Strategic Partner
| Posting date: | 19 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | Competitive |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 21 March 2026 |
| Location: | UK |
| Company: | Compass Group |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 211615 |
Summary
We are CH&CO, proud to take a thoughtful, mindful approach to the food experiences we source, prepare, and present. We are looking for a Strategic Partner to join our team.The Strategic Partner will look after strategic accounts across CH&CO with turnovers of £1–3 million. Ideally, we are seeking someone with operational experience in contract catering, who is driven, wants to lead, and is eager to build.You will manage the retention bidding process, close multiple tenders, and deliver new business proposals to achieve annual retention and net growth targets. You’ll follow a defined sales/retention process from the first client contact through to contract signature, focusing on workplace clients across the UK. Attention to detail, commercial understanding, and managing multiple stakeholders is essential. You will build strong client and internal relationships, develop a retention plan, respond to tenders, and create winning financial proposals by understanding client requirements.Location: Flexible within the UK
Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 per annum + excellent benefits
Working Pattern: Monday – Friday, 40 hours/week
Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 per annum + excellent benefits
Working Pattern: Monday – Friday, 40 hours/week
- Close new business and retention opportunities to meet revenue and profit targets
- Develop successful client and consultant relationships
- Explore new markets for net growth opportunities
- Gather and analyse market intelligence
- Act as a thought leader with strong knowledge of the education sector
- Can Do: Find efficient ways to meet goals and respond under pressure
- Share Success: Delegate to develop others
- Passion for Quality: Take responsibility for high standards
- Win through Teamwork: Share knowledge and work collaboratively
- Embrace Diversity: Listen, value contributions, and act ethically
- Takes Responsibility: Influence and gain support from stakeholders
- Previous sales/retention experience, target-focused
- Knowledge of selling contracted services in foodservice, retail, or facilities management
- Highly literate, numerate, and IT proficient (Microsoft packages)
- Proven track record of exceeding sales targets
- Experience managing end-to-end sales and retention strategy
- Ability to develop tender submissions, monitor performance, and provide recommendations
- Support supply chain solutions in tender bids to meet compliance standards
- Operations experience
- Private and public sector experience
- Sectorspecific experience
- Personal Development and Training opportunities
- Company-funded APMP membership and professional certification training to support continued development
- Life assurance scheme
- Pension scheme
- Holiday allowance
- Access to Healthcare Support App which includes Annual health check, Digital GP, Mental Health Consultations, Nutritional Consultations, Second Medical Opinion
- Eye care
- A great wellbeing strategy – including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
- Family friendly support
- Regular social events and communication with our leaders
- A holiday purchase scheme
- Volunteering days
- Professional subscriptions
- Recognition schemes and people awards
- Long service awards
- Access to some great high street discount vouchers