We are seeking a highly motivated professional to join our team, with a focus on contributing to organizational growth and operational efficiency. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional analytical capabilities, strong interpersonal skills, and a proven track record in [specific industry/field, if applicable]. Responsibilities will include strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration, and driving initiatives to enhance productivity and innovation. The role demands adaptability, leadership, and the ability to manage multiple priorities under dynamic conditions. Proficiency in [specific tools/software, e.g., Excel, CRM systems] is essential, alongside a degree in [relevant field, if applicable] and [X years] of experience in a comparable position.
The Regional BD Manager is accountable to the Regional Head of Programs at Solidaridad Eastern and Central Africa Expertise Centre, collaborating closely with the Managing Director, Country Managers, country BD focal points, and country-level teams. This role offers strategic direction and mentorship to country-level teams, enhancing business development frameworks, donor intelligence capabilities, and the quality of proposals throughout the region.
Key Result Areas
Market intelligence gathering and strategic pipeline oversight represent core responsibilities of this role. The position entails comprehensive analysis of market trends, competitive landscapes, and growth opportunities to inform strategic decision-making. Key duties include identifying and evaluating potential business opportunities, assessing risk factors, and maintaining a robust pipeline of prospects. Proficiency in data analysis tools and methodologies is essential to derive actionable insights. Additionally, the role requires strong communication skills to present findings and recommendations to stakeholders effectively, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.
Develop and oversee a robust market intelligence framework to continuously monitor donor strategies, funding patterns, and emerging prospects within Solidaridad’s key sectors.
Identify, evaluate, and monitor pertinent upcoming funding opportunities by proactively gathering intelligence, leveraging partner relationships, and utilizing internal resources.
Maintain a live dashboard that tracks the funding pipeline by consolidating real-time inputs from country teams and global platforms, facilitating immediate decision-making and accurate forecasting.
Develop quarterly funding projections and donor trend analyses to guide strategic positioning and resource allocation at the regional level.
Coordinate the Go/No-Go evaluation process for opportunity identification, selection, and tracking by implementing data-driven criteria to objectively assess potential projects. Maintain clear and consistent transparency in prioritizing high-impact opportunities to ensure alignment with strategic business objectives.
Create standardized templates, tools, and processes for concept notes, budgets, and annexes to institutionalize efficiency, quality, and consistency throughout all proposals.
We are seeking a professional to enhance country capacity and foster cross-functional coordination. The role requires a strong background in international development, with a focus on strengthening institutional capabilities and promoting collaborative efforts across various teams. Responsibilities include designing and implementing capacity-building initiatives, facilitating communication between departments, and ensuring alignment with organizational objectives. The ideal candidate will possess excellent interpersonal skills, strategic planning expertise, and a proven track record in managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
Develop country-level business development capabilities by delivering focused training, mentorship, and resources designed to enhance donor interaction, prospect identification, and proposal preparation.
Collaborate across Programs, Finance, PMEL, and Communications teams to maintain coherence, deliver timely contributions, and ensure alignment with regional strategic goals.
Champion the implementation of collaborative digital solutions, including CRM systems and Gantt boards, to drive transparency, foster accountability, and optimize workflow efficiency.
Offer strategic direction and supervision to a compact regional business development team and designated country-level business development representatives, guaranteeing uniform implementation of the business development framework and cohesive alignment throughout the region.
Opportunity assessment, proposal preparation, and bid oversight form the core responsibilities of this role.
Drive the entire business development process, encompassing initial market positioning and bid preparation through to proposal submission, including opportunity assessment, partnership strategy formulation, and management of technical and financial design elements.
Provide leadership as the primary author or managing coordinator for intricate, multinational, or collaborative funding proposals, guaranteeing adherence to donor specifications and organizational benchmarks while maintaining quality and cohesion.
Collaborate with technical, financial, and PMEL teams to integrate their contributions into proposals that align with donor priorities, ensuring measurable impact, sustainability, and innovation are clearly demonstrated.
Lead the development of concept notes and proposals, crafting essential narrative components and maintaining alignment with Solidaridad ECA’s strategic value proposition and donor priorities.
Conduct after-action reviews and lessons-learned sessions to consistently enhance the organization’s proposal development effectiveness and preserve institutional knowledge.
Strategic Partnerships and Donor Relations
Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with bilateral, multilateral, and corporate donors, foundations, and networks to advance Solidaridad’s regional funding priorities.
