Business Development Manager at Plan International

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide strategic direction in the evolving funding landscape, lead the 2027–2032 Resource Mobilization Strategy, build values-based partnerships, represent in coordination forums, contribute to country leadership, and ensure accountability through Plan International Kenya (PIK) Board reporting and Youth Advisory Panel engagement.
• Lead donor and partner cultivation, build a diversified funding pipeline, and guide evidence-based “go/no-go” decisions. The role drives responsible private sector engagement, pursues innovative finance (blended, climate, outcomes-based), strengthens humanitarian mechanisms, builds competitive consortia with diverse actors, and expands local fundraising through Kenyan corporates, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals.
• Drive PIK’s funding and partnership agenda by cultivating diverse donor relationships, building a balanced pipeline across grants, contracts, humanitarian and local sources, and guiding evidence-based investment decisions. Lead responsible private sector engagement, pursue innovative finance (blended, climate, outcomes-based), strengthen humanitarian programming, build competitive consortia with civil society and private actors, and expand local fundraising through Kenyan corporates, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals.
• Secure and shape PIK’s funding portfolio by leading capture planning, overseeing high-quality proposal development, and ensure strong theories of change with integrated gender, inclusion, safeguarding, MEL, and risk management. Facilitate co-creation with donors and partners, prepare compelling value-for-money narratives and budgets, and implement rigorous quality assurance across bids, budgets, and compliance to maximize competitiveness and sustainability.
• Build and sustain a high-performing business development function: lead and mentor the BD team, strengthen systems and tools, and expand country-wide capability in future-facing funding modalities. Drive continuous learning from bids to improve competitiveness, ensure smooth transitions from pre-award to post-award, and embed strong processes for pipeline tracking, partner frameworks, and compliance to maximize funding success and organizational resilience.
• Accountable for fundraising targets, transparent reporting, donor engagement, timely compliant proposals, after-action reviews, and performance of the BD team.
• Plan International has a robust global policy for Safeguarding and PII policy for Preventing Sexual Harassment Exploitation and Abuse; and Gender Equality and Inclusion principles and Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to your area of responsibility. You will therefore have a responsibility to adhere and enforce adherence of staff and associates within your sphere of responsibility.
• You will be trusted to take on additional assignments within the scope of work as assigned by your supervisor on need basis.

What we are looking for:

• Someone with Master’s degree in International Development, business, economics, public policy, or related field (or equivalent professional experience).
• 10+ years of experience in business development / resource mobilization including successful leadership of complex bids and partnership negotiations for development and humanitarian opportunities.
• Demonstrate success in securing funding from multiple and diverse funding sources such as grants, private sector, commercial contracts, impact investment, innovative finance, and local fundraising.
• Someone with digital fluency with BD systems (pipeline), advanced Excel (including development and review of complex, cost-competitive budgets), collaboration platforms, responsible use of approved AI tools, and PowerPoint and other visual tools.
• Proven experience building and leading high-performing teams, setting clear objectives, coaching and developing talent, and creating accountability to deliver results in fast-paced environments.
• Experience working in Kenya and/or similar contexts; knowledge of key donor landscapes and compliance expectations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.