Business Development & Partnerships Associate at HIAS Refugee Trust of Kenya

POSITION SUMMARY:

HIAS Kenya seeks to recruit a Business Development and Partnerships Associate to support the Country Office in its resource mobilization, communications, advocacy, and partnership activities. The Associate will assist in mapping potential donors and partners, coordinating and preparing proposals, drafting and distributing newsletters and donor reports, and sharing success stories to highlight program impact. This role provides operational and administrative support to ensure timely and effective resource mobilization processes, strengthen donor engagement, and enhance HIAS Kenya’s visibility and strategic partnerships.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Resource Mobilization

• Coordinate donor mapping exercises and implement strategies to secure resources for HIAS Kenya programs.
• Review donor agreements before signing.
• Be the focal person for Grants Management System (GMS) in the country office.
• Manage proposal development processes, including timelines, task lists, and coordination across program teams.
• Draft and edit donor-facing materials such as letters of interest (LOIs), concept notes, capacity statements, and technical narratives.
• Conduct research on potential funding opportunities, summarize findings, and present recommendations to program teams and senior management.
• Coordinate donor feedback and debriefs, ensuring lessons learned are integrated into future submissions.

Communications and Advocacy

• Develop and distribute donor newsletters, success stories, and other communication materials highlighting program impact.
• Coordinate donor reporting, ensuring timely and accurate submission of progress reports and updates.
• Maintain and update donor management databases to support efficient communication and reporting processes.
• Support donor site visits and engagement activities, including preparing materials and managing logistics.
• Collaborate with HQ and program teams to align communication strategies with recource mobilization and advocacy efforts.

Partnerships

• Identify and map potential international and local partners (NGOs, academia, CBOs, FBOs, etc.) for collaboration and inclusion in proposals.
• Draft MOUs with partners and conduct due diligence.
• Maintain a database of partnerships and track engagement opportunities to strengthen relationships.
• Coordinate joint initiatives with partners to enhance resource mobilization and program impact.
• Facilitate networking and stakeholder engagement activities to expand HIAS Kenya’s strategic alliances.
• Support portfolio diversification by tracking resource mobilization opportunities from donors.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in communication, Media Studies, International Relations, or a related field, preferably with a focus on international development.
• 1–2 years of professional experience in resource mobilization, communications/advocacy, and donor engagement within the humanitarian and/or human rights sector.
• Proven experience in grant writing, proposal development, and donor communications.
• Familiarity with institutional donors, corporate partners, private foundations, and non-traditional sources is an advantage.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of supporting successful proposal submissions.
• Skilled in researching and summarizing potential funding opportunities to inform program and fundraising strategies.
• Able to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 and experienced with Salesforce or similar donor/database management systems.
• Knowledge of the Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) framework.
• Awareness of Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Anti-Fraud principles.