Head of Business Development at Plan International

Job description

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge. For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries. We won’t stop until we are all equal. At Plan International Tanzania, we are committed to advancing children's rights, gender equality, girls' rights and youth empowerment. As the development landscape evolves, we are seeking an exceptional Head of Business Development to lead our resource mobilisation strategy, strengthen strategic partnerships, and drive sustainable income growth that enables lasting impact. This is a critical leadership role for a strategic and entrepreneurial business development professional who can navigate a rapidly changing donor environment, unlock innovative funding opportunities, and position Plan International Tanzania as a partner of choice across the humanitarian and development sectors. The Opportunity As Head of Business Development, you will lead and transform our resource mobilisation function to deliver ambitious, diversified and sustainable income growth aligned with the Country Strategy. You will move beyond traditional fundraising approaches to identify and secure new opportunities through institutional donors, foundations, corporate partnerships, climate finance, innovative financing mechanisms, and strategic alliances. Working closely with senior leaders, technical teams, National Offices and external partners, you will shape and drive a funding portfolio that supports high-impact programmes for children, adolescents and young people. Key Responsibilities Strategic Resource Mobilisation and Growth Develop and implement a forward-looking resource mobilisation strategy aligned with organisational priorities. Drive funding diversification across institutional donors, multilateral agencies, foundations, philanthropies, private sector partners and innovative finance mechanisms. Lead donor intelligence, market analysis and opportunity identification. Build and manage a strong funding pipeline and forecasting system. Provide strategic advice to the Country Leadership Team on funding opportunities, risks and investment decisions. Strategic Partnerships and External Positioning Position Plan International Tanzania as a leading partner in gender equality, girls' rights and youth empowerment. Develop and maintain high-value relationships with donors, government stakeholders, private sector partners, local civil society organisations, INGOs and National Offices. Lead consortium development and strategic partnership building. Strengthen organisational capacity for donor engagement, stewardship and relationship management. Represent the organisation externally and promote Plan International's mission, values and reputation. Proposal Development and Competitive Bidding Lead the development and submission of high-quality, competitive funding proposals, concept notes and expressions of interest. Coordinate cross-functional proposal teams to design impactful, evidence-based programmes. Ensure proposals integrate gender-transformative programming, safeguarding, inclusion, influencing and systems change approaches. Oversee proposal budgets and ensure full compliance with donor requirements. Drive successful fundraising outcomes through effective opportunity management and follow-up. Grants Management and Compliance Strengthen grant management, compliance and reporting systems. Ensure effective transition from project acquisition to implementation. Work closely with programme and finance teams to optimise cost recovery, financial forecasting and risk management. Promote data-driven decision-making through portfolio and performance analytics. Innovation and New Business Models Identify and pursue innovative financing opportunities, including blended finance, results-based financing and social impact partnerships. Develop private sector engagement strategies aligned with ESG and sustainability priorities. Explore emerging funding opportunities including climate finance and South-South partnerships. Enhance organisational visibility and strategic positioning through effective communications and digital engagement. Localisation and Partnership Excellence Lead partnership mapping, selection and due diligence processes. Ensure partnership frameworks and agreements comply with organisational and donor requirements. Strengthen localisation approaches and equitable partnerships with local organisations. Maintain robust partnership systems and databases. Safeguarding, Gender Equality and Inclusion Champion safeguarding, gender equality and inclusion across all business development activities. Ensure organisational policies, standards and codes of conduct are understood and applied throughout the funding and partnership lifecycle. Essential experience and skills: Significant experience leading resource mobilisation or business development Proven success securing large scale funding from institutional donors, multilateral agencies, foundations and private sector partners. Strong experience leading complex proposal development and competitive bidding processes. Demonstrated ability to build strategic partnerships and influence senior stakeholders. Strong understanding of donor trends, localisation agendas, climate financing and evolving development funding mechanisms. Experience managing complex portfolios, leading teams and working effectively within matrix organisational structures. Excellent strategic thinking, negotiation, communication and relationship management skills. Strong financial and commercial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting and risk management.