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Sr. Manager, Business Development and Institutional Partnerships - Africa

FLSA: Exempt
Status: Full Time
Location: Kenya, Ghana, Uganda or Washington, DC
The Institutional Relations Manager for Africa will be responsible for strategic business development and management of corporate, foundation and government relationships and the development of proposals to secure multi-year funding to support Grameen Foundation’s work in Africa. The Institutional Relations Manager will play a key role in working with development and program staff, board members, and volunteers in cultivating corporate, foundation and government donor relationships. The Manager will provide cross-solutions team support in writing competitive proposals in response to solicitations from USAID, bi-lateral / multi-lateral donors, corporate foundations and other partners.
Grameen Foundation works with our partners to connect poor people, especially women, to the vital mix of financial, health, and agricultural services and information they need to transform their lives. Digital technology and mobile phones offer unprecedented opportunity to connect millions of poor people to the resources they require to strengthen their resilience, raise their incomes and live healthy lives.
The IR Manager for Africa will lead the design of programs in agriculture, financial inclusion and health in conjunction with the Solution/Technical Directors and Country Directors and will identify funding and partnering opportunities for Africa.
Reporting and relationships: The Manager, Institutional Relations Africa will report to the Vice President, Institutional and Program Development, and will work closely with the regional and solution area teams.
Availability: This position will be expected to work a standard workweek of 40 hours plus additional hours as necessary to get the job done. This is an exempt position and a minimum of 20% travel is expected.
Essential Job Functions:
  • Successfully secure several million dollars in Life of Project funding each year in support of Grameen Foundation’s work in Africa
  • Manage technical and cost proposals for institutional organizations in the areas of technology for development, agriculture, financial inclusion, health, and social performance;
  • Coordinate closely with the Finance team on cost proposal preparation
  • Work with program and country staff on the design and development of the technical approach (including contributing to writing of the technical approach and managing the overall proposal process);
  • Develop and execute effective strategies to identify, cultivate and steward corporate, foundation and government agency relationships.
  • Transfer knowledge on program design, log frame design to the IR team and others in the organization.
  • Lead relationship building and management with key potential and current clients, partners, and consultants;
  • Work with the regional partnerships team to research, track and follow up on business intelligence leading up to bid opportunities;
  • Participate in relevant training and other professional development opportunities;
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Deep commitment to eradication of poverty and alignment with Grameen Foundation’s mission.
  • Strong relationship management skills developed though prior experience.
  • Proven ability to structure partnerships, including with the private sector
  • Solid understanding of the proposal development process, project management systems / best practices.
  • Knowledge and understanding of international development including technology for development, agriculture, financial inclusion, gender and /or health. Strong preference for experience in the agriculture sector.
  • Strong interpersonal, communication (written and oral) and facilitation skills with a proven ability to motivate and coordinate multiple stakeholders, including senior-level experts and directors.
  • Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to lead complex processes in a non-hierarchical environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to multi-task in a highly dynamic environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to prospect, cultivate, and manage new accounts.
Education and Experience:
  • Bachelor’s Degree, Masters preferred in international development or related field;
  • More than 5 years of relevant experience in technical and/or grant writing required in the areas of ICT4D, financial services, agriculture, and/or health;
  • Proven track record in writing winning technical proposals for USAID and other large international donor agencies and corporate and private foundations;
  • Experience with USAID procurement process and key USAID initiatives (including Feed the Future);
  • Exceptional writing skills
Physical and Environmental Conditions:
This position does not require unusual demands for physical effort. This position may occasionally require physical effort to lift and transport boxes weighing no more than 50 pounds. Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of places such as offices, meeting or training rooms, residences, or commercial vehicles; e.g., use of safe work place practices with office equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls, and observance of fire regulations and traffic signals.
Additional Comment: The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made in appropriate circumstances to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job. For more information about Grameen Foundation please visit our website at grameenfoundation.org. No telephone calls please. W