Job Opportunity: Senior Business Development Manager

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:

The Senior Business Development Manager (SBDM) is responsible for the timely and effective management and business development of a large multi-donor grant portfolio. Within the Programs Development and Quality (PDQ), Department this role oversees all aspects of business development, including proposal development, reporting, donor compliance, and administrative functions. The SBDM serves as a key figure, proactively identifying funding opportunities, developing high-quality concept notes and proposals, engaging with in-country and external donor representatives, and coordinating concept and proposal development teams in partnership with the PDQ Director. This role requires ensuring adherence to call guidelines, close collaboration with World Vision Support Office (SO) contacts, and regular communication with the World Vision MEER Regional Office Resource Development Unit (RDU). The incumbent brings expertise in grant acquisition and proposal development to ensure proposals possess quality and innovation, enhancing competitiveness and maximizing grant acquisition rates while aligning with WVA’s National Strategy and WVI’s child well-being objectives. Furthermore, the SBDM provides support to project managers for portfolio projects, overseeing the management and communication of the Grant Health Tracker (GHT) and facilitating the integration, execution, and strategic reporting of child well-being outcomes, targets, and indicators within grant designs, wherever possible. Furthermore, the SBDM provides aid and guidance to national program officers, zonal managers, project managers, and technical specialists to ensure comprehension, implementation, and compliance with the WVI partnership and donor-mandated requirements. The emphasis is placed on ensuring that grants developed for new opportunities are grounded in evidence, incorporate gender and protection mainstreaming principles, and align with WVI’s ESCA goals.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES

Grant Acquisition & Proposal Development

• In coordination with the Program Development and Quality Director (PDQD) and other team members, proactively identify and respond to grant opportunities that are in line with WVA strategic objectives and the Child Well-being Outcomes and Targets.

• In coordination with the PDQD, revise/update the GAM business plan to guide resource mobilization efforts, reviewing it regularly for relevancy and donor landscape.

• Ensure timely uploading of quality acquisition data in collaboration with respective program officers.

• Develop and submit high-quality and innovative concepts and proposals to donors in coordination with the PDQD, sector leads, other departments, and team members.

• Work closely with the respective WVA Sector leads, MEAL team, finance, operations, and other teams throughout the grant acquisition process, ensuring all concepts and proposal sections are completed on time, are of the highest quality, and innovative ideas are identified and highlighted in the proposal.

• Work closely with the WVA PDQD, technical experts, grant finance, and zonal managers to establish and maintain partnerships with local and international NGOs, e.g., facilitate work with partners as per WVI minimum standards (due diligence, reporting, grant compliance, etc.).

• Ensure project proposals address community needs, include community participation, and ensure children’s voices are heard and captured and are in alignment with WVA strategic objectives and the WVI Child Well-Being Outcomes and Targets.

• Ensure log frames, budgets, and other project proposal documentation are in accordance with WVI and donor formats and standards and submit them to the PDQD, Finance, Risk & Compliance Advisor, and sector leads for review prior to submission.

• In collaboration with the PDQD, ensure grant opportunities, grant projections, grant pipelines, and project tracking tools are maintained and communicated.

• Ensure that identified opportunities are across the development spectrum, including humanitarian, early recovery, and development proposals that feature integrated programming opportunities.

• Maintain a list of current and potential donors for Afghanistan, and with the RDU, actively pursue engagements and relationships.

• Ensure that proposal development calendars are developed for each opportunity and that action reviews are completed following each submission.

• Ensure that new grants connect and link with older grants while remaining relevant in a changing context.

Grant Management and Compliance

• Support the WVA PDQD to ensure Program Officers and Project Managers have a thorough understanding of new grant requirements and compliance issues, including risk.

• Build protection, GESI, and ESCA values into all new opportunities to ensure that World Vision meets the needs of the most vulnerable populations.

• For assigned portfolio projects, provide programming support to Zonal, project managers, and other staff as necessary.

