Head of Business Development

• Lead, develop and implement a Country Programme (CP) funding strategy and annual business development plan.
• Use market intelligence, donor trends and competitor analysis to shape investment and funding decisions.
• Provide leadership to strengthen fundraising culture and donor literacy across the CP, monitoring and tracking pipeline performance against fundraising goals.
• Actively shape the future pipeline through donor mapping, prospecting and relationship development before opportunities are released. Ensure intelligence is regularly shared and gathered from CP key staff.
• Lead proactive donor and partnership engagement to position Country Programme’s as the ‘go to’ agency for WASH Programming through strong communications of its priorities, capabilities and track record.
• Maintain a diversified funding portfolio and identify underdeveloped donor segments and underfunded aims.
• Lead bid/no-bid decisions and challenge opportunities that are not strategically, operationally or financially viable.
• Maintain accurate pipeline data, forecasts, conversion metrics and management information in WAPS.
• Lead and coordinate concept notes, EOIs, proposals and pitches.
• Mobilise technical, programme, finance, grants and policy expertise to produce competitive submissions.
• Ensure strong understanding of winning bid components (e.g. win themes, compliance requirements) while not acting solely as a proposal writer.
• Lead contract negotiations on behalf of the CP including co-financing arrangements, risk allocation and donor terms and conditions with relevant WAUK and fundraising stakeholders.
• Coordinate external engagement, briefings, debriefings and follow-up actions across teams.
• Champion WaterAid policies and maintain personal compliance with the Global Code of Conduct and associated policies.
• Champion WaterAid’s commitments to equity, inclusion and safeguarding

• A degree qualification in Project/ Programme Management, social sciences, Development studies, Business Administration, Public Health or equivalent professional experience. A master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Minimum of 7 years’ related experience in raising funds from donors such as the EU, DFID, SIDA, NORAD, DANIDA etc and managing the funds.
• Extensive experience raising and mobilising significant funding (e.g. multi-million contracts) from institutional, corporate, philanthropic and private sector donors.
• Demonstrated success shaping, positioning and securing complex funding opportunities and partnerships.
• Experience of consortium building, donor engagement, contract negotiation and co-financing arrangements.
• Experience working across country, regional and global teams to deliver a joined-up business development approach.

Although not essential, we’d prefer you to have:

• A proactive and entrepreneurial mindset with ability to create opportunities and influence outcomes.
• Excellent networking, relationship management and negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking and market intelligence capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent time management skills with proven ability to handle pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to assess strategic fit, risk, full cost recovery and financial sustainability and to lead difficult discussions.
• Strong coordination and leadership skills across multidisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to WaterAid values and collaborative ways of working.
• Strong IT fluency and use of emerging technological options.