Facilitate the development and execution of partnership agreements, encompassing Memorandums of Understanding (Mouse), teaming arrangements, and collaborative co-creation initiatives.
Investigate and implement cutting-edge financing strategies—including blended finance, impact investing, and corporate social responsibility partnerships—to expand and diversify revenue channels.
Perform in-depth donor mapping and design tailored engagement approaches for leading donors and individuals with significant financial resources.
To develop and oversee a systematic approach to donor stewardship and reporting, ensuring the cultivation of enduring, trust-based partnerships with essential funders and stakeholders must be prioritized.
The role focuses on enhancing organizational capabilities through structured learning initiatives, performance optimization, and ongoing improvement strategies. Key responsibilities involve designing and implementing training programs, evaluating skill gaps, and fostering a culture of growth and development. Additionally, the position requires analyzing performance metrics, identifying trends, and recommending data-driven solutions to enhance productivity and efficiency. Strong collaboration with stakeholders is essential to align learning objectives with business goals and drive measurable impact across the organization.
Conduct comprehensive post-proposal evaluations, including win/loss reviews, to identify key insights and incorporate proven strategies into subsequent bid efforts.
Develop and curate a comprehensive knowledge repository containing successful proposals, theories of change, and evidence-based materials to facilitate reference and reuse.
Develop and track annual fundraising objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs), and performance dashboards, delivering consistent updates to both regional and global leadership.
Foster a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration within the BD function, ensuring alignment with Solidaridad’s strategic and thematic priorities.
Proficient with a strong background in relevant areas, along with hands-on expertise in practical applications. Familiarity with industry standards and best practices is required, supported by a proven track record of successfully applying this knowledge in previous roles. Demonstrated ability to adapt to evolving demands and deliver results in dynamic environments is essential.
A relevant undergraduate degree or higher qualification, such as in Business Administration, Development Studies, International Relations, Strategic Management, Project Management, Marketing and Communications, Agribusiness, Economics, or a closely related field, is required.
A proven track record of at least seven years in business development, resource mobilization, fundraising, and partnership cultivation is required, with a minimum of three years in a leadership role responsible for similar functions and multi-million-Euro funding initiatives.
Professional experience in the development sector, with a focus on agriculture, agribusiness, industry, and extractives within developing country contexts, is required.
Demonstrated expertise in crafting programs, driving business growth, and developing compelling proposals, with a strong ability to transform technical concepts into formats aligned with donor requirements and complete proposal submissions.
Demonstrates extensive experience in cultivating and maintaining relationships with a diverse range of international donor organizations, encompassing bilateral entities such as the European Union, USAID, FCDO, and DANICA, as well as multilateral, philanthropic, and corporate partners.
Proven expertise in leading or participating in consortia and multipartner proposals, with a strong track record in drafting memoranda of understanding (Mouse) and finalizing partnership or teaming arrangements through strategic negotiation.
Proven expertise in overseeing and optimizing pipeline management systems, leveraging digital solutions including CRMs, proposal trackers, and collaborative platforms.
Skilled in leading collaborative efforts across program, finance, PMEL, and communications teams to guarantee cohesive and punctual proposal submissions.
Candidates must meet the following qualifications to be considered for this position. A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is required, along with at least three years of professional experience in a comparable role. Proficiency in industry-specific software and tools is essential, as is the ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are necessary to address complex challenges effectively. Excellent communication abilities, both written and verbal, are also mandatory to ensure clear and concise interactions with stakeholders.
Proven ability to articulate ideas clearly, deliver engaging presentations, and foster strong interpersonal relationships is essential.
Demonstrates exceptional skills in engaging stakeholders, cultivating professional networks, and effectively negotiating and influencing key decisions.
Experienced in consistently achieving and surpassing established fundraising goals through strategic planning and execution.
Proven capacity for analytical thinking and strategic development, demonstrated by the ability to convert market insights into practical, results-driven fundraising approaches.
Demonstrates advanced proficiency in fundraising software and donor management solutions, including customer relationship management (CRM) systems and pipeline tracking tools.
Demonstrates a proven ability to forge pioneering financing partnerships, encompassing social impact investments, blended finance models, and synergistic public-private collaborations.
Proven ability to work independently, resolve challenges effectively, and collaborate productively in a team setting.
Exhibits a strong capacity and enthusiasm for frequent travel throughout Eastern and Central Africa, with occasional international assignments required.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
Experience Required
7 years
