Head – Resource Mobilization and Partnerships

Job Title: Head – Resource Mobilization and Partnerships

Location: Sri Lanka

Contract Duration: Full time (3 year contract)

Reports to: Director of Business Strategy and Delivery

DRS is seeking a Head of Resource Mobilization and Partnership s for an INGO. This role involves leading the development and implementation of business development and resource mobilization strategies, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and streamlining processes to improve funding opportunities. Responsibilities include managing the identification of funding prospects, developing high-quality proposals, analyzing market intelligence, and cultivating strategic partnerships with donors, partners, and stakeholders.

Main Purpose of Job:

• Manage the preparation of concept notes, expressions of interest, and formal proposals, collaborating with teams to ensure timely and high-quality outputs.
• Lead the development, coordination, and implementation of business development, resource mobilization, and partnership strategies, aligning them with organizational goals and objectives.
• Develop, refine, implement, and enforce policies, guidelines, processes, standards, and templates to increase efficiency and quality in business development and funding opportunities.
• Innovate and adapt business development and funding tools, systems, structures, and processes to improve intelligence gathering and decision-making for funding opportunities.
• Oversee and manage the identification of funding opportunities from both traditional and innovative sources, ensuring effective donor engagement and relationship management.
• Research and analyze market intelligence on donor and investor strategies, priorities, and stakeholders to identify new funding opportunities that align with organizational goals.

Main engagement, collaboration, and communication responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the unit/team by coaching and guiding staff, conducting performance reviews, and offering learning opportunities to cultivate a respectful and high-performing work environment.
• Advise and guide internal stakeholders on donor/investor strategies and engagement opportunities to align with the organization's strategy and enhance business development efforts.
• Oversee guidance provided to research teams throughout the proposal development and submission process, ensuring alignment with donor expectations and organizational standards.
• Cultivate and nurture strategic partnerships with donors, partners, and stakeholders to enhance the organization’s visibility and expand its funding opportunities.
• Represent the organization in high-level meetings with donors, national authorities, and partner organizations to advocate for its mission, build networks, and identify new opportunities.

Main responsibilities in the delivery of timely and quality services:

• Oversee the dissemination of funding prospect knowledge to enable early identification of opportunities and ensure proposals are submitted within deadlines.
• Develop and monitor team workplans and budgets to ensure activities are executed on schedule and within allocated resources.
• Manage, write, coordinate, and oversee the creation of viable and impactful funding concept notes and proposals aligned with organizational strategy, incorporating log frames, Theories of Change, and Monitoring and Evaluation frameworks.
• Lead the development and implementation of a business development and proposal management system that enables data-driven insights and informed decision-making.
• Conduct financial analysis, cost-benefit assessments, and revenue forecasting for business development initiatives and existing programs, tracking key performance metrics to evaluate effectiveness.

REQUIREMENTS Education / Certifications / Training

• Relevant Master’s degree in management, international development/relations, or a discipline relevant to the organization’s mandate.

Experience

• At least 10 years of experience in Resource Mobilization & Partnerships.
• Experience leading business development/resource management opportunities resulting in the expansion of funders and longer-term funding.
• Hands-on experience analyzing donor priorities, managing engagement strategies, and identifying funding opportunities through detailed market research.
• Experience managing a team, creating a collaborative environment (including remote team management).
• Experience fostering strategic partnerships with donors, investors, and national authorities to sustain funding growth.
• Superior proposal development and writing skills, ideally targeting opportunities in Africa, Asia, or the MENA region.
• Experience working at an international level and with a variety of international funding agencies.
• Experience in the water resources management sector or natural resources sector is an advantage.

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities) Core competencies

• Accountability: Takes accountability for actions and their impact on organizational success, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery of outcomes; shapes organizational policies to uphold and reflect high ethical standards.
• Collaboration and Communication: Expresses ideas clearly and confidently, tailoring messages to the audience, adapting responses based on cues to ensure mutual understanding; promotes dialogue and shared understanding in discussions; encourages cross-functional collaboration in shaping plans and decisions.
• Respect and Inclusion: Builds a positive, inclusive work environment through proactive communication and cultural sensitivity; leads initiatives to enhance diversity and inclusion; fosters healthy relationships and maintains perspective in challenging situations.
• Results and Impact Orientation: Establishes high performance standards and commits to quality, excellence, and continuous learning; develops, plans, and implements strategies, sets realistic goals, and leads cross-functional teams to achieve organizational objectives.

Functional and Technical competencies

• Analytical, Critical, and Systems Thinking: Delivers strategic recommendations, applies systems thinking to foster innovation and adaptability, and integrates complex interconnections across functions and programs.
• Knowledge Management: Fosters a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous learning; leads knowledge management initiatives; measures and evaluates their impact on organizational performance.
• Data Analysis, Management, and Visualization: Anticipates data needs for decision-making, uses impactful visualizations for informed decisions, and collaborates to optimize data processes.
• Influence and Negotiation: Balances patience and decisiveness in negotiations, adapts approach to achieve successful outcomes, demonstrates objectivity, and practices active listening to resolve differences constructively.
• Resource Mobilization: Develops and implements strategic resource mobilization plans, negotiates and secures long-term partnerships, and uses data-driven strategies to forecast and meet goals aligned with organizational priorities.

Managerial and Leadership Competencies Managing Team Dynamics

• Uses emotional intelligence to build trust and positive relationships with team members and stakeholders, handling challenges with empathy.
• Mentors and supports colleagues by fostering a safe space for learning and providing constructive feedback to support their professional development.
• Encourages and promotes personal and team responsibility for well-being, health, and safety in the workplace; inspires proactive action to ensure safe and inclusive practices.

Strategic Leadership

• Builds trust and respect by actively engaging with stakeholders, assessing and responding to their needs, keeping them informed of decisions and developments, and driving collaborative efforts.
• Leads and supports change initiatives by inspiring adaptability, guiding teams, and addressing barriers; monitors progress and uses proactive consultation and engagement approaches.
• Anticipates and evaluates risks within the team or function, ensuring alignment with business goals, and implements proactive risk mitigation strategies.
• Demonstrates commitment to the organization’s vision and mission by aligning contributions with organizational goals and balancing short- and long-term objectives in decision-making.

Languages

• Fluency in English is essential for both written and spoken communication.