Business Development Manager (Bilateral Donor Agencies)

Organization Description One Acre Fund is a start-up initiative in Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi which works with persistently hungry farm families. Instead of giving handouts to families, One Acre invests in farm families to generate a permanent gain in farm income. Our "investment bundle" includes education, financing, inputs, and export market access. Our program is designed to be usable by the extreme poor, and generates a lasting, 100%+ gain in farm income.

We have been operating since January 2006, and we currently serve 70,000 farm families (250,000+ children). Our target is to change the lives of 100,000 families (400,000 children) within 12 more months, scaling at a 50-100% annual growth rate thereafter. One Acre Fund is one of the most externally-validated social start-ups of 2006, winning grants from the highly competitive Echoing Green, Draper Richards and Skoll Foundations, and first place wins at the Stanford and Yale social venture competitions. Website: www.oneacrefund.org

Job Description We are seeking exceptional professionals with 3 – 10+ years work experience, a demonstrated long-term career interest in international development, and a track record of securing grants, cooperative agreements and contracts with large, institutional funders. As a young organization, we are ready to hand over large responsibility for specific, well-defined work modules, with similar structure to an operations consulting role.

Development Manager 1AF is looking for an exceptional individual to serve as Business Development Manager. This position will help design and carry out a strategy to engage bilateral and multilateral organizations in country mission offices to support 1AF’s work. The Development Manager will serve as a spokesperson for the organization in African capitals while simultaneously shepherding complex, large-scale funding proposals from identification to development to fruition. Through strategic communications and expert relationship management, the Development Manager will secure major, multi-year commitments from multilaterals, bilaterals, and governments. This is an excellent position for a highly skilled and experienced professional looking for a meaningful development opportunity.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities The Development Manager will perform the following and other duties as assigned: • Help design and implement the organization’s public sector fundraising strategy. • Pursue partnerships with multilateral and bilateral agencies. • Develop successful multi-million dollar funding proposals to support the organization, shepherding proposals through all required stages and decision-making processes. • Manage the required reporting and continued development of successful proposals. • Provide expertise and guidance to One Acre Fund staff on the technical requirements and processes of these proposals. • Serve as an articulate and enthusiastic spokesperson for the organization, demonstrating an understanding of the organization’s approach and the context in which it operates. • Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and partners. • Collaborate with the senior management team.

Professional Qualifications The successful candidate will have the following minimum qualifications: • Demonstrated success in identifying, managing, and closing complex, multi-year, technical proposals for bilateral and multilateral agencies • Past experience as part of a large-scale fundraising effort, preferably in the international development arena • Past experience managing relationships with high-level government and agency representatives • Past experience conveying a complex mission and program to diverse groups including Board members, bilateral and multilateral agencies, potential funders, and partner agencies • Excellent communications and presentation skills, and experience developing funding proposals • Experience with long-term funding cycles, strategic planning, goal setting, and performance management • Ability to travel extensively, up to 30% within Africa and other international destinations

Personal Attributes The following personal attributes are desired: • A deep commitment to serving the poor • A passion for One Acre Fund’s program • Expert relationship management skills and the ability to close deals • Proven ability to write and speak articulately, persuasively, and effectively • Exceptional interpersonal skills, including a willingness to listen to internal and external constituents and learn from their best ideas • Comfort with working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and locations • High energy level, and a personable, flexible, tenacious, diplomatic, and respectful demeanor • Proven ability to serve as a team player and leader able to motivate and inspire staff and colleagues • Entrepreneurial spirit • A sense of humor

Preferred Start Date: Flexible Compensation: Commensurate with experience. Benefits: Health cover, immunizations, flight, room and board for candidates stationed outside their home country. Career development: Quarterly management consulting-style career reviews, and significant investment in career development. Your manager will invest significant time in your career development

View the original article here