Manage and convert inbound sales enquiries into active customers, ensuring a high-quality onboarding experience
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers, industry stakeholders, and selected commercial partners
- Develop, manage, and grow selected strategic and commercial partnerships that drive mutual value and long-term revenue growth
- Generate new business opportunities through a balanced mix of outbound outreach, networking, industry events, and partner-led introductions
- Manage the full commercial lifecycle across both clients and partners, including prospecting, negotiation, onboarding, and ongoing relationship management
- Support the development of commercial agreements, partnership structures, and go-to-market initiatives where relevant
- Develop tailored proposals, presentations, and onboarding solutions for both prospective clients and partners
- Collaborate with marketing, sales, and product teams to optimise lead generation, partner activation, and conversion strategies
- Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and customer needs to identify both sales and partnership opportunities
- Represent SSV SmartPay at industry conferences, networking events, and client and partner meetings
- Track and report on pipeline activity, partnership performance, conversion rates, and revenue metrics using CRM systems
The Person
- Highly professional, credible, and relationship-focused
- Commercially minded with strong business acumen
- Self-motivated and results-driven with a proactive approach
- Comfortable balancing outbound sales, inbound conversions, and partnership development
- Strong negotiation and influencing skills
- Confident working in a fast-paced startup environment
- Passionate about fintech innovation and business growth
Qualifications & Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Marketing, Economics, or a related field
- 3+ years’ experience in business development, partnerships, account management, or a related commercial role
- Proven track record of winning new business and/or developing strategic partnerships
- Strong understanding of sales pipelines, CRM systems, and commercial negotiations
- Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills
- Ability to identify opportunities and convert them into measurable business outcomes
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
- Results-oriented mindset with a focus on achieving commercial targets
Good to Have
Experience in the following areas will make your application stand out:
- Fintech, payments, open banking, financial services, or SaaS experience
- Existing network within UK SME, retail, charity, or payments sectors
- Experience in both outbound sales and strategic partnership development
- Exposure to channel partnerships, referral networks, or commercial alliances
- Understanding of the UK payments landscape and open banking ecosystem
What We Offer
- Competitive salary and performance-based bonus structure
- Pension scheme
- Prime office location in Canary Wharf
- Regular team socials and a collaborative, growth-focused environment
- Direct exposure to senior leadership and commercial decision-making
- Opportunity to shape both client acquisition and strategic partnerships
How to Apply
Ready to play a key role in shaping the future of payments and driving both commercial growth and strategic partnerships at SSV SmartPay?
Please attach a one-page cover letter outlining:
- Why you want to join SSV SmartPay and this role
- What makes you the ideal candidate
- An example of a business development or partnership opportunity you have developed and the impact it delivered
Pay: £32,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person