Caroline Collins

Commercial partnerships professional with experience spanning retail, sustainability, charity, and health-focused organisations. Proven ability to manage and grow key accounts, building strong relationships to deliver impact-driven initiatives and achieve commercial and operational KPIs. Recognised for building trust, aligning diverse stakeholders, and growing partnerships to drive meaningful results for the benefit of organisations, partners, and their communities.

Strategic Partnerships Manager (Retail) at Our Future Health (2023-01 – Present)

Responsible for the identification, development, and delivery of strategic partnerships within the retail sector and large employers to support the UK's largest health research programme. Focusing on increasing national awareness of the programme and reaching underrepresented groups to improve cohort diversity. Empowering partners to demonstrate their commitment to supporting healthier community outcomes, supporting the NHS, while driving measurable programme impact.

• Secured board approval for a retail partnership strategy to build brand awareness of the programme, to reach diverse audiences across the UK.
• Secured and led delivery and evaluation of a recruitment pilot with Tesco Pharmacy across a broad range of stakeholders. Delivered up to a 46% reduction in recruitment costs, 96% clinic utilisation and improved engagement from underrepresented groups, demonstrating potential for a national roll-out.
• Developed and led a large employer engagement strategy, designed to drive national awareness of the programme across major, diverse workforces.
• Supported internal stakeholders with our Civil Service (Health & Wellbeing) partnership during a critical milestone in our government funding cycle, led delivery of an event at the Houses of Parliament engaging MPS, Lord and Parliamentary staff.

Partnerships Manager at The Fairtrade Foundation (2020-08 – 2022-12)

Successfully owned a portfolio of retail partners including Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons and Primark. Built strong relationships to drive growth in ethical sourcing, licence fee revenue and progress in sustainability initiatives. Delivered collaborative programmes across a wide range of stakeholders including commercial partners and Fairtrade co-operatives, supporting supply chain improvements and shared impact.

• Grew license fee revenue by double digits with two grocery partners.
• Led the development and launch of Primark's first global Fairtrade skincare range achieving AVE of £225k and reaching 24.6M. Managed content production, collaborating with Fairtrade Africa and a West African female co-operative.
• Secured £200k in renewed funding to improve livelihoods within a grocery flower supply chain.
• Increased multi-channel partner activation +109%YoY demonstrating partners commitment to ethical sourcing

Corporate Partnerships Executive at Prostate Cancer UK (2018-04 – 2020-08)

Developed a portfolio of strategic corporate partnerships across a variety of sectors (Retail, Construction, Finance) and income streams including employee fundraising, strategic partnerships and sponsorship. Driving engagement and generating income with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders to meet set KPIs to fund vital research, providing support to men and their families living with and after prostate cancer.

• Exceeded FY19/20 income target +18% through identifying and securing new partnerships, including M&S Sparks and Waitrose Community Matters.
• Secured a place at ICAP Charity Day resulting in £150k investment after a competitive application process.

Buying and Merchandising Manager at The Walt Disney Company (2016-05 – 2017-10)

£130M - £50M Direct Business Accountability, 6-4 direct reports, reported into the VP of Buying and Merchandising. Led the buying and merchandising strategy and responsible for sales and profit targets across multiple product categories. Delivered strong commercial performance using data-led range optimisation in partnership with global product, licensees, suppliers, store operations, and marketing teams.

• Introduced and led the vendor compliance scheme in collaboration with the distribution centre, global sourcing team, buying team, and vendor base. This resulted in an improvement in vendor compliancy, efficiency at the distribution centre and vendor working relationships.
• As a part of the management team, successfully negotiated the return of responsibility for apparel product development to the European office after three years of Global development. Thus, improving the handwriting of our ranges, more appropriate to our European market.
• Managed departmental Marvel post-acquisition launch in collaboration with key licensees and suppliers.
• Delivered FY15 profit +17% vs budget (+20% YoY) and stock turn +12%, alongside FY12 sales +8% and profit +6% YoY.

Senior Merchandiser at The Walt Disney Company (2011-08 – 2017-04)

• Awarded FY07 Merchandise Award for +30% growth YoY.

Analysis and Planning Manager at Myer (2010-05 – 2011-06)

Accountable for $35m business and five Direct reports, delivered +59% profitability.

Senior Merchandiser at The Walt Disney Company (2005-05 – 2010-04)

Junior Merchandiser at Ted Baker (2004-11 – 2005-05)

Assistant Merchandiser at The Walt Disney Company (2002-05 – 2004-10)

Allocator to Assistant Merchandiser at Arcadia Group (1999-05 – 2002-04)

Sales Associate to Department Manager at Selfridges (1995-09 – 1998-04)

BA (Hons) in English Literature & Sociology – Nottingham Trent University A Levels – Folkestone School for Girls

GCSEs – Folkestone School for Girls