THE ORGANISATION
Founded in 1937, Plan International, Inc. (“PII”) is a globally recognized non-profit dedicated to advancing children’s rights and gender equality in both humanitarian and development contexts. With over 80 years of experience, Plan International addresses the root causes of challenges faced by girls and vulnerable children, working in 70+ countries. The organization collaborates with children, young people, supporters, and partners to create a just world, acknowledging that the potential of every child is often hindered by poverty, violence, exclusion, disasters, and discrimination.
ABOUT PLAN INTERNATIONAL KENYA
Plan International Kenya (PIK), operational since 1982, focuses on long-term development. Collaborating closely with local communities and governments, PIK implements programs to enhance the well-being of children in areas such as Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Tharaka-Nithi, Siaya, Kwale, Kilifi, Homa Bay, Kisumu, Tana River, Turkana, and Marsabit.
Under the current Country Strategy (July 2021 – June 2026), PIK aims to end teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence against girls. This goal aligns with four strategic objectives:
1. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR): Improve access to SRHR services and information to reduce teenage pregnancies and harmful practices in Kenya.
2. Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence: Ensure functional child and girls’ rights protection mechanisms to prevent and respond to all forms of violence and abuse.
3. Protecting Girls and Young Women in Crisis and Climate Change Adaptation: Minimize the impact of disasters on girls, young women, families, and communities.
4. Youth-led and Innovative Partnerships for Job Creation: Build a stronger ecosystem for youth employment and entrepreneurship, particularly for vulnerable young women, fostering job seekers and creators.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Plan Kenya’s redefined strategy represents a strategic shift in focus; the Business Development Manager leads in ensuring optimal resourcing of the strategy and is responsible for identifying multiple and diverse sources of funding locally and internationally. As a member of the Plan Kenya extended Country Management Team, the Business Development Manager will help formulate, review and revise country business plans, as well as organisational strategies and priorities. S/he leads in the development of new business opportunities in order to generate resources for programme development. S/he will develop and/or review and steward the implementation of the Resource Mobilisation Strategy and ensure PIK’s strategic positioning with Plan International National Offices, partners and donors and maximise opportunities in line with the country strategy. S/he will represent Plan International Kenya at relevant forums and networks whenever appropriate as well and collaborate with colleagues to foster innovation and new product development for resourcing. The position holder will stay abreast of international development policies and best practices with particular attention to issues pertaining to climate change, gender equality, children and young people. S/he will work closely with the Director of Program Design and Business Development in identifying, nurturing and strengthening strategic partnerships with donors so as to advance our purpose in Kenya through resourcing of our Country Strategy.
ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MAIN WORK ACTIVITIES
1. Strategic Leadership (15%)
• Provide leadership in the design and implementation of the Resource Mobilisation strategy and drive the delivery of related key performance indicators;
• Provide overall strategic Business Development oversight in aligning Plan Kenya’s Grants Funding Portfolio with programmes based on the Global Strategy and Plan Kenya’s five-year strategy (FY2022-FY2026);
• Develop briefings to the Country Director and/or Country leadership team on potential business opportunities and with a view to making informed decisions on “go: no go” and briefings on resource mobilisation efforts;
• Lead the review and implementation of the Business Development strategy, with a strong focus on funding diversification and priorities in line with the Country Strategy through regular and clear engagements with relevant parties;
2. Strategic Engagement and Prepositioning with in-country Private Sector Companies, Corporate & Philanthropic Foundations for purposes of Resource Mobilisation (20%)
• Lead the phased roll out of the Local Fundraising Strategy with a priority focus on Corporates and Corporate Foundations.
• Develop, in collaboration with the Technical Leads business cases and funding propositions to private sector
• Engage selected private sector companies for relationship building and BD pursuits and target to have engagement MoUs with at least 3 for FY25
• Support the Director of Program Design and Business Development and the team in strategic partnerships engagement targeted at prepositioning PIK as a GO-TO Agency for the Private Sector in Girl child and youth focused programming (Child Protection, Health -SRHR, Resilience and Youth Employability & Entrepreneurship).
• Manage end-to – end business development processes (mapping, pitching ideas, bid development and project start up) for Private Sector Companies, Major Donors, Corporate and Philanthropic and other non-institutional funders.
3. Delivering a Healthy Funding Pipeline (20%)
• Explore and diversify new business opportunities from institutional donors, corporates, and non-institutional donors by conducting donor analysis needed for business plan and contribute to Plan Kenya’s growth in line with the Country strategic plan;
• Develop, review and regularly update Plan Kenya’s institutional donor opportunities and non-institutional donors mapping by theme, geographical coverage and priorities;
• Work closely with relevant staff members in in the field and engage with the donors to further explore and negotiate on grants funding opportunities;
• Lead the Country office in making informed decisions on ‘go’ or ‘no-go’ for emerging funding opportunities, as part of PIK Bid Pursuit and Capture Processes;
• Drive the diversification of PIK’s funding portfolio whilst ensuring alignment with PIK’s five-year strategy.
