Global Partnership Manager

About Us

Hostelworld Group Plc is a pioneering social network powered Online Travel Agent focused on the hostelling category, with a unique mission to help travellers find people to hang out with. Our mission statement is founded on the insight that the vast majority of travellers go hostelling as a means to meet other people, which we facilitate through a series of Social features embedded within our mobile native Apps that connect our travellers in hostels and cities based on their booking data and interests.

Our strategy has been extraordinarily successful, generating significant word of mouth from our customers, strong endorsements from our hostel partners and delivering consistent profitable growth in market share for our investors. Further details of our results and corporate communications can be found on our corporate website. Looking further ahead, we also believe that our social network powered OTA platform has significant potential to grow beyond hostelling into a broader solo travel platform across all age groups, particularly for those solo travellers who use their vacations as a means to meet other people.

Founded in 1999, Hostelworld is a well-known and trusted brand with 250 employees across 11 countries, hostel partners in 170 countries, and a strong commitment to building a better world in all that we do. Our focus in the last few years has also been to develop and execute a progressive Environmental, Social and Governance agenda to highlight the inherent sustainability advantages of hostelling-based travel and create a flexible and inclusive workplace for our employees. To that end, we have been working very closely with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) to develop a purpose-built sustainability framework for the hostelling category, and with Bureau Veritas to establish emissions benchmarks for the hostelling industry.

We achieved climate neutral status in 2021 and 2022, and became a signatory to Global Optimism/Amazon's Climate Neutral pledge in 2023, with a goal to reach net-zero carbon by 2040. Finally, we were also delighted to see our overall progress as a company recognised with the "Tech plc of the Year" award at the LSE plc of the year awards in 2022 – and we were shortlisted for two Sustainability Business Impact awards by Chambers Ireland in 2023. Hostelworld is listed on the London Stock Exchange, Dublin Euronext and is an Investors in Diversity accredited employer.

Culture Overview

We operate in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, with a team that shares a passion for innovation, teamwork and customer satisfaction. Our success is driven by our people, and we invest heavily in our policies and practices to ensure we adapt to changing employee needs in a post-pandemic era. We operate progressive location and work-life balance people policies to give team members the freedom to flex their working location and hours to best meet their life needs, and we also offer other benefits including incentives to stay in Hostels, tailored development courses and time off for significant life events.

We define what we expect of ourselves and of others at Hostelworld through five core employee behaviours (Master It, Grow Others, Adapt, Collaborate and Deliver). We use these behaviour definitions with a state-of-the-art employee assessment and feedback platform to ensure we provide an environment where we can do our best work with people we enjoy working alongside. We hold regular Townhalls and opportunities to connect socially, and our employee engagement surveys enable us to identify what we are doing well, what people value, and what areas we can improve on, to continue to build our unique and distinctive culture.

Job Description

This role is based in Portugal. We have an office hub in Porto available for those who prefer a hybrid model where you can spend time with colleagues in-person. You will need to be able to commute to our office hub as required from time to time. Reporting to the Head of Content and Creative, you will be responsible for identifying, negotiating, and managing strategic commercial relationships with third-party consumer brands. These partnerships will enable Hostelworld to leverage its customer base and create revenue opportunities by offering brands access to our global community of travellers.

The successful candidate will possess a strong commercial acumen, proven experience in forming high-value partnerships, and a passion for driving growth through innovative collaborations. This individual will develop the framework in which to assess and execute the partnerships for Hostelworld's long-term goals and business objectives. They will identify and approach key third-party consumer brands that align with Hostelworld's target audience and brand values, focusing on driving revenue opportunities through mutually beneficial partnerships.

This person will lead the team responsible for negotiations with potential partners, ensuring favourable terms that enhance value for Hostelworld while protecting the brand's interests. They will manage ongoing relationships with key partners, ensuring successful delivery of partnership goals and optimising collaborations for mutual growth. The successful candidate will work closely with the product organisation, finance, and legal teams to ensure partnerships are fully integrated and operationally smooth.

Responsibilities

• Develop the framework in which to assess and execute the partnerships for Hostelworld's long-term goals and business objectives
• Identify and approach key third-party consumer brands that align with Hostelworld's target audience and brand values, focusing on driving revenue opportunities through mutually beneficial partnerships
• Lead the team responsible for negotiations with potential partners, ensuring favourable terms that enhance value for Hostelworld while protecting the brand's interests
• Manage ongoing relationships with key partners, ensuring successful delivery of partnership goals and optimising collaborations for mutual growth
• Work closely with the product organisation, finance, and legal teams to ensure partnerships are fully integrated and operationally smooth

Requirements

• 5 years of experience in partnerships, business development, or sales, preferably within a tech, travel, or consumer-oriented industry
• Contract negotiation expertise: Experience negotiating partnership agreements with high-profile brands or organisations
• Commercial acumen: Strong understanding of revenue models and the ability to create strategies that balance growth with profitability
• Stakeholder management: Experience managing relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners, including senior executives
• Data-driven approach: Strong analytical skills with a track record of using data to drive decision-making and improve partnership performance
• Global market understanding: Experience working with global brands and understanding international markets, particularly in the travel or hospitality sectors
• Industry knowledge: Familiarity with the travel industry, particularly within the hostel, backpacking, or budget accommodation sector, is a plus

What We Offer

• Competitive salary (£60,000)
• Enhanced annual leave plus 3 Wellbeing Days per year
• Paid family leave (maternity, paternity, surrogacy & adoption)
• Agile working (plus a Working from Abroad Policy)
• Support for your ongoing growth & development
• Inclusive people policies (sickness, menopause, compassionate and fertility leave)
• A chance to give back to your local community with 5 paid volunteering days