We are seeking a highly motivated individual to join our organization in a key role that offers significant opportunities for professional growth and impact. The successful candidate will report directly to senior leadership, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to drive strategic initiatives and achieve organizational objectives. This position requires a proven track record of [specific responsibility or skill, e.g., “project management” or “data analysis”], strong analytical capabilities, and exceptional communication skills to effectively liaise between departments and stakeholders. Additionally, the ideal candidate will possess [specific qualification or experience, e.g., “a minimum of five years in a similar role” or “a degree in a relevant field”], along with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a high standard of accuracy and attention to detail.
The Regional BD Manager is accountable to the Regional Head of Programs of Solidaridad Eastern and Central Africa Expertise Centre and collaborates closely with the Managing Director, Country Managers, country BD focal points, and country-level teams. This role involves offering strategic guidance and mentorship to country-level teams to enhance business development systems, donor intelligence, and proposal quality throughout the region.
Key Result Areas
Market intelligence and oversight of the sales pipeline are essential responsibilities of this role. The position involves gathering and analyzing data to identify trends, assess competitive landscapes, and inform strategic decisions. Key duties include developing forecasts, tracking key performance indicators, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize sales processes. Strong analytical skills, proficiency in data visualization tools, and the ability to translate insights into actionable recommendations are required. Additionally, the role demands experience in market research methodologies and a keen understanding of sales operations.
Develop and uphold a robust market intelligence framework designed to monitor donor approaches, funding evolution, and new prospects within Solidaridad’s key sectors.
Identify, evaluate, and monitor pertinent upcoming funding opportunities by leveraging proactive intelligence gathering, strategic partner relationships, and internal resources.
Develop and oversee a dynamic funding pipeline dashboard that consolidates insights from country teams and global platforms, facilitating immediate decision-making and accurate forecasting.
Develop quarterly funding forecasts and donor trend reports guiding strategic positioning and resource allocation across the region.
Orchestrate the Go/No-Go evaluation process to systematically identify, assess, and track opportunities, leveraging data-driven insights to prioritize high-impact initiatives while maintaining clear, transparent decision-making.
Design standardized templates, tools, and processes for concept notes, budgets, and annexes to systematically enhance efficiency, maintain high quality, and ensure consistency across all proposals.
Country capacity strengthening and fostering cross-functional collaboration are essential components of this role, ensuring seamless integration and alignment of efforts across diverse teams. The position demands a proven track record in developing and implementing strategies to enhance national-level capabilities, alongside the ability to coordinate complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders. Responsibilities include designing and executing tailored interventions to bolster institutional resilience, providing technical guidance to partners, and monitoring progress to drive continuous improvement. Strong leadership, diplomatic acumen, and the capacity to navigate cultural and organizational differences are critical for success in this challenging yet rewarding position.
Develop localized business development capabilities by delivering tailored training, mentorship, and resources to enhance donor relations, prospect identification, and proposal creation.
Ensure seamless collaboration across Programs, Finance, PMEL, and Communications teams to maintain consistency, deliver timely contributions, and uphold alignment with regional strategic priorities.
Drive adoption and optimization of collaborative digital tools—such as CRM systems and Gantt boards—to strengthen transparency, bolster accountability, and streamline workflow efficiency.
Deliver strategic direction and management to a compact regional business development team, alongside designated country-level business development representatives, to guarantee uniform implementation of the business development framework and foster cohesive alignment throughout the region.
Opportunities are evaluated for priority, proposals are crafted to align with strategic goals, and bids are managed to ensure compliance and competitiveness.
Direct the entire business development process, beginning with strategic positioning and bid preparation, progressing through opportunity evaluation and partnership formulation, and culminating in the submission of final proposals, while managing technical and financial design oversight.
As the principal writer or coordinating manager for intricate, multi-country, or consortium proposals, you will oversee the development process to guarantee excellence, consistency, and adherence to donor and organizational requirements.
Collaborate across technical, financial, and PMEL teams to develop proposals that align with donor priorities, ensuring they showcase measurable impact, long-term sustainability, and innovative solutions.
Lead the creation of concept notes and proposals, crafting essential narrative components while maintaining alignment with Solidaridad ECA’s strategic value proposition and donor-specific priorities.
Conduct structured after-action reviews and lessons-learned sessions to enhance the organization’s proposal development capabilities and preserve key institutional knowledge.
We cultivate and nurture mutually beneficial alliances with key organizations while fostering meaningful connections with donors to advance our mission. This role requires a proven track record in cultivating high-level relationships, securing financial support, and developing impactful partnership strategies. The ideal candidate will excel in donor engagement, possess strong negotiation skills, and demonstrate expertise in aligning corporate and philanthropic objectives with organizational goals. Responsibilities include identifying and engaging prospective partners, designing tailored engagement plans, managing ongoing relationships, and ensuring consistent stewardship to maximize long-term contributions.
