Business Development Manager

What’s the job and who is Nuru?

Nuru International and our network of local partner organizations in sub-Saharan Africa have been predominantly privately funded since our inception in 2008. In order to more rapidly scale our model to new geographies, we have begun to seek out and win USAID funding as diversification of funding is a priority.

As the Business Development Associate you will develop and implement a business development and fundraising strategy and professionalize efforts to seek out funding opportunities, develop proposals, and successfully close funding through USAID, USG, and other governmental and multilateral funders and partners. You will need to be based in or near Washington, DC and have an existing, well established network among USAID and implementing partners. You will be our resident expert on USAID rules and regulations, USG procurement cycles, Nuru’s programs, and relevant research to develop strategies and approaches that will be responsive to donor solicitations. You will manage the proposal process, drawing from and collaborating closely with Nuru’s fundraising team and program experts around the globe. Last but not least, you will support and coach the international fundraising teams in their business development efforts.

Founded in 2008, Nuru International establishes locally-led NGO’s in Sub-Saharan Africa which work to eradicate extreme poverty and unlock economic potential in rural farmer communities. This goal is achieved by transitioning vulnerable smallholder farmers from subsistence to professionalized farming as a business. While Nuru staff technically work for separate and distinct locally-run organizations based in various countries, we all operate under a shared vision to cultivate lasting meaningful choices in the most vulnerable and marginalized communities in the world.

Nuru International has been a fully remote team since 2008 and will continue to be one. All Nuru International staff members work from a location of their choice.

What you’ll be doing:

• Develop and implement an organizational business development strategy and processes

• Advise on donor priorities and identify specific opportunities. Identify, pursue and successfully capitalize on funding opportunities among major funders of international development, CVE, and other relevant programming, particularly with bilateral and multilateral donors

• Produce regular reports for senior management on business development performance analysis

• Track donor funding trends and priorities, and maintain and provide donor intelligence to identify new funding opportunities

• Advise on potential partnerships with other organizations and agencies and identify specific opportunities – either as a lead agency or subcontractor

• Lead the development and writing of successful funding proposals and budgets. This will involve leading or supporting proposal development teams across the organization, working with technical, management, and finance leads on strategy; and ensuring that logframes, budgets and narrative text are developed, reviewed, and edited per donor requirements.

• Strengthen the capacity of Nuru’s international fundraising teams to develop fundraising strategies. Develop and deliver trainings and on-the-job tools and aids as required

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of Nuru’s systems. Help to develop better tools, systems, techniques, and strategies for identifying, tracking, and pursuing new business opportunities, developing proposals and budgets

What you should have:

• Demonstrated experience in international development, preferably for a multi-country international organization

• Successful track record of securing multiple high-value projects/contracts from bilateral and multilateral donors, trusts and foundations. Experience with Legislative and Public Affairs is a plus

• Significant expertise in all areas of new business development including strategy, forging partnerships including negotiating teaming agreements, project design, logframe development, proposal writing, budget development, managing donor and other partner (e.g. NGOs) relationships, and project reporting. This includes developing complex technical/narrative and cost proposals

Who you are:

• Capacity builder. You seek to listen, learn, and come alongside those from other cultures and simultaneously support them in continuing to develop their expertise.

• Self-starter. You have a proven track record and confidence in developing and executing creative new projects with limited guidance.

• Excellent project manager. You manage all aspects of a project from beginning to end. Your time management is impeccable. You demonstrate the ability to manage multiple projects at one time and overcome interruptions with ease and good humor.

• Aligned. You are motivated by and committed to Nuru International’s mission, theory of change, and Nuru values: fail fast/learn fast, equity, bold action, transparency, and servant leadership.

• Contributor. Like other Nuru staff, you take your work seriously but you don’t take yourself too seriously. You appreciate the quote “culture eats strategy for breakfast” and you cooperate easily with staff, vendors, and donors working as a positive team player.

• Globetrotter. You are excited to travel within the U.S. for team events or conferences and jump at the chance to visit Nuru projects in Africa.

• French connoisseur. Just kidding, you don’t actually have to be a connoisseur in all French things but having proficiency in the French language is definitely a plus.

What Nuru offers you:

• Our culture encourages healthy work/life satisfaction, a flexible 100% work-from-home schedule, prioritizes your resiliency, and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment.

• You will be an essential member of the team, ensuring that Nuru staff can navigate the complex world of government grants and fundraising.

• You will be supported by a strong management team who values your input, is eager to coach you, provide feedback, receive feedback, and help you grow in your career.

• You will work alongside a team of highly accomplished professionals across the globe who are all motivated by a shared purpose.

• We provide an equitable and competitive salary based on recent industry data, an excellent benefits package for full time employees which includes medical, dental, vision insurance and a flexible spending account; long-term and short-term disability; 401(k) with company match, generous time off, paid parental leave, laptop, and more. Salary and benefits will be discussed in the first interview. *This position is part-time so benefits will be limited to accrued PTO.