WCA Programme Funding Portfolio Development Specialist

About the role

Save the Children International is hiring a WCA Programme Funding Portfolio Development Specialist to join its CO team. The role provides portfolio development support and guidance to Country Offices and Members so that programme funding is shaped and strengthened in line with Country Strategies. It works alongside, but does not replace, Country Office and Member business development functions, which keep ownership of their pipelines, donor relationships and proposal acquisition.

The position reports to the Africa Head of Programme Funding, is hybrid/remote with flexible working, and requires a Central time zone (GMT +/- 3). It is open to any existing SCI office location in the WCA or ESA Region, with international travel of up to 20%. The contract is permanent, and the candidate must have the right to work in the country of assignment. English and French are required.

Key responsibilities

• Support the strategic development and optimisation of country and regional programme funding portfolios, including donor relations, partner development, opportunity identification, capture planning and prepositioning, and advise on funding governance and donor accountabilities.
• Advise country offices on preparing and submitting competitive funding proposals, and lead cross-functional proposal development and bid writing where strategically required, including multi-country and regional opportunities.
• Help country offices maintain relationships with Members, donors and partners, and support stakeholder engagement plans, donor priorities and country funding strategies with portfolio analysis and market intelligence.
• Monitor emerging funding trends, donor priorities and market opportunities, and report on funding gaps, business development capacity, portfolio performance and emerging market risks.
• Ensure compliance with Programme Funding requirements and organisational policies, including diversity, equity and inclusion, and promote cross-country collaboration and shared learning.

Required profile

• Proven ability to design and implement business development strategies at scale in the humanitarian and/or development sector, with substantial experience securing programme funding and building donor partnerships.
• Substantial experience preparing and managing high-quality funding proposals at scale, leading cross-functional teams to win bids from institutional and private sector donors such as USAID, EU, SIDA, WFP, UNICEF and the World Bank.
• Extensive experience in multicultural environments with donors, partners and government entities, and implementing stakeholder engagement plans.
• Desirable: strategic oversight of funding opportunities, monitoring of funding trends and making strategic recommendations.

Required skills

• Strategic thinking and strong analytical skills.
• Relationship management with colleagues, members, partners and donors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Proposal development, including writing, editing and project management.
• Financial acumen: financial planning, budget management and donor compliance.
• Negotiation and influencing.