Business Pursuit Lead – Southern Africa

Job purpose:

As a Business Pursuit Lead, you will be responsible for growing VSO’s ability to deliver impact and influence through volunteering for development by securing funding for VSO projects and work in the Southern Africa. Based in the region, this role has oversight for business pursuit activities in Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Eswatini.

Responsibilities:

• Achieve ambitious annual business pursuit targets (£3m+) working with institutional donors, foundations, corporations and implementing partners to enable VSO to scale its programmes and impact in Southern Africa by securing large grants and contracts.
• Proactively lead the development, positioning and deepening of relationships with VSO strategic and key donors (to include; UK FCDO, USAID, World Bank, EU, UN, German GIZ & KfW, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dutch MoFA, GAVI, Global Fund) in the region.
• Proactively lead the development and deepening of VSO’s relationships with key partners and networks (government agencies, INGOs, Local Nongovernmental Organizations, the private sector and others to secure funding and raise the profile of VSO in Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Eswatini.
• Represent VSO externally and internally, in line with our organisational mission through evidence-based pre-positioning, influencing, partnership and consortium building and policy dialogue.
• Develop a deep understanding of VSO’s Practice Areas and local programmes in the region, and across VSO’s global operations to be able to talk persuasively with external donors and partners about VSO’s track-record and impact from our volunteering for development approach in contextually relevant ways.

Qualification & Experience

• Significant business pursuit experience with a proven track record of increasing secured funding success and delivering income against targets.
• Experience of establishing and cultivating strong donor relationships that have delivered substantially increased funding.
• Experience of proactively building and maintaining effective partnerships both internally and externally.
• Excellent personal relationship and communication skills with substantial experience in networking and influencing a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Tenacious marketing and pre-positioning skills and attributes.
• Strong political and cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Knowledge and understanding of the role of volunteerism, social inclusion, social accountability and resilience in development.
• Fluency in written and spoken English (additional language abilities welcome).
• Commitment to VSO’s vision and values, including safeguarding and taking a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and harm.
• Excellent practical knowledge of Microsoft 365.