Head of Strategic Partnerships

Who we are

Alzheimer Scotland is Scotland’s national dementia charity. Our aim is to make sure nobody faces dementia alone. We provide support and information to people with dementia, their carers and families, campaign for the rights of people affected by dementia, fund vital dementia research and lead work to improve brain health, helping people understand the steps they can take to reduce their risk of dementia.

What you’ll do

We are looking for an ambitious partnership-builder who sees possibilities others miss and has the drive and determination to turn them into reality. You will identify untapped sectors, challenge conventional thinking and create distinctive and successful new partnerships that expand Alzheimer Scotland’s reach, influence and impact.

The opportunity extends far beyond traditional charity partnerships. Across sport, music, financial and legal services, brain health and wider community life, organisations are waiting to be connected with our mission in new ways. You will spot where our ambitions intersect, open doors that others overlook and build relationships that turn shared purpose into lasting impact.

This role goes beyond corporate fundraising or managing an existing portfolio of Charity of the Year supporters. You will originate and build new, senior-level strategic relationships, creating partnerships that can generate income and sponsorship while also unlocking training, joint campaigns, public engagement, knowledge-sharing and access to new audiences.

You will have the freedom and autonomy to originate ideas, build relationships and explore what a partnership could become with the judgement and focus to make it happen. From researching new sectors and identifying prospects, to shaping tailored propositions, working through delivery requirements and securing commitments, you will own the journey from first insight to lasting partnership. Working closely with the Director of Fundraising & Operations, you will draw on expertise across our Fundraising, Communications, Services and Practice, bringing the right colleagues into discussions at the right time. The ultimate aim is to create new partnerships that generate sustainable income for Alzheimer Scotland, alongside stronger awareness, engagement and opportunities to reach and acquire new supporters. 

What you’ll have

You will bring a strong track record in strategic partnerships, business development or a related field. Crucially, you will be able to demonstrate how you have opened new relationships, influenced senior decision-makers and converted opportunities into tangible outcomes.

You will be naturally curious about different sectors, commercially astute and confident in developing an idea from an initial conversation into a convincing and sustainable proposal. You will be equally comfortable exploring a bold opportunity and doing the detailed follow-through needed to make it happen.

Experience in the charity sector or knowledge of dementia is welcome, but what matters most is your ability to create authentic partnerships that deliver meaningful and measurable value. Above all, you will be able to demonstrate how you have built a proposition or partnership from the ground up, exercising sound judgement and converting strategic potential into a practical, deliverable agreement.