VP Public Business Development

Responsible to strategically increase and diversify global US government and institutional funding growth in a way that successfully contributes to the achievement of Food for the Hungry’s (FH) goals while also increasing FH profile and visibility to donors and partners in the public development and relief sector. The position leads FH’s new Business Development engagement team for US government and other institutional opportunities. Collaborating with key stakeholders, the role provides leadership and strategy in identifying key opportunities and establishes relationships and partnerships for greater impact.

FH Heartbeat

At Food for the Hungry, we operate under a set of guiding principles we call “The Heartbeat.” This includes our Values, Vision and Purpose, which serve as the explanation of who we are and how we work as an organization. Together we follow God’s call responding to human suffering and graduating communities from extreme poverty.

Principal Responsibilities

Strategy and Representation Ensure preferred partnership strategic alignment.

• Build strategic relationships and connections with key funders.

• Increase FH’s profile and influence with key donors.

• Insinuate FH into key fora, appropriate US government context, U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, Devex and others and play an influential role.

• Build FH’s reputation based on our value proposition.

• Drive donor acquisition strategy and annual plan, ensuring that donor trends and priorities are considered, aligned and included in our strategic decision-making and priority setting.

• Serve as FH’s senior representative to the US government, to institutional donors and partners in the US and around the globe, to networks and to specific communities, as needed.

• Empower, appoint and support business development staff to engage with the US government, along with other institutional donors and partners.

• Ensure that the Business Development Team thinks and acts strategically at all times, measures the effectiveness of strategic direction and choices, as well as learns and adjusts as appropriate.

Resource Acquisition Increase FH’s competitiveness and funding growth.

• Conduct aggressive business intelligence to position FH for potential awards before they are announced; create a robust future and ongoing pipeline.

• Achieve gross revenue, preferred partner and backlog targets.

• Diversify and grow FH’s US government and institutional funding portfolio.

• Actively seek public resources to enable FH fulfill its Heartbeat according to an agreed upon growth rate. Promote, and support the rest of the team in this endeavor.

• Coordinate closely with key stakeholders to ensure vision-driven funding growth in field offices where FH works or strategically partner with other organizations that align to FH’s Heartbeat.

• Oversee management of donor engagement budget to make investments in capturing opportunities.

Partnerships and Promotion For the benefit of FH and its Heartbeat, encourage, promote and expand appropriate value added partnerships in collaboration with donors and partners.

• Promote FH’s brand to relevant external stakeholders and audiences, particularly in the US government, with other institutional donors and with partners.
• Cultivate and promote targeted value added partnerships with donors and organizations that increase FH’s funding growth.
• Engage donors and stakeholders to establish and strengthen relationships with public entities (donors) and partners.
• Strengthen and negotiate relationships and partnerships with internal and external partners and stakeholders in donor/partner engagement and the design of resource development strategies.

Integration Promote effective and appropriate collaboration and integration within the department and the leadership structure.

• Promote effective communication, planning and execution within public resource development and other stakeholders.
• Actively engage with the department leadership team and participate in global leadership activities such as the Global Leadership Team.
• Actively coordinate / integrate with International Operations (Programs, M&E and Program Delivery).

Innovation Help position FH as a leader in our sector for US government and institutional funding growth.

• Cultivate, create and promote innovative approaches for FH programs and for business and development finance models, and successfully market them to donors.
• Stay abreast of donor funding trends and FH capacities to position for potential grant opportunities.

Spiritual Leadership Promote, model and safeguard our Christian, biblically based, integrated and relational approach in all we do.

• Promote and support the organization’s understanding of and alignment with the Food for the Hungry Heartbeat at every level and across all structures and functional areas.
• Continue professional growth as a leader by offering absolute candor, seeking the input of others, admitting when mistakes are made, initiating reconciliation when wrongs are committed and being accountable to others.

Talent Ensure that the Business Development Team has the right people, in the right positions, at the right time, doing the right things the right way.

• Ensure accountability, learning and development of the team.
• Promote unity within the diverse resource development functions and other areas, irrespective of location.
• Invest in and develop leaders equipped in business development.

Culture Build and steward a “Heartbeat” culture, which is embraced and lived throughout the team, with others and with external audiences.

• In collaboration with senior leadership, promote the mindsets, skillsets and behaviors that make up a rewarding, empowering culture that allows staff to be the best version of themselves and that promotes shared success and mission impact.
• Steward our Heartbeat culture in communications with donors, partners, team members, and staff across the organization.
• Ensure that our culture is clearly defined, consistently communicated, actively modeled, and intentionally measured at all levels within the team and across the organization.
• Promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive work place and environment.
• Promote, empower and reward a rigorous and performance-based culture within the team.

Experience

• Significant experience in acquisition of institutional donor funding, especially US government funding, with at least several years in a global organization. Cross-cultural living and working experience highly desired.

• Demonstrated / proven ability to acquire, grow, diversify and maintain institutional funding portfolio partnerships and relationships.

• Experience in institutional funding programs primarily funded by the US Government.

• Demonstrated ability to promote innovative approaches preferred.

• Experience leading and managing a team.

Education/Certification

• Bachelor’s degree is required.

• Master’s Degree in relevant field is highly preferred.

Distinguishing Characteristics

• Spiritual wellbeing: Demonstrated personal Christian commitment to serving those who are challenged by poverty and marginalization and in full agreement with Food for the Hungry’s Christian foundation and beliefs as expressed in our Heartbeat.

• Strategic Leadership: Demonstrated experience working in leadership positions.

• Relational skills: Able to relate to, understand, appreciate and effectively communicate with people from different cultures, diverse backgrounds and perspectives and make them feel welcome, included and valued. Demonstrated appreciation for and familiarity with a relational style of work and management. Able to relate to donors with confidence. Able to build a cohesive and dynamic team.

• Communication: Effective oral and written communication and presentation skills.

• Integrity: Ability to lead with integrity, candor, honesty and sensitivity.

• Wellbeing: Experience developing and supporting individual and departmental wellbeing and positive employee engagement.

• Managing change: Substantial proven ability in successfully managing and leading organizational development and change, including culture change.

• Diversity and inclusion: Substantial experience with leading, promoting and working in a diverse, inclusive, cross-cultural environment.

• Organizational skills: Excellent organizational skills; ability to plan and coordinate the efficient flow of projects and processes.

• Analysis: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

• Travel: Ability to travel up to 25% of time domestically and internationally, to fragile contexts, countries and/or locations.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Directly supervises staff that is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the functional teams within the department. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints, resolving problems, etc.

Safeguarding Policy

FH strives to provide an environment free from sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment in all places where relief and development programs are implemented. FH holds a zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment. FH expects its employees to maintain high ethical standards, protect organizational integrity and reputation, and ensure that FH work is carried out in honest and fair methods, in alignment with the FH Heartbeat and safeguarding and associated policies. Violations to stated policies will be subject to corrective action up to and including termination of employment.