Senior Donor Engagement & Relationship Manager

Senior Donor Engagement & Relationship Manager

Description

iDE has been in Nepal since 1992, developing market systems that provide simple innovations to help rural communities get out of poverty. Our long-standing presence in Nepal is a testimony to adaptive learning, continual innovation, and commitment to delivering meaningful impact. From the germination of an idea, through research, piloting, and its evolution into impactful and scalable solutions, iDE possesses an unparalleled understanding of Nepal’s market dynamics. This deep insight has enabled us to diagnose critical value chain bottlenecks, paving the way for strategic interventions that open doors of opportunity for the marginalized.

iDE Nepal’s holistic approach to market development is what truly sets us apart. In addition to identifying market opportunities for marginalized populations, we nurture them from seed to fruition. We work hand-in-hand with the private sector, forge partnerships with governments at every administrative level, collaborate with global development partners, and most crucially, have earned the trust and partnership of the rural communities we serve. Our expansive reach, covering all seven provinces, and our continued efforts towards inclusive and resilient market development, stand testament to iDE Nepal’s unwavering commitment to making a difference—one innovation at a time.

Requirements

The Role Overview:

We are seeking an experienced, strategic, and entrepreneurial Business Development Manager who has the ability to act as an ambassador and develop relationships for iDE externally, is commercially savvy and able to establish and work within effective proposal teams, and can inspire and build the capacity of our country office teams. We are looking for someone driven by the impact of the work you support iDE to fund and will be motivated to explore new avenues and areas for business development, including expansion into new sectors. We are looking for someone aligned with iDE’s ethos and who is a creative and engaged team player. We need a skilled communicator able to interact cross-culturally, as well as across multiple departments. The position will contribute to capacitate iDE Nepal for their outreach to donor communities, enhance their planning and budgeting, and improve their proposal writing skills.

Donor Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with current and potential donors ensuring continuity in funding and partnerships
• Represent iDE in donor meetings, networking events, and key forums
• Promote innovative approaches and best practices in development work, ensuring that iDE Nepal remains at the forefront of relevant trends in the sector
• Advocate iDE needs and priorities within relevant networks and forums at the national and international levels
• Act as the primary liaison between iDE Nepal and external donors, international development agencies and private sector partners
• Engage with donors to understand their priorities and expectations, ensuring alignment with iDE Nepal’s strategic goals
• Develop and maintain partnerships with other organisations, NGOs, and stakeholders both local and international, to enhance the resources and support available to iDE Nepal.

Business Development & Fundraising

• Conduct research and analysis to identify emerging trends and opportunities in the development sector, and share findings with iDE to inform their programming decisions
• Identify suitable funding opportunities from both bilateral and multilateral donors, international development agencies and private sector stakeholders
• Assist iDE Nepal in designing and implementing strategies for community engagement and participation, including methods for soliciting feedback and incorporating local perspectives into project design and implementation
• Lead the development and submission of high-quality proposals and grant applications, ensuring alignment with iDE Nepal’s goals and donor requirements.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to design and implement fundraising strategies, diversifying iDE Nepal’s funding base
• Work closely with the Country Director to define and refine the business development strategy for iDE Nepal.

Capacity Building and Mentorship

• Provide technical assistance and mentorship to iDE Nepal staff, particularly in areas such as organizational capacity, developing fundraising strategies and proposals, including identifying potential donors, drafting grant applications and building relationships with funding agencies
• Ensure iDE Nepal staff captures and implements innovative approaches and best practices in their development projects
• Support the senior management team in strengthening the capacity of the organization, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Research & Analysis

• Conduct research and analysis to identify emerging trends, opportunities and strategic shifts in the development sector
• Share key insights and recommendations with the senior leadership team to inform strategic decisions and programmatic direction.

Community Engagement & Program Design

• Support the development of community engagement strategies for new and ongoing projects, ensuring alignment with donor expectations and local needs
• Provide guidance on incorporating local perspectives into project design and implementation.
• We are looking for individuals who not only resonate with iDE’s core values and passion but are also deeply committed to our mission. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership qualities coupled with exceptional critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Their ability to collaborate and exert influence, paired with adaptability and agility, will be crucial. An entrepreneurial spirit, excellent communication skills in both oral and written English, and an ability for assessing and analyzing information are essential. We seek someone with the capacity to lead, motivate, and inspire teams, driving them toward unparalleled success.

Qualifications:

• Masters or above degree in International Development, Business, Finance, Management, Agriculture/Agri-business or related field or equivalent experience
  7+ years experience leading and managing complex development programs and multi-disciplinary teams
• Multi-sectoral background with technical expertise in climate resilience, agriculture, WASH, public health, and Inclusion & Belonging
• Project design experience and understanding of monitoring and evaluation
• Experience designing project budgets
• Required bilingual, with an English proficiency
• Fluency in languages spoken by other iDE country offices and by our donors and partners is an asset, such as Nepalese, Bangli, Khmer, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Spanish, Amharic, etc.

Essential Skills

• Proven success record in resource mobilization with bilateral and multilateral donors
• Experience building capacity of country teams in business development and resource mobilization
• Skilled in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Suite. Experience with Salesforce is essential
• Excellent technical writing, editing and formatting skills
• Self-motivated and able to work with minimal guidance
• Highly organized and capable of multitasking
• Experience working in fast-paced environments
• Ability to prioritize and consistently meet deadlines
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Positive attitude and agility
• Skilled facilitator with excellent verbal, intercultural and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong team skills and ability to work collaboratively with culturally diverse team members in a multilingual environment.

Benefits

As per the iDE norms.

Interested and qualifying applicants can submit their application Letter and CV in English, with both phone and email contact details of at least 3 professional references to the following email ID nepal-recruitment@ideglobal.org by July 1, 2025.

iDE Nepal is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and Members of Disadvantaged Caste, Ethnic and Religious Groups are Strongly Encouraged to Apply.