Business Development Manager

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization advancing children’s rights and equality for girls.

It works with children, young people, communities, supporters and partners to address poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination and to help communities prepare for and respond to crises.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Business Development Manager will lead Plan International Nigeria’s institutional fundraising and business-development work.

The manager will drive donor positioning, identify funding opportunities, manage the country funding pipeline and improve conversion of opportunities into funded programmes.

The position will coordinate proposal development, maintain strategic relationships with donors and partners and ensure business-development activities align with Plan International Nigeria’s country strategy and organizational priorities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

BUSINESS-DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

• Develop and implement business-development strategies aligned with Plan International’s priorities.
• Translate the country strategy into practical institutional-fundraising priorities.
• Monitor funding trends and identify emerging opportunities.
• Provide strategic analysis concerning donor priorities and positioning opportunities.

OPPORTUNITY AND PIPELINE MANAGEMENT

• Identify and track institutional funding opportunities.
• Position Plan International early for suitable opportunities.
• Maintain a robust funding pipeline.
• Conduct donor mapping and opportunity tracking.
• Monitor pipeline progress and improve conversion rates.
• Contribute to increased institutional funding for Plan International Nigeria.

DONOR AND PARTNER ENGAGEMENT

• Build and maintain relationships with institutional donors, partners and other stakeholders.
• Support donor engagement and strategic positioning.
• Develop consortium relationships.
• Lead or support partner negotiations.
• Ensure partnerships comply with organizational principles and requirements.

PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT

• Lead and support development of proposals and concept notes.
• Ensure submissions are technically strong, competitive and donor-compliant.
• Coordinate programme, finance, operations and technical personnel during proposal development.
• Help align technical programme design with realistic budgets.
• Manage multiple proposal processes and meet demanding submission deadlines.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Manage, coach and monitor members of the business-development team.
• Coordinate cross-functional proposal-development teams.
• Strengthen collaboration between programmes, finance, operations and technical functions.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Graduate degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Economics, Business Administration or a related discipline.
• A postgraduate qualification, preferably a master’s degree or higher, is desirable.
• At least seven to eight years of progressive experience in business development, institutional fundraising or partnership development.
• Experience should preferably have been obtained within international development or a related sector.
• At least three years of supervisory or team-leadership experience.
• Demonstrated record of securing institutional funding.
• Experience contributing to successful proposal-development processes.
• Strong understanding of donor landscapes, funding trends and institutional priorities.
• Demonstrated experience in donor engagement, opportunity positioning and pipeline management.
• Experience building consortia, negotiating partnerships and engaging diverse stakeholders.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Institutional fundraising and resource mobilization.
• Donor mapping and analysis.
• Funding-pipeline development and management.
• Proposal and concept-note development.
• Donor-compliance requirements.
• Consortium building and partner negotiation.
• Stakeholder and relationship management.
• Strong financial literacy.
• Ability to connect programme design with budget development.
• Strong analytical and strategic-thinking skills.
• Excellent writing, presentation and communication.
• Team leadership, coaching and performance management.
• Ability to manage multiple processes under tight deadlines.

CONTRACT DETAILS

• Employment type: Fixed-term.
• Duty station: Abuja, Nigeria.
• Working arrangement: Not specified.
• Contract duration: Not specified.
• Reports to: Not specified.
• Salary and benefits: Not specified.
• Number of positions: Not specified.
• Plan International reference: 1422385633.
• Publication date: 3 August 2026.

SAFEGUARDING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Plan International is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. It provides equal opportunities regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital or civil-partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion, belief, sex or sexual orientation.

The organization is committed to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Pre-employment checks will be completed under Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy. Plan International participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and may request information from former employers regarding findings or investigations involving sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment.

Plan International does not request payment during recruitment.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Applicants must apply through Plan International’s official recruitment portal by 13 August 2026.

Applicants must submit:

• Curriculum vitae in English.
• Cover letter in English addressing the position requirements.