Business Development and Grants Manager

Overall purpose of the role: 

The Grants Management Manager leads DRC South Sudan's grants management, business development and donor engagement efforts, ensuring the organization is strategically positioned to secure funding and expand its impact. Working closely with the Head of Programme, the role oversees proposal development, external representation, strategic partnerships, and grants management while providing leadership and direction to the Grants and Business Development Unit.

Responsibilities:

Business Development & Donor Engagement:

• Lead the identification, analysis and pursuit of institutional funding opportunities aligned with DRC's country strategy, comparative advantages and programmatic priorities.
• Develop and maintain a country-level business development strategy, funding pipeline, opportunity tracker and revenue forecast.
• Lead donor intelligence and strategic positioning efforts, including analysis of donor priorities, funding trends, emerging financing mechanisms and partnership opportunities.
• Build, maintain and strengthen strategic relationships with existing and prospective donors, development partners, foundations, development finance institutions and private-sector actors.
• Proactively generate funding opportunities beyond formal calls for proposals by developing strategic engagement plans, unsolicited concept notes and targeted donor pitches.
• Expand and diversify DRC's funding base by identifying and pursuing opportunities with non-traditional donors, development finance actors, foundations and innovative financing mechanisms.
• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with consulting firms, local organizations, research institutions and private-sector actors to access new funding streams and increase DRC's competitiveness.
• Position DRC effectively within nexus and development-oriented funding opportunities, including engagement with institutions such as the World Bank and other development finance actors.
• Lead and coordinate the development of high-quality concept notes, proposals and strategic funding initiatives in close collaboration with programme, technical, finance, support services, regional and HQ teams.
• Provide strategic direction throughout the proposal development cycle to ensure quality, competitiveness, compliance and alignment with donor expectations.
• In collaboration with the Head of Programme and the MEAL Department, ensure programme evidence, lessons learned, research findings and donor feedback are systematically integrated into programme design and business development efforts.

Grants Management, Compliance & Portfolio Oversight:

• Provide strategic oversight of the country grant portfolio, ensuring effective donor stewardship, contractual compliance and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Provide strategic oversight of donor contractual relationships throughout the grant lifecycle, including funding agreement negotiations, grant amendments, compliance requirements, reporting schedules, key deliverables and resolution of contractual issues.
• Lead quality assurance processes for donor reports, contractual documentation and other external grant-related submissions.
• Monitor portfolio performance against donor commitments, funding targets, implementation milestones and compliance requirements, proactively addressing risks and bottlenecks.
• In collaboration with the Risk and Compliance Specialist, maintain oversight of donor-specific risks, compliance issues and audit findings, ensuring appropriate mitigation measures and escalation where required.
• Provide strategic advice and leadership on grants governance, donor compliance, contractual obligations and portfolio risks, ensuring grant information is accurate, accessible and effectively used to support decision-making across the organization.

Representation, Partnerships & External Engagement:

• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships and external relationships with NGOs, UN agencies, authorities, research institutions, local organizations, private-sector actors and coordination mechanisms to strengthen DRC's positioning, influence and access to opportunities.
• Lead consortium development efforts, including partner identification, engagement, governance arrangements, and collaborative programme design.
• Support the organization of donor visits, strategic briefings, learning events, and external engagement opportunities.

Team Leadership & Management:

• Provide strategic leadership, direction, and management oversight to the Grants and Business Development Unit.
• Line manage and support the Grants Coordinator and Grants Officer(s), ensuring clear workplan, priorities, professional development, and performance management.
• Foster a collaborative and service-oriented culture that supports programme quality, business development, and donor engagement.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of internal guidance, tools, and standard operating procedures related to programme development and business development.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• Master’s degree in law, social sciences, international development, or another relevant field
• 3-5 years of relevant professional experience in humanitarian emergency contexts with programme and/or grants management responsibilities, including at least 1 year of team management experience
• Extensive knowledge of US, UN and European traditional institutional donors and their compliance requirements, with proven experience developing successful funding proposals and overseeing complex grant portfolios.
• Demonstrated experience securing funding from a diverse range of institutional and non-traditional donors, including foundations, development finance institutions and private-sector partners.
• Strong representation, networking, influencing and negotiation skills, with proven experience engaging with donors, government counterparts, UN agencies and strategic partners.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively identify and develop new funding opportunities by building strategic partnerships, cultivating donor relationships and converting positioning efforts into concrete funding outcomes.
• Considerable technical experience from and knowledge of sector approaches from at least two of DRC’s core sectors.
• Excellent analytical, communication and proposal writing skills.
• Strong understanding of budgeting, financial management, donor compliance and contract management.
• Organized, articulate and detail-oriented, with a strong commitment to quality.
• Proven ability to lead high-performing and diverse teams, manage performance, foster a positive working environment and handle sensitive issues diplomatically.
• Ability to prioritize workloads, manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in complex environments.
• Resilience and ability to perform effectively under pressure, including in hardship contexts.
• English (fluent)

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