Business Pursuit Lead – Southern Africa

Overview

Role Title: Business Pursuit Lead – Southern Africa

Team: VSO Global Business Pursuit Team

Responsible to: Global Head of Business Pursuit

Work Location: Home, VSO office or registered work location.

Line Reports/Supervision: No direct line management responsibility

Contract type: 3yrs Fixed term Contract

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

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.
• Collaboration
• Ensure alignment of income growth activity with programme strategy and to agree VSO internal and external messaging with other members of the Business Pursuit team and Business Pursuit network.
• Identify new programme opportunities, cultivate donor/partner relationships and secure major new funding in line with direction from VSO’s Practice Area and Volunteering for Development Engagement and Leadership leads.
• Share learning from donor relationships with Project Implementation Leadership and teams.
• Contribute to the development of a positive VSO workplace culture, identifying opportunities for collaboration and sharing knowledge with the implementation teams in Southern Africa.
• Compliance with relevant regulatory, data sharing and due diligence requirements working with People, Compliance and Legal colleagues.
• Contribute senior leadership or accompaniment to the in-country implementation team in the management of incidents to assist with compliance and reputational perspectives.

Education

• Microsoft Office

Additional education

• 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).
• Excellent practical knowledge of Microsoft 365.

Experience

Additional experience

• Significant business pursuit experience with a proven track record of increasing secured funding success and delivering income against targets.
• Experience in establishing and cultivating strong donor relationships that have delivered substantially increased funding.
• Experience in proactively building and maintaining effective partnerships both internally and externally

Skills

• Marketing Skills
• cultural awareness

Additional skills

• 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.
• Commitment to VSO’s vision and values, including safeguarding and taking a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and harm.
• Ability to be open-minded and respectful.
• Ability to be resilient and adaptive to new situations.
• Ability to facilitate positive change and build sustainable working relationships.
• Ability to seek and share knowledge.

Terms and conditions

VSO promotes equal opportunities and values a diverse workforce.

VSO reserves the right to close this job early if we receive a sufficient number of applications.

If you’re interested in applying for this role, please click on the link to submit your application before 22nd August 2021 https://bit.ly/businesspursuitleadsouthernafrica