DFS Africa is looking to onboard a Strategic Grants and Programme Development Manager to lead business development through sourcing for different types of funding to grow our products and initiatives. Your role will cover the various sources of funding highlighted above in the ‘Background and Objectives’. You will be an advocate for the organisation by leading the grant programme contributing to the implementation of organisational objectives to deliver impactful funding.

As a Grants and Funding Programme Development Manager, a key aspect of your role will be working with the management team to identify and develop strong relationships with multilateral agencies, DFIs, Trusts and Foundations internationally. You will have space to innovate and put donors and funders first and to use your extensive experience to lead the development of successful grant applications and successful technical assistance bids. You’ll be the kind of person who gets out from behind your desk to meet people, influence and achieve long lasting, mutually beneficial relationships. As with any expanding organisation there are challenges. You’ll need to be determined, tenacious and focused on solutions. You will also be expected to hire a direct report, a Business Development Officer who you will lead and inspire within 12 months of working with us. Finally, you will play a part in setting up the projects, working in collaboration with management team and external stakeholders.

• Manage a portfolio of current partners who could become strategic donors, building strong relationships and implementing creative solicitation plans to maximise engagement and income.
• Research, develop and secure income from new donors, with a strong focus on funders with a potential to give 6 and 7 figure grants.
• Draw on DFS Africa’s experience and key competencies to bid for technical assistance contracts from DFIs and Multilateral agencies
• Write high quality funding proposals and reports
• Develop an excellent knowledge of DFS Africa’s work, liaise with colleagues to prepare and present high-quality information such as tailored presentations and proposals for the donors and clients.
• Build excellent external working relationships at all levels with donors/clients, their staff and networks in order to directly influence their decisions
• Build excellent internal working relationships to engage staff at all levels in supporting donor stewardship to manage prospective and existing donors effectively.

• To be successful in this role it is essential that you have excellent bid writing skills/experience with a strong income track record.
• Proven track record of relationship building to secure grants at six figure level.
• Ability to understand diverse donor motivations and deliver a bespoke relationship to meet these. Demonstrable skill in adapting written and verbal communications for a philanthropy audience
• Excellent face to face, interpersonal, negotiating and persuasive skills
• Excellent numeracy and attention to detail, ability to analyse and prepare budgets
• Experience of managing the complexities of restricted income projects.
• You will possess excellent project management and budgeting skills, along with sound interpersonal skills to lead a team and build on external relationships.
• Organised and methodical approach to plan and deliver against a varied workload, managing competing priorities under your own initiative and to strict deadlines.