• Pay particular attention to the consortium and partner-related projects that require increased grant management tools and resources, and ensure trainings are conducted for all non-WVI-related grants.

• Coordinate the organizing and content delivery of new grant start-up workshops on time for timely project start-up and the sharing of donor compliance requirements.

• Ensure that the overall reporting of donor-funded projects is collected timely, reporting requirements are met, and reports are submitted to WV Support Offices and donors on time and in high-quality written English.

• Ensure ongoing project reviews with the Operations Team to ensure that grants are implemented on time, on target, and within budget.

• Work closely with the communication team, Project Managers, Zonal Managers, and Sector Leads to identify success stories that are collected and shared with donors and support offices, along with periodic reports.

• Support the project team in complying with donor requirements by obtaining prior approval from donors for any planned deviations from the approved donor budget.

• In collaboration with the MEAL team, ensure that project close-out workshops are held to identify lessons learned to guide the next proposal development.

Team Management

• Manage the Business Development Coordinator and Program Officer (PO) to ensure that they deliver on key assignments.

• Continue to coach and develop the staff on grant acquisition and management, as well as donor and stakeholder engagement.

• Assign tasks to POs based on workload, and provide regular supportive supervision.

• Conduct performance management and management functions for the Business Development team.

• Identify skill gaps and suggest additional training for teams or individuals within BDM to better meet the needs of their constituents.

• Representation and Networking

• Under the guidance of the PDQD, represent WVA at appropriate Donor, Cluster, NGO meetings and workshops; joint-agency assessments and task force teams.

• Ensure collaborative working relationships with World Vision Support Offices.

• Identify and pursue opportunities for pre-positioning with donors and other funding source entities and alert the Programme Director and National Directors when there is significant advantage for their direct involvement.

• Represent the PDQ Director or National Director and represent them at Provincial, National and International events

KNOWLEDGE/QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE ROLE

Required Professional Experience     

• Experience in grant acquisition/grant writing/fund raising; project design and proposal development for international donor agencies.

• Experience within cross cultural contexts.

• Minimum five (5) years of programming experience in development and/or relief work (possible flexibility on programming experience).

• Experience in integrated project design and monitoring and evaluation systems development. 

• Advanced written and spoken English language skills. Expressing ideas clearly and effectively, both in spoken and written English is a must for this role.

Required Education, training, license, registration and certification                 

• Bachelor’s degree/ equivalent in relevant field and applicable experience in nonprofit governance, administration, grants management, including business development  and compliance

• In the case of having extensive experience related to the works, academic qualification will have flexibility.

Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications        

• Strong understanding of the grants cycle.

• Good Networking and Social skills

• Excellent understanding of World Vision current and past programs in Afghanistan

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Familiarity with major donor funding requirements such as – USAID/BHA, EU, ECHO, FCDO, GAC, DFAT, UNICEF, UNHCR, OCHA (AHF), FAO, WFP, World Bank etc.

• Knowledge of project design, proposal development, M&E systems design.

• Understanding of integrated rural community development programming and processes.

• Thorough knowledge of MS Office and outlook.

• Strong capacity building and facilitation skills.

• Cross-cultural sensitivity, flexible world view, emotional maturity, and physical stamina.

• Self-starter who can work independently under pressure and who has ability to manage work tasks without direct supervision.

• Strong ability to work with and relate to diverse personality types, to practice relational and ideological tolerance, and to contribute to a positive organizational culture.

• Ability to maintain performance expectations and healthy social interactions in psychologically stressful environments and physical hardship conditions with limited resources.

• Willing to travel as required including field travel.

• Able to live and work within a fragile context and restricted operating environment.

• Commitment to World Vision Core Values and Mission Statement.

Travel and/or Work Environment Requirements:       Position is based in Herat, Afghanistan, with possible travel up to 30% of the time (Afghanistan and international).

To be able to travel to remote districts and areas of Herat, Badghis, Ghor and Faryab provinces.

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local and International Applicants (IA’s) Accepted