Position: Business Development Manager (Program Support)

Reports to: ACAPS Director

Budget responsibility: none; inputs to new budget

Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland, Oslo, Norway, or London, United Kingdom

Travel: Limited

Duration and contract type: 6 months – NRC National contract (possible extension)

Location: Norway / Switzerland / UK only

ACAPS Purpose and project background

ACAPS is dedicated to helping humanitarians make better decisions. We want to put evidence at the heart of decision-making. To achieve this, we collaborate with a variety of partners across the humanitarian sector and beyond. We strive to be an evolving platform providing:

• Independent analysis on complex humanitarian crises to support evidence-based decision making for humanitarian operations.
• Deployment of experts to support assessments and analysis in crisis.
• Innovative approaches to collect more reliable and timely data and conduct rigorous analysis
• Capacity development of humanitarian actors to carry out better needs assessments and analysis.

ACAPS has over the years built up a solid donor base with eight of the major humanitarian donors providing core funding for the organisation. In addition, several donors provide project funding for field projects. The growing number of active projects and the complexity of securing continued, flexible funding necessitates a dedicated business development focal point to ensure the continued financial stability and growth of the project as well as develop and expand new partnerships within ACAPS.

ACAPS, initially hosted by the Norwegian Refugee Council, will soon become an independent entity. The transition is scheduled to take place between January 2024 and December 2025.

Purpose of the position

To be the focal point for business development in ACAPS, managing the current portfolio of grants, including fostering current partnerships with donors and sub-grantees, and contributing towards further development of donor opportunities. The business development manager will work closely with the programmes team to support global teams and hubs to build and expand new partnerships and funding opportunities, as well as contribute to ensure best MEAL practice are embedded into new proposals and across existing projects. This role will also provide management support and guidance to Grants Coordinator(s), who will be the main focal point for donor reporting and grants compliance. Ultimately, the business development manager will be instrumental in communicating essential updates and providing reassurance during the transition process with ACAPS’ existing donors.

Role and responsibilities Funding Strategy (10%)

• Research and stay updated on donor trends and priorities including keeping an overview of potential funding opportunities for ACAPS
• Lead on ACAPS’ overall funding strategy, based on a growing and diversified set of key donors
• Provide guidance and support to Grants Officer(s) to monitor and scan for new funding opportunities including advertised bids

Donor and partnership engagement (40%)

• Provide guidance to the Grants Coordinator(s) for donor communications related to contractual, budget or grant administrative issues, including leading negotiations around project amendments.
• Act as initial focal point for new partnership enquiries made to ACAPS (where relevant/not technical requests) and support HOP to explore external opportunities to expand partnership base
• Actively engage in partnership scoping with hubs/global teams to ensure consistency in approach
• Collaborate with cross-cutting functions to develop thematic donor engagement/partnership/funding priorities for key themes e.g. climate change, anticipatory analysis/action, and protection, and participate in new partner/ donor consultations
• Develop global overview of current partnerships across ACAPS and collate learning/best practices for future reference
• Develop donor relations and share key information with relevant NRC Institutional Partnerships Unit staff to ensure cohesive external communication.
• Participate in key donor meetings, initiate donor contacts, when necessary, to foster long- term collaboration and engagement.
• Lead on the development of ACAPS donor engagement strategy, guiding potential new institutional partnerships.
• Acts as donor liaison point for existing donors, mapping a timeline for key changes and providing information and reassurance throughout the change process.

Programme development (40%)

• Coordinate the ACAPS programme development approach, from concept to contract including input into strategic design of new project approaches.
• Lead the proposal development and programme revision process, overseeing quality assurance of the programme design, including log frames and budgets, adhering to donor policies and securing required internal approvals
• Lead negotiations with partner organizations in the development of joint proposals, providing support to Grants Coordinator(s) for technical review of contractual terms and consortium/sub-grant agreements
• Provide regular, tailored capacity support to hubs and global teams on partnership and funding issues, ensuring a sustainable donor base is maintained
• Support in the scoping and development of new hubs/projects, in collaboration with Rapid Response Manager

Grant Management (5%)

• Conduct final quality control check for external reporting, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality reports which capture progress against indicators and meet donor requirements.
• Provide oversight and advice to the Extended management Team regarding donor compliance and grants management best practice.

MEAL (5%)

• Provide guidance to the Grants Coordinator(s) to ensure that effective reporting system enabling measurement of progress at output and outcome levels is in place for all new projects.
• Support the Grants Coordinator(s) to streamline donor MEAL processes to ensure indicators are consistently tracked across all existing projects.

Critical interfaces

• Closely coordinates, collaborates and supports the ACAPS Finance Unit, Team Leaders, Head of Programme, Head of Support, Communications Unit, Cross-cutting teams, Rapid Response Programme Manager;
• Works closely with the NRC Institutional Partnerships Unit, institutional donors, partner organisations;
• Work closely with various ACAPS departments to ensure MEAL components within proposals are respected and met.

Competencies Professional Competencies

Generic professional competencies

• University degree or equivalent qualification, preferably at master degree level
• Minimum 5 year of work experience from a humanitarian/development organisation and/or from a donor administration, either at Head Office/capital or field/embassy level
• Knowledge of Project Cycle Management, especially of the logical framework approach
• A conscientious and structured person with strong planning skills, including computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, and preferably also Agresso)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and service mindedness
• Fluency in English: excellent written skills are required.

Context related skills, knowledge and experience:

• Prior experience with the following donors is essential: NMFA, Norad, Sida, ECHO, FCDO, DFATD, Danida, AusAID, GFFO, or large international foundations, and philanthropic organisations; experience with other donors is an advantage.

Behavioural Competencies

• Planning and delivering results
• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Strategic and analytical
• Handling insecure environments
• Managing performance and development
• Coping with change
• Empowering and building trust
• Communicating with impact and respect