Partnerships Lead

About People for People

People for People Foundation connects businesses to targeted humanitarian aid. We turn collective commitment into tangible action, restoring lives in times of crisis. Founded by bunq, Bird, and Picnic, we bundle the strength of the private sector to act fast, effectively, and where it matters most.

About the Role

As Partnerships Lead you will strengthen and activate relationships with new and existing corporate partners, to maximise their full potential for positive change. By mobilising companies’ resources, expertise, and networks, this role translates the needs from crisis responses into concrete action - turning goodwill into tangible results.

This is a unique and entrepreneurial role that combines strategic partnership management, hands-on project management and marketing & communication leadership.You build and deepen partnerships, translate crisis-driven projects into compelling partnership opportunities, and act as the key link between partnerships and marketing & communications. You ensure that the right expertise is mobilised and that opportunities are strategically positioned and effectively communicated. With a solid understanding of marketing and communications, you are comfortable contributing hands-on where needed.

In this role, you will become part of our small management team, leading a team of partnership managers and marketing & communications professionals, and will focus on the following responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities

Strategic partnership development
Further develop and lead the partnerships strategy across different types of corporate partners. Define how we position ourselves, engage different partner profiles, and evolve partnerships over time. You continuously refine the strategic approach to ensure alignment between People for People’s mission, crisis response priorities, and the long-term engagement of corporate partners.

Corporate activation & relationship management
Unlock and mobilise the full potential of corporate partners by identifying what they can realistically contribute, such as products, services, logistics, expertise, or networks. Serve as the primary point of contact and build strong, trust-based relationships through clear and compelling communication. You manage expectations, maintain engagement, and ensure partners feel valued and connected, while translating urgent needs into well-executed collaborations that deliver tangible results.

Crisis project management
Lead and coordinate cross-organisational crisis response projects involving corporate partners from concept to implementation. You act as the bridge between urgent needs on the ground, operational execution, and partner engagement. You develop clear project plans, align internal and external stakeholders, manage timelines and dependencies, and ensure roles and responsibilities are clearly defined. You strategically coordinate communication moments and reporting, ensuring efficient execution, strong collaboration, and maximum impact.

Strategic communication & visibility (MarCom)
Take strategic ownership of marketing and communications for partnership-driven projects, ensuring results are visible both to partners and externally. You work closely with the Crisis Response Lead, partners, and internal teams (PR, content, and marketing & communications) to design communication plans that highlight how contributions are making a difference.

You have 5+ years of experience in partnership and project management, preferably in a startup or scale-up environment, where agility and ownership are key. You thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic organisation, enjoy building processes from scratch, and have a sharp eye for external communications to make impact visible to partners and stakeholders. You recognise yourself in the following competencies:

1. Exceptional communication skills: Strong verbal and written communicator, able to engage corporate stakeholders with clarity, empathy, and conviction. Fluent Dutch is essential for communicating with partners.
   

2. Stakeholder & project management: Highly organised and capable of managing complex projects across multiple stakeholders.
   

3. Entrepreneurial & builder mindset: Thrives in a start-up environment and enjoys creating something out of nothing. Comfortable with ambiguity and proactive in turning ideas into action.
   

4. Strategic & solution-oriented thinking: Able to connect needs with opportunities, think creatively about solutions, and design partnerships that are both meaningful and realistic.
   

5. Collaborative & lead-by-example approach: Naturally builds strong relationships across teams and with partners based on trust and shared purpose. Leads by example, staying hands-on in projects while aligning and supporting the team toward strategic goals.

Our Behavioural Commitments:
At People for People, we believe our greatest asset is our environment. We are deeply committed to nurturing and protecting our thriving, inclusive, and agile culture. It is the heartbeat of everything we do. Our behavioural commitments are the cornerstone of this mission. Take a moment to read through them - do you see yourself in this picture?

1. Take ownership and deliver results.

2. Embrace agility and iteration.

3. Collaborate and communicate openly.

4. Act with integrity and respect.

5. Learn continuously and apply insights.

6. Support and empower others.
   

What we offer

• Employment for 32 to 40 hours per week.

• NGO Market-aligned salary (€3.800 - €4.500 gross per month) + 8% holiday allowance.

• 25 vacation days, flexible public holidays so you can take them when it works best for you, and an extra day off on your birthday.

• MacBook for professional use.

• Inspiring, supportive work environment with barista-quality coffee, warm lunches, snacks, and monthly after-work drinks.
  

Sounds like you?

If this sounds like the perfect opportunity, we’d love to hear from you. If there’s a potential match, we’ll start with a brief introduction call, followed by two interviews to explore your fit for the role and our mission.

Equal Opportunity Employer

People for People celebrates diversity and is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected.