Head of Business Development

Head of Business Development – Plan International Tanzania Organization Overview Plan International is an independent development and humanitarianthat advances children’s rights and equality for girls. For more than 85 years, Plan International has worked with children, young people, supporters, and partners to tackle the root causes of poverty, exclusion, violence, and discrimination. The organization operates in over 80 countries worldwide, supporting children from birth to adulthood while promoting gender equality, girls’ rights, and youth empowerment. Position Details Role Purpose The Head of Business Development will lead and transform Plan International Tanzania’s resource mobilization function to achieve sustainable, diversified, and strategic income growth aligned with the Country Strategy. The position goes beyond traditional fundraising and focuses on positioning Plan International Tanzania as a preferred partner in advancing: Children’s Rights Gender Equality Girls’ Rights Youth Empowerment The role will contribute by: Expanding institutional, corporate, and innovative financing streams. Strengthening strategic partnerships and consortium leadership. Driving competitive and high-quality proposal development. Embedding influencing, localization, and systems-change approaches. Ensuring financial sustainability amid a changing donor environment. The successful candidate will play a key role in addressing: Declining traditional donor funding. Increasing localization agendas. Rising competition for donor resources. Emerging funding opportunities such as: Private sector financing Climate finance Blended finance mechanisms Private sector financing Climate finance Blended finance mechanisms Key Responsibilities Resource Mobilization Leadership Lead the Business Development Unit. Oversee end-to-end resource mobilization activities. Deliver ambitious annual and multi-year fundraising targets. Develop and implement strategic funding growth plans. Portfolio Diversification Drive diversification of funding sources, including: Institutional donors Corporate partnerships Private foundations Innovative financing mechanisms Reduce reliance on traditional funding streams and strengthen long-term sustainability. Pipeline Development & Portfolio Management Lead donor pipeline development. Oversee opportunity tracking and forecasting. Monitor portfolio performance and health. Identify emerging funding opportunities. Strategic Partnerships & External Engagement Lead donor positioning efforts. Build and strengthen strategic partnerships. Represent Plan International Tanzania with donors and external stakeholders. Promote consortium leadership opportunities. Financial Stewardship Ensure effective cost recovery mechanisms. Promote value-for-money principles. Support financial forecasting and sustainability planning. Ensure compliance with donor requirements and contractual obligations. Cross-Functional Leadership Work within a matrix structure and collaborate closely with: Programme Teams Finance Teams Influencing and Advocacy Teams Global Plan International Networks External Partners Partnership Management Ensure implementation of Partnership Strategy and related processes. Review and strengthen partnership approaches where necessary. Foster strategic collaboration with local and international partners. Qualifications & Experience Education Master’s Degree in any of the following fields: International Development Business Administration Economics Marketing Related Discipline Professional Experience Minimum 10 years of experience in resource mobilization and business development. Proven track record of securing large-scale institutional funding. Demonstrated success leading teams and managing complex funding portfolios. Experience in private-sector engagement and innovative financing is highly desirable. Critical Business Management Competencies Funding Landscape Expertise Strong understanding of: Global donor trends Tanzania’s development funding environment Emerging financing opportunities Financial Management Demonstrated expertise in: Budgeting Cost recovery Financial forecasting Resource allocation Analytical & Market Intelligence Skills Ability to: Gather and analyze information from multiple sources. Interpret financial and donor data. Generate insights that inform strategic decisions. Communication & Influence Outstanding ability to: Develop persuasive written proposals. Deliver compelling presentations. Influence diverse audiences. Tailor messaging to donor priorities and stakeholder interests. Relationship Management Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to: Build strategic partnerships. Lead collaborative initiatives. Manage stakeholder expectations. Resolve conflicts among parties with differing interests. Digital Competence Experience leveraging: Digital tools Data analytics Technology platforms to enhance business development and fundraising performance. Critical Technical Competencies Resource Mobilization & Proposal Development Proven experience in: Proposal development Resource mobilization Grants management Donor contract management Donor Knowledge Excellent understanding of: International donor priorities Funding requirements Compliance standards Proposal evaluation criteria Foundation & Government Donor Engagement Familiarity with: Bilateral donors Multilateral donors Government funding agencies Matrix Leadership Demonstrated ability to: Influence without direct authority. Coordinate cross-functional teams. Lead proposal and donor-reporting processes within complexstructures. Ideal Candidate Profile (Continued — see the full advert via the application link above.)