Role Title: Business Pursuit Lead – Uganda
Team: VSO Global Business Pursuit Team
Responsible to: Global Head of Business Pursuit
Work Location: Home, VSO office or registered work location.
Line Reports/Supervision: No direct line management responsibility
Contract type: 3yrs. Fixed-term Contract

As a Business Pursuit Lead, you will be responsible for growing VSO’s ability to deliver impact and influence through volunteering for development by securing funding for projects in Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania. The primary focus for this role is to pursue new opportunities for VSO work in Uganda (80%). As part of the global business pursuit team, you will also from time to time contribute to the pursuit and development of opportunities in other countries.

Responsibilities

• Achieve ambitious annual business pursuit targets (£3m+) working with institutional donors, foundations, corporations and implementing partners to enable VSO to scale its programmes and impact in Nigeria by securing large grants and contracts.
• Proactively lead the development, positioning and deepening of relationships with VSO strategic and key donors (to include; UK FCDO, USAID, World Bank, EU, UN, German GIZ & KfW, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dutch MoFA, GAVI, Global Fund) in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Sahel.
• Proactively lead the development and deepening of VSO’s relationships with key partners and networks (government agencies, INGOs, Local Nongovernmental Organizations, the private sector and others to secure funding and raise the profile of VSO in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and
  the Sahel.
• Represent VSO externally and internally, in line with our organisational mission through evidence-based pre-positioning, influencing, partnership and consortium building and policy dialogue.
• Develop a deep understanding of VSO’s Practice Areas and local programmes in Nigeria, and across VSO’s global operations to be able to talk persuasively with external donors and partners about VSO’s track-record and impact from our volunteering for development approach in contextually relevant ways.

Collaboration

• Ensure alignment of income growth activity with programme strategy and to agree VSO internal and external messaging with other members of the Business Pursuit team and Business Pursuit network.
• Identify new programme opportunities, cultivate donor/partner relationships and secure major new funding in line with direction from VSO’s Practice Area and Volunteering for Development Engagement and Leadership leads.
• Share learning from donor relationships with Project Implementation Leadership and teams.
• Contribute to the development of a positive VSO workplace culture, identifying opportunities for collaboration and sharing knowledge with the implementation teams in Nigeria.
• Compliance with relevant regulatory, data sharing and due diligence requirements working with People, Compliance and Legal colleagues.
• Contribute senior leadership or accompaniment to in country implementation team in the management of incidents to assist with compliance and reputational perspectives.

• Significant business pursuit experience with a proven track record of increasing secured funding success and delivering income against targets.
• Experience of establishing and cultivating strong donor relationships that have delivered substantially increased funding.
• Experience of proactively building and maintaining effective partnerships both internally and externally.
• Excellent personal relationship and communication skills with substantial experience in networking and influencing a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Tenacious marketing and pre-positioning skills and attributes.
• Strong political and cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Knowledge and understanding of the role of volunteerism, social inclusion, social accountability and resilience in the development.

Competencies and Behavior

• Should be proactive, with great attention to detail and able to deal with competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Have exceptional business development skills; an ability to identify, pitch, and secure new funding partnerships whilst seeking internal buy-in.
• Experience in successfully generating funding partnerships and income via a high-value audience is essential.
• Good knowledge of the donor world is essential.
• Ability to be open minded and respectful
• Ability to be resilient and adaptive to new situations
• Ability to facilitate positive change and build sustainable working relationships.
• Ability to seek and share knowledge

Equal Opportunities

VSO promotes equal opportunities and values a diverse workforce.

VSO reserves the right to close this job early if we receive a sufficient number of applications.

If you’re interested in applying for this role, please click on the link to apply before 6th August 2021 https://bit.ly/businesspursuitleadvso