Senior Business Development Manager SSA (Sub Saharan Africa)

The Senior Business Development Manager SSA (Sub-Saharan Africa) is part of SPARK’s Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Hub working closely with the SPARK Acquisition team towards the development of new programmes or expanding the existing programmes.
The Senior Business Development Manager SSA is based in the above-mentioned cities and reports to the NA Regional Programme Director.
He/she leads the regional programme development and sales efforts.

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate efforts by SPARK field offices in the SSA region to develop and write new project proposals and applications in SME development, entrepreneurship, employability, and higher (vocational) education, both in response to open tenders as well as unsolicited applications
• Establish and maintain close relationships and communication with the relevant donors in the countries of intervention in the NA region
• Represent SPARK in donors and international development events and conferences
• Promote SPARK SSA work in the region and communicate SPARK’s successful program results and technical approaches among the stakeholders and donors
• Identify and monitor funding opportunities in the region
• Work closely with RPD and country offices representatives to set up a vision for the portfolio expansion in SSA
• Coordinate collaboration and communication with the acquisition team and identify growth opportunities
• Translate the acquisition team priorities and SPARK global priorities to the region and propose development plan accordingly
• Monitoring for potential partnerships for SPARK countries of interest.
• Able to build and maintain partnerships with local partners and stakeholders in the region.

Requirements and competencies

• +7 years of experience in business development and donor relations in the field of entrepreneurship, employability, and access to higher education.
• Proven donor network in the region.
• Excellent oral and written language skills in English. French and other languages are an asset;
• Awareness of relevant funding schemes from SSA donors;
• Good knowledge of project development, particularly project proposal writing (LFA methodology);
• Good (intercultural) communication and social skills;
• Excellent presentation skills and the ability to work independently. The position requires a 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

About SPARK

SPARK develops higher education and entrepreneurship, so that young ambitious people are empowered to lead their conflict-affected society into prosperity. SPARK is a dynamic and growing not-for-profit development organization with 100+ staff members, which supports young entrepreneurs to start or grow their own businesses. SPARK provides displaced youth and women with access to higher education in fragile areas. SPARK specifically focuses its intervention on localization through building the capacities of local partners and stakeholders, green entrepreneurship, digitalization, and women entrepreneurship.