Business Pursuit Lead - Nigeria at VSO

Team: VSO Global Business Pursuit Team
Responsible to: Global Head of Business Pursuit
Work Location: Home, VSO office or registered work location.
Line Reports/Supervision: No direct line management responsibility
Contract type: 3yrs. Fixed term Contract
Date: TBC

Role Purpose

• As a Business Pursuit Lead, you will be responsible for growing VSO’s ability to deliver impact and influence through volunteering for development by securing funding for projects in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the Sahel.
• The primary focus for this role is to pursue new opportunities for VSO work in Nigeria (80%). As part of the global business pursuit team, you will also from time to time contribute to the pursuit and development of opportunities in other countries.

Responsibilities

• Achieve ambitious annual business pursuit targets (£3m+) working with institutional donors, foundations, corporations and implementing partners to enable VSO to scale its programmes and impact in Nigeria by securing large grants and contracts.
• Proactively lead the development, positioning and deepening of relationships with VSO strategic and key donors (to include; UK FCDO, USAID, World Bank, EU, UN, German GIZ & KfW, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dutch MoFA, GAVI, Global Fund) in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Sahel.
• Proactively lead the development and deepening of VSO’s relationships with key partners and networks (government agencies, INGOs, Local Nongovernmental Organizations, the private sector and others to secure funding and raise the profile of VSO in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Sahel.
• Represent VSO externally and internally, in line with our organisational mission through evidence-based pre-positioning, influencing, partnership and consortium building and policy dialogue.
• Develop a deep understanding of VSO’s Practice Areas and local programmes in Nigeria, and across VSO’s global operations to be able to talk persuasively with external donors and partners about VSO’s track-record and impact from our volunteering for development approach in contextually relevant ways.

Collaboration:

• Ensure alignment of income growth activity with programme strategy and to agree VSO internal and external messaging with other members of the Business Pursuit team and Business Pursuit network.
• Identify new programme opportunities, cultivate donor/partner relationships and secure major new funding in line with direction from VSO’s Practice Area and Volunteering for Development Engagement and Leadership leads.
• Share learning from donor relationships with Project Implementation Leadership and teams
• Contribute to the development of a positive VSO workplace culture, identifying opportunities for collaboration and sharing knowledge with the implementation teams in Nigeria
• Compliance with relevant regulatory, data sharing and due diligence requirements working with People, Compliance and Legal colleagues
• Contribute senior leadership or accompaniment to in country implementation team in the management of incidents to assist with compliance and reputational perspectives.

Qualification and Experience

• Significant business pursuit experience with a proven track record of increasing secured funding success and delivering income against targets.
• Experience of establishing and cultivating strong donor relationships that have delivered substantially increased funding.
• Experience of proactively building and maintaining effective partnerships both internally and externally.
• Excellent personal relationship and communication skills with substantial experience in networking and influencing a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Tenacious marketing and pre-positioning skills and attributes.
• Strong political and cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Knowledge and understanding of the role of volunteerism, social inclusion, social accountability and resilience in development.
• Fluency in written and spoken English (additional language abilities welcome).
• Commitment to VSO’s vision and values, including safeguarding and taking a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and harm.
• Excellent practical knowledge of Microsoft 365.

How We Pay

• VSO understands the need for appropriate levels of pay for work done and offers a compensation package that includes flexible working patterns, the opportunity to work from home or from a VSO office and benchmarked remuneration.
• We issue National Contracts - that means your employment terms are those of the country which will be your main place of work.
• As well as a competitive annual gross salary, paid in the national currency

We Offer

• 37 days annual leave days including public holidays
• Medical insurance
• Contribution to Pension (saving scheme)
• For candidates recruited outside of the country in question and requiring relocation to take up the employment, VSO can in exceptional circumstances offer a transition payment.
• This would be to support your settling into the country. This will be payable annually for a maximum of two years.
• The transition allowance can be up to 20% of salary, dependent on circumstances.
• It will reduce in the second year and is a taxable benefit.