Develop and nurture high-level strategic alliances with bilateral, multilateral, and corporate donors, foundations, and networks to further Solidaridad’s regional funding objectives.
Facilitate collaborative discussions to formalize strategic partnerships through the drafting and execution of Memorandums of Understanding, teaming agreements, and co-creation frameworks.
Investigate and implement novel financing models, including blended finance, impact investment, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) partnerships, to expand and diversify revenue sources.
Perform in-depth research to identify and analyze potential donors, then design and implement customized engagement plans aimed at cultivating relationships with leading philanthropists and affluent individuals.
Develop and oversee a systematic approach to donor stewardship and reporting, ensuring sustained, trust-based partnerships with major funders and stakeholders over the long term.
The role focuses on fostering learning initiatives, enhancing performance metrics, and driving continuous improvement strategies within the organization. Key responsibilities include designing and implementing training programs, assessing skill gaps, and collaborating with teams to optimize productivity. Requirements encompass a background in instructional design or organizational development, proficiency in data analysis for performance tracking, and strong communication skills to facilitate knowledge sharing. The ideal candidate will champion a culture of growth, measure progress through KPIs, and align initiatives with long-term business objectives.
Conduct comprehensive post-proposal evaluations, including win/loss reviews, to identify key insights and incorporate proven strategies into upcoming bid submissions.
Maintain a centralized knowledge repository consisting of successful proposals, theories of change, and evidence-based materials to facilitate reference and reuse.
Create and track annual fundraising goals, key performance indicators, and performance dashboards while delivering consistent progress reports to regional and global leadership.
Develop and sustain a dynamic environment that champions ongoing education, creative problem-solving, and teamwork within the Business Development team, while ensuring full alignment with Solidaridad’s overarching strategic and thematic goals.
Requires a comprehensive understanding and hands-on expertise in the relevant field. Seeking candidates with substantial exposure and practical application of essential skills. Applicants must meet the established criteria and demonstrate proficiency through prior work experience or specialized training.
A relevant academic background is required, such as a Bachelor’s degree or higher in fields including Business Administration, Development Studies, International Relations, Strategic Management, Project Management, Marketing and Communications, Agribusiness, Economics, or closely related disciplines.
With at least seven years of demonstrated expertise in business development, resource mobilization, fundraising, and strategic partnership cultivation—including three or more years of leadership overseeing comparable initiatives and multi-million-Euro funding campaigns—you will bring a proven track record of success to this role.
Professional experience in the development sector, with a focus on agriculture, agribusiness, industry, and extractives within developing country settings, is essential.
Experienced in designing programs, driving business growth, and developing compelling proposals, with a strong ability to align technical solutions with donor priorities and craft comprehensive funding submissions.
Demonstrates a strong history of engaging and managing relationships with international donors across diverse sectors, including bilateral agencies such as the European Union, USAID, FCDO, and DANICA, as well as multilateral organizations, philanthropic foundations, and corporate partners.
Proven ability to spearhead or significantly contribute to consortia and multipartner proposals, crafting robust Memorandums of Understanding (Mouse), and expertly negotiating partnership or teaming arrangements.
Proficiency in managing pipeline systems, leveraging digital tools including Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, proposal tracking applications, and collaborative platforms is essential.
With a proven track record in fostering collaboration across program, finance, PMEL, and communications teams, you will drive integrated and timely proposal delivery through effective cross-functional coordination.
Candidates must fulfill specific professional criteria to be considered for this role, including a minimum of five years of relevant experience and proficiency in industry-standard software tools. Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required, while advanced qualifications are strongly encouraged. The ideal applicant will demonstrate strong analytical capabilities, exceptional problem-solving skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams. Familiarity with project management methodologies and prior experience in a fast-paced environment are also essential. Additionally, outstanding written and verbal communication abilities are necessary to convey complex ideas clearly to diverse stakeholders.
Outstanding proficiency in written and verbal communication, along with polished presentation and interpersonal abilities, is required.
Proven expertise in stakeholder management and networking, alongside strong negotiation and influence capabilities, is essential for this role.
Successfully achieving and surpassing established fundraising objectives, demonstrating a track record of exceeding performance expectations.
Demonstrates exceptional analytical and strategic planning capabilities, adept at transforming market insights into practical fundraising initiatives.
Proficient in utilizing fundraising tools and donor management platforms, including CRM systems and pipeline trackers.
Skilled in forging forward-thinking financing collaborations, such as social impact investments, blended financial models, and joint public-private ventures.
Proven ability to work independently, solve complex challenges, and contribute effectively within collaborative team environments.
Demonstrates flexibility and capability to undertake frequent travel across Eastern and Central Africa, with occasional international assignments.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
Experience Required
7 years
