Grants, Partnership and Business Development Lead (NGO)

 Responsibilities:

• Report to and work closely with the Director of Programmes and the leadership team in developing and implementing the organizational strategy, with a strong focus on cultivating new, and leveraging existing relationships and partnerships with local and international partners to ensure the sustainability of the organization.
• Responsible for managing the life cycle of grants from prospecting through reporting phases; Grants applications, proposals, and concept note development and maintaining a pipeline of multiyear grants and partnerships to increase funding streams and networks globally.
• Analyze and make recommendations regarding emerging industry trends, expansion opportunities, internal business opportunities, and business process improvement; Prepare strategic frameworks, analyses, and storylines to support leadership and management decisions.
• Responsible for managing the life cycle of grants from prospecting through reporting phases; Grants applications, proposals, and concept note development and maintaining a pipeline of multiyear grants and partnerships to increase funding streams and networks globally.
• Attend partnership and sponsorship meetings; Prepare high-quality and engaging pitch documents for these meetings.
• Plan and operationalize robust relationship-building activities with partners; Maintain relationships with decision-makers at high levels; Develop and maintain an extensive data bank of all partners and funders; liaise and expand networks with current and potential donors and stakeholders.
• Support the creation and implementation of fundraising strategy, marketing campaigns, community outreach events, and other PR activities.
• Work with leadership in coordinating business development activities, leveraging the organization's assets, core competencies, and resources to support income generation.
• Participate in key donor meetings, and initiate donor contacts, when necessary, to foster long-term collaboration and engagement. Proactively seek donor intelligence on prospective new opportunities or partnerships.
• Identify and disseminate information on new funding opportunities from bilateral, multilateral, government agencies, foundations, corporations, other institutional donors, private sector, and non-traditional donors.
• Cultivate business relationships with external stakeholders and potential partners for large-scale or strategic funding opportunities, either as a prime or sub-recipient in joint ventures.
• Lead the development and submission of high-quality grant proposals, including writing, budget preparation, and coordinating with relevant departments.
• Ensure compliance with all grant requirements, including timely and accurate reporting to funders.
• Manage grant agreements, track grant performance, and maintain comprehensive records of all grant activities.
• Develop and implement business development strategies to achieve targets and support organizational growth.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, including contracts, sponsorships, and strategic initiatives.
• Develop proposals, negotiate contracts, and close deals to generate funds and support programmatic activities.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive partnership strategy to enhance organizational reach and impact.
• Identify and engage potential partners, including corporations, non-profits, educational institutions, and government agencies.
• Build and maintain strong, mutually beneficial relationships with partners, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Lead collaborative projects with partners, including joint initiatives, team members, co-branded programs, and shared resource arrangements.
• Ensure all grants, business development activities, and partnerships align with the organization's strategic goals and mission.
• Collaborate with internal teams to support the successful implementation of funded projects and initiatives.
• Develop metrics to assess the effectiveness of grants, business development efforts, and partnerships, and report on progress to executive management.

Requirements:

• 4 - 7 years experience with M.Sc./MBA/PhD or 7-9 years experience with a Bachelor's degree with relevant experience as a business development professional skilled in strategy development and implementation.
• Experience in grants management and philanthropy in the social sector will be an added value.
• Track record of success in creating businesses, grant writing, partnership and relationship building, leading marketing, fundraising, and high-level stakeholder management.
• High level of creativity, pitch expert, and problem-solving and conceptualization.
• Possess very good interpersonal skills, negotiation skills, sound judgment, and strong work ethics.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to think holistically about the organization’s mission and bottom lines.
• A keen eye for details and an insightful analyzer.
• Excellent communication and speaking skills with the ability to deliver presentations at major industry events and conduct interviews with the media.
• Very strong proposal and grant writing skills

Key competencies required to succeed in this role:

• Stakeholder Management Skills
• Pitching Expert
• Strategic Expertise Skills
• Financial Management Skills
• Budget Management Skills.
• Organizational Skills
• Program and Project Management Skills
• Training Facilitation Skills
• Networking Skills
• Risk Management Skills