• Create and sustain relationships building and engagement all mapped NOs for entry into their markets for Mission Driven Private Sector Engagement supported by Products, Business Cases, Ideation and Co-creation mechanisms
• Provide strategic blueprint for the development and implementation of partnerships with potential donors
• Engage in and lead high-level representational role with the government, donors, partners and other stakeholders for overall organizational growth and sustainability;
• Develop and maintain high quality working relationships with donors and counterparts from different parts of Plan and its partner organizations;
4. Bid Development (20%)
• Play a coordinating role for the design of the Expression of Interests, concept notes and/or proposals as necessary, based on agreed actions with key stakeholders, including Plan Kenya Country Management Team, donors, Plan National offices,
• Collaborate and participate in new programme development initiatives in collaboration with the Program development directorate and support readiness for market;
• Provide strategic leadership to Senior Business Development Coordinators in development of concept notes and some full proposals based on capabilities and agreed actions and increase conversion rates through adoption of smart techniques that assure quality, strategic partnerships, positioning, etc.;
• Lead in the development, writing and packaging of successful grant applications in different stages of grants development process, as necessary;
• Ensure the implementation of relevant business development business processes to ensure streamlined bid development processes, including identifying related process gaps and mitigating accordingly;
• Contribute to institutional learning by thoroughly documenting and sharing practices and sharing fitting practices on bid management, including leading on learnings from bids won and/or lost;
5. Capability Building and People Management (5%)
• Provide overall vision, direction and coaching to the Business Development Team and enable collaboration, coordination, planning, prioritization;
• Ensure the Business Development team is operating as a high-performing team and have clear accountability lines and Business processes;
• Conduct performance management processes of direct reports on a continuous basis;
• Model our value-based leadership framework underpinned by our feminist leadership principles;
• In collaboration with other members of CMT and Technical team develop and implement initiatives/programs that enhance internal capacity to generate new business at both country office and field level.
6. Financial Responsibility (5%)
• Contribute to the coordination in the BD departmental budget preparation, consolidation, analysis and timely submission
• Actively participate in new grants inception/launch and closeout workshops/meetings.
• Provide support for timely project expenditures that are aligned to the budget (within permissible variance limits) and participate in budget reforecasting and reallocation exercises as required.
7. Supporting YODA roll out (5%)
• Actively participate in and support the roll out of YODA
• Exercise oversight over YODA specific functions which include but are not limited to; creation of projects and grants in D365; tracking the funding gap in D365, generating grant reports and supporting the D365-PMERL integration for projects and grants.
• Any other responsibilities that may emerge after full rollover to YODA
8. Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) 5%
• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Leads the orientation of programme staff to ensure that they are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;
• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work of Programme Strategy, development and Innovation department;
• Ensures that Plan Kenya contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.
Other duties (5%)
Any other duties as assigned by the line manager
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES
• Courageous, taking a lead, challenging self and others to achieve purpose, safeguard others and role model values, inside and outside work. Responsible for my work and learning, striving to improve. Self-aware, resilient and constructive in embracing change. Striving to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. Challenging myself to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative;
• Creating a climate of trust inside and outside the organisation by being open, honest and transparent. Holding myself and others to account for decisions and impact on others. Doing what I say I will do. Working effectively with others, inside and outside the organisation, including sponsors and donors. Actively supporting colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals. Coming together with others to create and implement solutions in teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities and our partners;
• Respecting all people, appreciating differences and challenging inequality in programmes and the workplace. Supporting children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. Empowering other staff to give their best and develop their potential;
• Understanding Plan International’s purpose, priorities, values and approaches in our work context. Adhering to relevant policies, processes, practices and standards, and being pro-active in continuing technical and professional development.
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES
• Understands relevant sectoral context including how the sector operates in terms of funding and governance and awareness of Plan’s purpose, values, and global strategy.
• Manages legal and reputational risk including risk assessment, communication, risk management and reporting in full compliance with risk-related standards, including in areas such as Child and Youth Safeguarding and Protection, Gender equality and inclusion, Counter Fraud, Safety and Security.
• Managing activities and resources including skills in strategic thinking, planning and organising, financial planning and monitoring, negotiation and programme and project management.
• Managing people and information including skills in assessment and coaching, evidence-based management, communication skills, both speaking and writing, and digital working, including personal digital skills.
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
Qualifications/ experience essential:
• A Degree in International Relations, Development studies or similar relevant to the position;
• 7 years of relevant experience especially in the INGO Sector with at least 3-5 in Business Development within the INGO or the Private sector;
• 3 Years in a leadership/managerial role.
• Demonstrated track record of proposal writing with a proven fundraising record;
• Proven experience and ability to collaborate with different donors, governments and the private sector;
• Demonstrable working experience in programme design and development; experience in Plan International’s areas of programming preferred;
• Knowledge of developmental agendas in complex and protracted development and humanitarian landscape with pertinent pitch capabilities;
• Experience in funding within this context would be an added advantage
• Ability to communicate effectively and authoritatively on area of expertise, and influence others to reach common goals;
• Experience in leading team, coaching and mentoring, especially managing a large team.
• Demonstrable at influencing stakeholders and consensus building.
Languages required
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Reports to: Business Development Manager
Closing Date: 8th April 2024
Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.
We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.
We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.
Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.
A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.
Disclaimer: Plan International is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate applicants on any basis. We also do not charge Job seekers any fees at any point of the recruitment process.
Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply for this position.
More Information
- Job City Nairobi
