Lead – Collaboration

Reporting to the Chief Resource Officer, with a matrix reporting to the Head Empowering Grassroots, the Lead Collaboration will be responsible for conceptualizing, developing, and executing Smile Foundations strategic resource mobilization initiatives.

The role will focus on diversifying funding streams with a strong emphasis on institutional donors, both domestic and international, multilateral agencies, corporate and family foundations, UHNIs, and emerging models such as blended finance and innovative funding.

The role involves close collaboration with thematic leads to co-create compelling pitches, proposals, and donor-aligned program designs, while ensuring stewardship, compliance, and high-impact reporting.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Key Job Responsibilities:

(1) Responsible for business development and fundraising for programs from a diverse range of donors. This stream will be continuously evolving and may include, but is not limited to, institutional agencies, multilateral organizations, consulting firms, ESG donors, high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), philanthropists, corporate and family foundations;

(2) Develop and manage relationships with potential funders, including establishing Smile Foundation's presence with large international funders and primary recipients of multilateral organizations. Attend localization seminars and other industry events to position Smile Foundation as a partner of choice;

(3) Identify and track funding prospects as they arise, using appropriate tracking tools such as Salesforce;

(4) Play a key role in developing and maintaining databases of potential funders and partners for business development;

(5) Develop and support both new and existing partnership engagements, including identifying and building relationships with prospective collaborative partners for RFPs;

(6) Oversee and support the development of concept notes and proposals in coordination with program teams;

(7) Develop and maintain key resources to support proposals, including standard documents, databases of activity costs, and other relevant policies;

(8) Represent Smile Foundation at various events and networking forums;

(9) Maintain and update knowledge of programs and service offerings, with well-documented evidence. Prepare periodic project briefs for broader dissemination;

(10) Oversee grant management by ensuring donor due diligence, ongoing engagement, and submission of high-quality reports;

(11) Develop the Annual Business Plan and ensure its effective implementation and achievement.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

Qualification and Experience:

(1) Post-graduate qualification in Business Development/Management with demonstrable experience of fundraising;

(2)Minimum of 1015 years of experience in fundraising with Institutional Donors;

(3) Experience of submitting proposals/ pitches to USAID/ European Union/ Co-Impact/ ADB/ SIDA or similar donors shall be an advantage;

(4) Established industry connections with institutional donors, corporate foundations, family foundations and other new and innovative sources of funding.

Skills and Competencies:

(1) Persuasive Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills; presents as persuasive, credible, and polished, with excellent interpersonal skills:

(2) Creates External Strategic Alliances: Develops and leverages collaborative relationships to support the achievement of work goals;

(3) Contributes to Team Performance: Actively participates as an engaged and integral member of the team, showing empathy, collaboration, respect, and a commitment to consensual decision-making;

(4) Negotiation: Effectively explores alternatives and positions to reach mutually acceptable outcomes that gain support from all parties involved;

(5) Creates Internal Partnerships: Works to achieve business objectives by building and strengthening strategic relationships across teams, departments, units, and organizations;

(6) Effective Presentations: Delivers well-prepared presentations, using nonverbal communication and visual aids effectively, and tailors content to suit the specific needs and characteristics of the audience;

(7) Decision Making: Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; compares data from different sources to draw logical conclusions; chooses appropriate courses of action based on available facts, constraints, and potential consequences;

(8) Proposal Development: Proven ability in the proposal development process, including financial proposals;

(9) Strategic Writing: Excellent writing skills for formulating fundraising strategies, Logical Frameworks, and Theories of Change;

(10) Willingness to Travel: Open to travel for building relationships and exploring partnership opportunities.