Overview
The Business Development Specialist will lead resource mobilization for the Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU), focusing on donor engagement, financing opportunities, and the development of high-quality funding proposals and strategic materials.
Key Responsibilities
- Leads the development, implementation, and monitoring of the SCMU resource mobilization and partnership strategy.
- Analyzes current trends and proposes innovative approaches and strategies for fundraising activities.
- Prepares and updates an inventory and analysis of funding and financing modalities and potential donors.
- Explores opportunities for financial and non-financial collaboration with International Financial Institutions and other domestic partners.
- Oversees the development and writing of high-quality technical proposals and resource mobilization materials.
- Monitors donor agreements and coordinates with technical teams for reporting.
- Contributes to UNFPA resource mobilization and partnerships policies, frameworks, guidance, and instruments.
- Leads negotiations, drafting, and finalization of Memorandums of Understanding.
- Provides support to regional and country offices in developing donor proposals and progress reports.
- Conducts donor negotiations for contributions to supplies and supply chain related contributions.
- Supports and implements activities related to UNFPA’s Governance, Risk, Compliance and Reporting function.
- Builds capacity on resource mobilization and strategic partnerships.
- Develops and implements UNFPA's capacity-strengthening initiatives.
- Coaches and mentors UNFPA personnel to strengthen their capacity in resource mobilization and partnership development.
- Champions UNFPA's supply chain thought leadership.
- Fosters an environment for knowledge retention and sharing.
- Provides counsel and support on supply chain management issues.
- Leads development and communication of SCMU’s donors-facing value proposition and financing narrative.
- Supports SCMU’s collaboration with the Division for External Relations (DER) to diversify funding opportunities.
- Manages SCMU’s resource mobilisation pipeline and coordinates proposal quality assurance.
- Establishes effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders within UNFPA.
- Leads the fostering of relationships with key supply chain donors and financing partners.
- Represents SCMU and UNFPA in donor, financing, and partnership forums.
- Leads and supervises the Business Development team.
- Carries out any other duties as may be required by the Chief, SCMU.
Required Experience
- A minimum of five (5) years of relevant progressively responsible experience in resource mobilization and partnerships building.
- Direct responsibility for setting and meeting income targets.
- Demonstrated strong background in grant proposal writing and securing funding from UN, institutional donors, foundations, and corporations.
- Experience in government and multilateral donor relations and fundraising, especially with entities like FCDO, USG, and the EU.
- Proven success in proposal development for public health programmes.
- Knowledge of current theories and practices in international fundraising/marketing, partnership is a requirement.
- Professional written and spoken presentation skills, including for the development of reports, presentations, and the ability to synthesize complex supply chain documents for both technical and non-technical audiences is required.
- Strong interpersonal skills and capability to develop and maintain broad diversified partnerships is required.
- Experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is required.
- Experience in managing a team, particularly within a remote and/or matrix organizational structure is required.
- Field experience is strongly desirable.
- Experience working within a matrix organizational structure is an asset.
- Basic knowledge of the principles and operational aspects of integrated reproductive health care in the global development and humanitarian community, familiarity with UNFPA programmes and policies, knowledge of international development policies and institutions and international politics is an advantage.
- Knowledge of UNFPA mandates, policies, and guidelines is an asset.
Qualifications
An advanced degree (minimum Master’s degree or equivalent) in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Economics, International Relations, Fundraising, Marketing, Communications Management and related areas is required.
