Website Plan International
Plan International
Head of Business Development
Plan International
Location
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Reports To
Country Director
Grade
17
Application Deadline
21 June 2026
About Plan International
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization dedicated to advancing children’s rights and gender equality, particularly for girls. For more than 85 years, the organization has worked alongside children, young people, communities, supporters, and partners to tackle poverty, violence, exclusion, and discrimination.
Operating in over 80 countries, Plan International strives to create a just world where all children can reach their full potential.
Organizational Goal
“We won’t stop until we are all equal.”
Role Purpose
The Head of Business Development will lead and transform Plan International Tanzania’s resource mobilization function to achieve sustainable, diversified, and strategic income growth aligned with the Country Strategy.
The role goes beyond traditional fundraising by positioning Plan International Tanzania as a preferred partner in:
- Children’s rights advocacy
- Gender equality
- Girls’ rights
- Youth empowerment
The successful candidate will help the organization respond to a changing donor landscape by expanding funding sources, strengthening partnerships, and introducing innovative financing approaches.
Strategic Responsibilities
The role will focus on:
Resource Mobilization
- Expanding institutional donor funding.
- Growing corporate partnerships.
- Increasing access to foundation funding.
- Exploring innovative financing opportunities.
Partnership Development
- Building strategic partnerships.
- Leading consortium development and engagement.
- Strengthening collaboration with key stakeholders.
Proposal Development
- Leading competitive proposal development processes.
- Ensuring high-quality and winning submissions.
- Coordinating cross-functional proposal teams.
Systems Change & Localization
- Embedding localization approaches into programming.
- Promoting influencing and advocacy strategies.
- Supporting long-term sustainable development outcomes.
Financial Sustainability
- Identifying alternative funding mechanisms.
- Exploring climate finance opportunities.
- Pursuing blended finance initiatives.
- Reducing dependence on traditional donor funding.
Role Dimensions
The Head of Business Development will:
- Lead the Business Development Unit.
- Oversee end-to-end resource mobilization processes.
- Deliver annual and multi-year fundraising targets.
- Diversify funding portfolios.
- Lead donor engagement and positioning efforts.
- Oversee funding pipelines and forecasting.
- Ensure compliance and cost recovery mechanisms.
- Collaborate across programmes, finance, influencing teams, and global Plan International networks.
- Ensure implementation and review of Partnership Strategy processes.
Required Qualifications
Education
Master’s Degree in one of the following areas:
- International Development
- Business Administration
- Economics
- Marketing
- Related field
Experience Requirements
Essential
- Minimum 10 years’ experience in resource mobilization and business development.
- Proven success securing large-scale institutional funding.
- Strong experience leading teams and managing complex funding portfolios.
- Demonstrated experience developing strategic donor relationships.
Desirable
- Private sector engagement experience.
- Innovative financing experience.
- Climate finance and blended finance exposure.
Critical Business Management Competencies
Funding Landscape Expertise
- Deep understanding of global donor trends.
- Strong knowledge of Tanzania’s funding environment.
Financial Management
- Budgeting
- Forecasting
- Cost recovery management
- Financial analysis
Strategic Analysis
- Market intelligence gathering.
- Opportunity assessment.
- Evidence-based decision-making.
Communication Skills
- Exceptional proposal and report-writing skills.
- Ability to influence diverse audiences.
- Strong presentation and negotiation capabilities.
Relationship Management
- Outstanding interpersonal skills.
- Ability to build partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
- Experience managing competing interests and resolving conflicts.
Digital Competence
- Experience using digital tools and data analytics for business development and fundraising.
Critical Technical Competencies
Candidates should demonstrate expertise in:
Resource Mobilization
- Donor engagement and stewardship.
- Institutional fundraising.
- Partnership development.
Proposal Development
- Designing competitive funding proposals.
- Coordinating proposal development teams.
- Managing proposal submission processes.
Grants Management
- Donor contract management.
- Compliance monitoring.
- Reporting requirements management.
Donor Knowledge
Strong familiarity with:
- Bilateral donors
- Multilateral donors
- International foundations
- Government funding agencies
- Private foundations
Matrix Management
- Experience influencing teams without direct authority.
- Ability to coordinate cross-functional stakeholders.
- Strong collaboration and leadership skills.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will be a strategic leader who can:
- Secure major institutional funding opportunities.
- Build and maintain high-level donor relationships.
- Lead business development teams effectively.
- Navigate a rapidly changing donor environment.
- Drive innovation in fundraising and partnerships.
- Position Plan International Tanzania as a leading development partner.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Plan International is committed to:
- Equal opportunities for all applicants.
- Diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
- Gender equality and girls’ rights.
- Racial justice and social inclusion.
Applications are welcomed regardless of:
- Age
- Disability
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
- Marital status
- Pregnancy or maternity status
Safeguarding Commitment
Plan International is committed to protecting children and young people from harm.
All successful candidates will undergo safeguarding and pre-employment screening, including:
- Reference checks
- Employment history verification
- Safeguarding assessments
- Misconduct disclosure checks in accordance with the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme
Important Notice
Plan International does not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process. Any unsolicited request for payment should be treated as fraudulent.
Position: Head of Business Development
Organization: Plan International
Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Reporting To: Country Director
Grade: 17
Application Deadline: 21 June 2026
How to Apply:
To submit your application, please follow the link provided below.
To apply for this job please visit jobs.plan-international.org.