Belgium: Senior Donor Partnerships Executive

Senior Donor Partnerships Executive – Europe

Reporting to: Global Director of Funding and Business Development
Location: Europe. Dublin or Brussels preferred.

General Description
Our client is an international humanitarian agency dedicated to alleviating the suffering of the poor and the vulnerable and is currently operating in 13 countries world-wide. It delivers a wide range of humanitarian and development programmes, ranging from humanitarian relief in disaster situations to supporting the development of healthcare services and building sustainable livelihoods. Since its foundation, the organization has allocated more than €910 million to programmes in over 60 countries.
Our client has an annual budget of approximately €100 million and is supported by a range of donors including the Irish Government, UK Government, USAID, the European Union, individuals, trusts and foundations. Informed by its track record over the last 40 years, the organization remains committed to responding to humanitarian crises and tackling extreme poverty around the world.

Overview of the role
Reporting to the Global Director of Funding and Business Development, the Senior Donor Partnerships Executive – Europe will lead organization’s funding and partnership strategy in Europe. The organization has adopted an ambitious funding strategy that seeks to develop existing and build more strategic partnerships with bilateral and multilateral donor agencies within the European market to increase their income, influence, and programmatic impact. These partnerships will include institutional donors along with trusts, foundations and alternative donors.
Our client is looking for a determined, passionate individual who can lead on developing these partnerships, with a particular focus on the EU and the development of relationships with German, Dutch, Swedish and Nordic institutions.
A strong communicator who is skilled at building long term, productive relationships, s/he will play a key role in the implementation of our global funding strategy and work with team members in the Global Business Development Team along with our Country programmes.
Our client receives significant funding from the EU however, there is significant untapped potential in the EU market and the space to be innovative and bold in creating and converting important opportunities for financial and programmatic cooperation.
This is very much a front-line position and our client is looking for a candidate who they feel can confidently be the 'face' of the organization in front of key partners. The successful candidate will not only have the right experience but someone who really lives and breathes the organization’s culture and values, with a visible passion for the work they do. S/he will have excellent interpersonal skills, excel at networking and building long-term relationships and will be proactive and creative in their work.

Main responsibilities

• Represent the organization to donors, other International actors and stakeholders, particularly in the EU; lead on development of relationships and funding opportunities with partners globally
• Lead representation as part of organization’s engagement strategy with EU
• Lead strategy development and implementation of relationships and funding opportunities with German, Dutch, Swedish and Nordic institutions and other global donors
• Support the development of the organizational business case or pitch to partners Europe. This will be aligned with our client’s global strategy and UN development Goals and will impact the organization on a global level
• Monitor at a high level achievement of programme objectives on high value or key strategic grants supported by specific partners, in coordination with the Desk, Regional and Country Directors and TT. Provide advice and input on reports when appropriate, ensuring any non-achievement of results is explained to the donor’s satisfaction
• Support the identification of, and analyse, new business opportunities along with development of win strategies. Advise country programmes on upcoming funding opportunities and leads prepositioning efforts; support proposal development processes where appropriate.
• Provide oversight and coordination of organization’s donor portfolio in Europe
• Enhance organizational knowledge on institutional donors in Europe (trends, best practice, policies, innovations)
• Guide and support organization’s positioning with partners or consortia
• Develop and maintain specialised knowledge and information on organization’s programmes and projects
• Proactively networks with the NGO and donor community, seeking innovative partnerships
• Develops excellent relationships internally with colleagues at HQ and field offices to understand programme budgets, resource requirements and areas of activity to enable strategic applications for funding

Person Specification
Essential

• Not less than ten years’ experience in the development sector, a number of which demonstrates a continued progress of business development
• Strategic approach to partnership management, with good communication, networking and influencing skills – both written and verbal
• Evidence of devising and implementing resource mobilisation strategies
• Knowledge and understanding of EU funding mechanisms and priorities
• Knowledge and understanding of other European Institution funding mechanisms and priorities
• Knowledge of funding mechanisms of funding mechanisms in Europe and beyond
• Ability to represent the organization with donors, other INGOs, commercial entities and other external institutions
• Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of people, often on a remote basis
• Ability to manage a diverse work load, work on own initiative and remain flexible to changing priorities
• Proven analytical skills and the ability to think strategically
• Pro-active, disruptive, creative and innovative approach
• Seeks out new ideas and ways of working
• Willingness to travel, sometimes at short notice, to organization’s operational locations and elsewhere

Desirable

• Educated to Masters level
• Arabic, French or Spanish language skills
• Extensive overseas management experience within humanitarian and development contexts
• Experience overseeing the implementation of high value, multi-country and strategic programmes
• Previous experience working for an institutional donor or foundation
• Financial reporting and advanced budgeting skills

If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by sending your CV to t.bostan@developmentaid.org, under the title: DRS ref number 10231.