Job Description

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

ROLE PURPOSE: The Resource Development & New Business Development (NBD) Manager – Zimbabwe is a pivotal role in supporting Save the Children Zimbabwe and the wider Malawi-Zimbabwe Cluster to anticipate, adapt, and respond to the changing development and humanitarian funding landscape.

This role brings fresh thinking and innovation to Save the Children’s resource mobilisation efforts by focusing on emerging funding sources, including climate finance, blended finance, strategic philanthropy, private capital, and shared value partnerships. The role will strengthen in-country and regional donor intelligence and co-lead the design of winning proposals in collaboration with partners and technical teams, ensuring alignment with the localisation agenda.

The NBD Manager will play a central role in positioning Save the Children Zimbabwe as a partner of choice for donors and impact investors, particularly in sectors like climate resilience, education, child protection, and health. In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.
SCOPE OF ROLE:

Duties and Responsibilities

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

1. Strategic Resource Development & Donor Engagement (25%)
• Identify, map, and track new and emerging sources of funding, including climate finance, green bonds, ESG-aligned funding, blended finance, and social impact capital, serving as the cluster focal point for these streams.
• Lead the development of tailored donor engagement strategies and account management plans for high-potential donors (e.g. Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, corporate foundations, high-net-worth individuals, private investors).
• Cultivate relationships with development finance institutions (DFIs), social enterprises, foundations, and non-traditional funders to explore shared value and co-investment models.
• Represent Save the Children in relevant climate finance and innovation investment forums in Zimbabwe and the region.
• Play leading roles in the development and regular updating of the donor engagement strategy, in line with the funding strategy, to assist in growing the Zimbabwe portfolio, consistent with the Country Strategy;
• Cultivate excellent working relationships with donor agencies at regional and country level as appropriate and in close collaboration with the PDQM.
• Participate in any donor visit to project(s) within the country office portfolio, as needed.
• Support regular donor check-in/update visits with major institutional donors in Zimbabwe.
• Work with technical advisors and SMT colleagues to set ambitious targets for donor engagement and to influence donor strategies.
• Support the PDQM and other members of the SMT to represent SCI Zimbabwe in relevant donor forums, workshops and conferences as needed.
2. Proposal Design and Development (35%)
• Lead or support the development of high-quality, innovative concept notes and proposals for strategic funding opportunities, with a focus on climate and resilience, education, child protection, and localisation.
• Work closely with the Partnerships, Technical, MEAL, Finance and Operations teams to develop fundable and contextually relevant programmatic solutions that respond to donor priorities and emerging development challenges.
• Ensure meaningful and early engagement of local and national partners in proposal design in line with Save the Children’s localisation and partnership principles.
• As assigned by the Senior NBD Manager , support in the management of the development of high-value, complex proposals or bids, building on global, regional and national SCI Technical and Thematic expertise, ensuring the highest quality products are submitted to the member and the donor.
• Coordinate closely with Save the Children members to kick-off, plan and effectively carryout the proposal development process, supporting the coordination and implication of technical and awards staff in both offices, ensuring regular communication and updating of members throughout the process.
• Drive inter-departmental coordination for programme and proposal development, including ensuring the identification of a Technical Advisors lead and in close cooperation and inclusion of the Operations, particularly the field office team implementation and technical teams, Supply Chain (procurement and other logistical needs), Security, Awards Management (risk management and compliance), Finance (activity and support costings, etc), and HR (for staffing requirements).
• Ensure full internal review and sign-off as per the proposal development process.
• Participate in the drafting of key sections of the proposals, particularly the standard inputs – e.g. capacity and capability statements; country context and programme experience, while drawing on the expertise of technical advisors, operations, finance, HR and security.
• With the PDQM, MEAL and members, ensure that the SMT, Programmes and Partnerships Leads and Project Managers receive regularly updated information on local, national and regional context analysis, recent and relevant research findings, assessments (HEAs, DHIS, partner research, etc.). This activity is closely linked with the data and knowledge management function of technical advisors, MEAL and Members.

3. Climate and Innovative Finance Technical Support (20%)
• Act as an in-house focal point on climate finance and innovative financing mechanisms, providing guidance and support to internal teams and partners on proposal framing, eligibility requirements, and compliance.
• Support the integration of climate resilience, adaptation, and mitigation strategies into sectoral programme designs, especially education, health, and child protection.
• Monitor and share trends in innovative financing instruments and models that align with Save the Children’s goals and the broader SDGs.
4. Portfolio Planning and Pipeline Management (10%)
• Collaborate with the Senior NBD Manager to maintain an up-to-date and forward-looking pipeline of opportunities aligned with the Country Strategic Plan and cluster priorities.
• Provide inputs into cluster funding strategies, master budgets, and partner mapping to identify gaps and strategic directions.
• Support quarterly NBD review meetings and learning sessions with technical, MEAL, finance, and awards teams.
5. Capacity Strengthening and Cross-Learning (10%)
• Build the capacity of Save the Children and partner staff on climate finance readiness, innovative funding approaches, and strategic resource development.
• Develop internal tools, templates, and donor intelligence briefs tailored to new funding sources.
• Actively contribute to Save the Children’s global and regional Communities of Practice on resource mobilisation and localisation.
• Provide staff training involved in contract management to ensure they understand the importance of compliance and best practices, and help staff recognise potential risks and pitfalls in contract management, and equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively manage contracts.
6. Localisation
• Ensure all NBD processes are aligned to the CO’s Localisation Strategy.
• Work closely with the Awards team to ensure capacity strengthening in systems and policies of the local partners.
• Collaborate with the Awards team in mapping and scoping of LNAs.
7. Diversifying funding with commercial contracts

• ·Lead in Contracts and service agreements opportunities that are legally binding and outline specific deliverables or services to be provided in exchange for payment.
• ·Track new and emerging sources of funding opportunities under commercial contracting that exceed those of traditional grants
• Lead the cluster in commercial contracts in the organization’s programmatic future, planning, and investing in the necessary systems and mindset changes for success.

Child safeguarding
• Staff inform people who come into contact with them of the conduct to expect of SC staff
• Report any Child Safeguarding concerns to the focal person
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice) (Section should not consist of Competencies as this are the standard Values in practice)
Accountability:
• holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
Ambition:
• sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
• widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
Collaboration:
• builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
• values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
Creativity:
• develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• willing to take disciplined risks.
Integrity:
• honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

Qualifications and Experience

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Essential:
•​Master’s degree in international development, climate policy, finance, business development, economics, or related field.
•​Minimum 7 years of experience in resource mobilisation, business development, or investment advisory roles in the development, humanitarian, or impact investment sectors.
•​Proven track record in designing and securing funding from non-traditional donors including climate finance mechanisms, private sector partners, or development finance institutions.
•​Strong proposal writing skills, with demonstrated success in securing funding from both public and private donors.
•​Deep understanding of climate resilience, localization, and development finance trends.
•​Strong interpersonal, facilitation, and negotiation skills.
•​Experience working in partnership with national/local NGOs and familiarity with locally led funding approaches.
• Strong experience in commercial contracting as a mode of resource mobilization in NGOs.

Desirable:
•​Prior experience in structuring or managing blended finance mechanisms or results-based financing arrangements.
•​Familiarity with Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaptation Fund, Global Environment Facility (GEF), or similar platforms.
•​Experience working across multiple countries or in a regional role.
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.
Health and Safety
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

How to Apply

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