Job Vacancy at Action For Ocean (AFO): Director of Partnerships and Fundraising – Dar es Salaam, November 2026

Action For Ocean (AFO) is inviting applications from qualified and experienced professionals for the position of Director of Partnerships and Fundraising.

Job Overview

• Position: Director of Partnerships and Fundraising

• Organization: Action For Ocean (AFO)

• Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

• Department: Business Development and Fundraising

• Reports To: Executive Director and Senior Management Team (SMT)

• Contract Type: Full-Time, renewable based on performance and project continuation

• Application Deadline: 25 November 2026

About Action For Ocean (AFO)

Action For Ocean (AFO) is a marine conservation organization focused on promoting the health and resilience of ocean ecosystems alongside the wellbeing of coastal communities.

Across Tanzania, many people depend on the sea for their food, income and identity. For conservation to be meaningful and lasting, it must recognize and respond to this connection.

AFO integrates sustainable livelihood activities into its conservation work to reduce pressure on marine resources and encourage long-term stewardship. Supporting communities with viable economic alternatives helps foster local ownership of conservation goals and strengthens their capacity to adapt to environmental challenges.

Position Purpose

The Director of Partnerships and Fundraising will lead the execution of AFO’s existing fundraising strategy and established pipeline, turning qualified opportunities into signed funding commitments, cash received and high-value partnerships.

The Director will lead AFO’s resource mobilisation efforts in support of its approximately US$16 million five-year funding ambition.

This is a fundraising and deal-closing role, rather than a strategy-writing role.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Raise and Secure Resources

• Own annual fundraising delivery targets.

• Progress AFO’s existing pipeline from cultivation through asking, negotiation, signed agreements and disbursement.

• Personally lead and close major funding opportunities.

2. Build Donor Relationships

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with foundations, individuals, family offices, companies and institutional funders.

• Secure new, renewed, unrestricted and multi-year support.

• Activate US philanthropy opportunities through AFO’s Myriad USA giving mechanism.

3. Convert Partnerships into Results

• Lead strategic engagement and negotiate partnerships that bring finance, technical capabilities, influence or access.

• Ensure partnerships deliver tangible outputs rather than simply producing agreements without measurable results.

4. Lead Fundraising Execution

• Direct and coach the Business Development and Fundraising Manager.

• Prioritise proposals and investments of staff time.

• Work with programme, Finance and Communications teams to deliver strong, costed funding requests.

5. Manage Funding Intelligence

• Maintain a disciplined fundraising pipeline with named owners, stages, decision dates and next actions.

• Provide monthly forecasts distinguishing prospects, proposals, signed commitments and cash receipts.

6. Protect Quality and Reputation

• Negotiate appropriate cost recovery, delivery commitments and reporting terms.

• Prioritise funders aligned with AFO’s community-led conservation model and long-term sustainability.

7. Enable Executive and Board Fundraising

• Prepare and involve the Executive Director and Board in high-level fundraising tasks and relationship stewardship.

• Ensure reliable follow-up after every engagement.

How Performance Will Be Measured

The successful candidate’s performance will be assessed based on:

• Annual value of new signed funding agreements and cash received against approved targets, including progress towards AFO’s five-year mobilisation goal.

• Conversion of priority pipeline opportunities.

• Size and quality of multi-year and flexible funding secured.

• Number and value of new major donors.

• Donor renewal and retention.

• Value of strategic partnerships.

• Accuracy of fundraising pipeline forecasts.

• Timely execution of agreed next steps.

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must demonstrate the following qualifications and professional experience:

• At least 8 years of experience in fundraising, philanthropy, strategic partnerships or business development, including senior responsibility for revenue/resource mobilisation.

• A verifiable history of personally leading or closing significant grants, major gifts, sponsorships or partnership funding.

• Ability to demonstrate the amounts secured, types of funders, dates and specific personal role in securing the funding.

• Excellent senior-level relationship-building, donor pitching and negotiation skills.

• Strong financial judgement, persuasive writing and management skills.

• Experience with international philanthropy or conservation/development funding.

• Ability to manage cross-functional teams and engage funders globally.

Important: Candidates who have only supported proposal administration without personally leading or closing significant funding opportunities do not meet this requirement.

Application Instructions

Interested and qualified candidates should complete the official application form.

Applicants will be required to upload the following documents and information:

1. Cover letter.

2. Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).

3. Contact details for two professional referees.

Application Form: The application form is linked in the original job description under the word “here”. The destination URL was not visible in the extracted document.

Note: Ensure that your application clearly demonstrates your fundraising achievements, including the funding amounts you have personally secured, the funders involved, dates and your specific contribution.

Source: Action For Ocean (AFO), Director of Partnerships and Fundraising Job Description, November 2026.

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