Position: Business Development Officer MENA

Location: Turkey – Lebanon – Jordan (National Post)

Application Deadline: July, 17th 2022

Duration: 12 months (2 months’ probation period) with the possibility of extension subject to funding

Start Date: a.s.a.p

The Business Development Officer MENA is reporting to the Regional Business Development Manager and is part of a 7-member team of the SPARK Acquisition team working closely together towards the development and implementation of new programmes or expanding the existing programmes.

The main aim of the business development team is the build partnerships and design programmes that appeal to the needs of the target groups.

The Business Development Officer MENA is stationed in Turkey or Lebanon or Jordan

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Support efforts by SPARK field offices in MENA region to develop and write new project proposals and applications in SME development and higher (vocational) education, primarily in our target localities, both in response to open tenders as well as unsolicited applications;
• Help in creating donor leads and maintaining ongoing donor communications.
• Provide support in proposal writing and budgeting for bids for grants.
• Monitoring for potential partnerships and doing background research for SPARK countries of interest.
• Able to build and maintain partnerships with local partner CSOs in the region.

Requirements and competencies

• +3 years of experience in business development and donor relations in the field of entrepreneurship and access to higher education.
• Excellent oral and written language skills in English, Arabic / Turkish / French are an asset;
• Awareness of relevant funding schemes from MENA donors;
• Good knowledge of project development, particularly project proposal writing (LFA methodology);
• Good (intercultural) communication and social skills;
• Good presentation and networking skills and the ability to work independently. The position particularly requires an entrepreneurial and results-oriented approach.
• Experience in programmes related to entrepreneurship and higher education.

SPARK offers

• International and dynamic working experience;
• Training opportunities;
• Competitive remuneration range depending on skills and experience, partly success fee-based.

How to apply?

If you are interested, please apply with a motivation letter and CV (both in English) on https://vacancy.spark-online.org/Tab1/LoadProfileFromVacancy/430 until July 17th 2022 with reference: Business Development Officer MENA and the Country you applying for at the top of the CV.

If you have any questions regarding SPARK or the position, please visit our website www.spark-online.org.

All applications will be assessed on a rolling basis; interviews can therefore take place before the application deadline. However, due to the large volume of applications we receive, we cannot respond to every applicant individually. There may be a delay between the deadline and the moment we contact selected applicants.

If you have not received a reply, we regret to inform you that we have continued with other candidates.

About SPARK

SPARK supports youth for better access to higher (vocational) education and supports entrepreneurship development in fragile and conflict-affected states so that young, ambitious people can lead their societies into stability and prosperity. Over the last 27 years, SPARK has built a strong record of accomplishment in over 25 states in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

In doing so, SPARK contributes to laying a foundation to rebuild conflict-affected regions, once the conflict is over.

By collaborating with local organisations, SPARK builds local capacity to enable the sustainability of its programmes. SPARK is a dynamic and growing, international not-for-profit development organisation with 100+ staff members, in 14 offices.

We believe that sustainable, economic growth is essential for the alleviation of poverty.

By offering private-sector development services to young people in conflict-affected regions, we believe that the potential for further conflict is significantly reduced