Head of Business Development

Job Posting Organization:
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that focuses on advancing children's rights and promoting equality for girls. Established over 85 years ago, Plan International operates in more than 80 countries worldwide, working collaboratively with children, young people, supporters, and partners to create a just world. The organization is dedicated to tackling the root causes of challenges faced by girls and vulnerable children, including poverty, violence, exclusion, and discrimination. Plan International supports children's rights from birth until adulthood, enabling them to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. The organization drives changes in practice and policy at local, national, and global levels, leveraging its extensive reach, experience, and knowledge to transform the lives of children. Plan International is committed to achieving equality for all children and will continue its efforts until this goal is realized.

Job Overview:
The Head of Business Development will lead the Business Development Unit (BDU) at Plan International Sudan, focusing on driving fundraising efforts, proposal development, and donor engagement to expand the organization's funding portfolio in alignment with the Country Strategic Plan and Humanitarian Response Plan. This senior leadership role requires strong strategic thinking, sound judgment, and problem-solving abilities in a dynamic and complex environment. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in securing new grants, strengthening relationships with donors, and ensuring high-quality proposal development, grant management, and compliance. The position directly contributes to enhancing funding, performance, and impact for children, particularly girls, by implementing a resource mobilization strategy, managing relationships with institutional donors and partners, and ensuring compliance with donor requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Head of Business Development will be responsible for developing and implementing a resource mobilization strategy aimed at expanding and diversifying funding sources. Key duties include building and managing relationships with institutional donors, UN agencies, National Offices, and partners; identifying funding opportunities; leading the development of high-quality proposals and concept notes; managing the proposal pipeline, funding trackers, and reporting calendars; ensuring strong coordination across program, finance, and support teams; leading consortium bids and facilitating meaningful partner engagement; ensuring compliance with donor requirements and internal policies, including cost recovery; capturing and sharing learning to enhance proposal quality and success rates; integrating gender equality and humanitarian standards across all submissions; managing and developing a team of grants and business development specialists; and contributing to the leadership of the Country Management Team (CMT) and overall program performance.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must demonstrate a proven track record of securing grants and developing successful donor proposals. Significant experience in resource mobilization within humanitarian and/or development settings, particularly in emergency contexts, is essential. A strong knowledge of donor requirements, consortium bids, and project cycle management is also required. Excellent coordination, communication, and stakeholder management skills are necessary, along with strong written and spoken English. Proficiency in Arabic is highly desirable, and experience working in the region is also preferred.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in a relevant field is required, or equivalent experience in a related field for an extended period of time may be considered acceptable. The educational background should align with the responsibilities of the role, emphasizing skills and knowledge pertinent to business development, fundraising, and proposal writing.

Experience:
The position requires significant experience in resource mobilization, particularly within humanitarian and development contexts. Candidates should have a demonstrated history of successfully securing grants and managing donor relationships, as well as experience in proposal development and project cycle management. Familiarity with the specific challenges and opportunities in the region is highly desirable.

Languages:
Strong written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in Arabic is highly desirable, as it will facilitate communication with local stakeholders and enhance the effectiveness of donor engagement efforts.

Additional Notes:
This role is a 12-month fixed-term contract and reports to the director" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Country Director. The position is based in Port Sudan, with 30% travel to communities in Sudan required. It is a mandatory unaccompanied assignment, and the organization offers support with relocation if necessary. Plan International is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring that its workforce reflects the diversity of the communities it serves. The organization emphasizes a culture of inclusivity and has a strong commitment to safeguarding children and young people, conducting pre-employment checks in accordance with its policies.