Head - Resource Mobilization and Partnerships (Globally Recruited)

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center, is on the lookout for a dynamic business development professional to join our headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka as the Head – Resource Mobilization and Partnerships.

This is an internationally recruited position; therefore, individuals with relevant abilities from diverse locations around the world are encouraged to apply.

Under the guidance of the Director of Business Strategy and Delivery, the Head – Resource Mobilization and Partnerships is responsible for leading the creation and implementation of business development and resource mobilization strategies, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and enhancing processes to improve funding opportunities. Responsibilities include managing the identification of funding prospects, developing high-quality proposals, analyzing market intelligence, and cultivating strategic partnerships with donors, partners and stakeholders. Additionally, the role focuses on overseeing team performance, guiding internal stakeholders, and implementing systems for data-driven decision-making to achieve impactful outcomes.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Main Purpose of Job:

• Manage the preparation of concept notes, expressions of interest, and formal proposals, collaborating with teams to ensure timely and high-quality outputs.
• Lead the development, coordination and implementation of business development, resource mobilization and partnership strategies, aligning them with organizational goals and objectives.
• Develop, refine, implement and enforce policies, guidelines, processes, standards and templates to increase efficiency and quality in business development / funding opportunities.
• Innovate and adapt business development / funding tools and systems, structures and processes to improve intelligence gathering and decision-making for funding opportunities.
• Oversee and manage the identification of funding opportunities from both traditional and innovative sources, ensuring effective donor engagement and relationship management.
• Research and analyze market intelligence on donor and investor strategies, priorities, and stakeholders to identify new funding opportunities that align with organizational goals.

Main engagement, collaboration and communication responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the unit/team by coaching and guiding staff, conducting performance reviews, and offering learning opportunities to cultivate a respectful and high-performing work environment.
• Advise and guide internal stakeholders on donor/investor strategies and engagement opportunities to align with the organization’s strategy and enhance business development efforts.
• Oversee guidance provided to research teams throughout the proposal development and submission process, ensuring alignment with donor expectations and organizational standards.
• Cultivate and nurture strategic partnerships with donors, partners, and stakeholders to enhance the organization’s visibility and expand its funding opportunities.
• Represent the organization in high-level meetings with donors, national authorities, and partner organizations to advocate for its mission, build networks, and identify new opportunities.

Main responsibilities in the delivery of timely and quality services:

• Oversee the dissemination of funding prospect knowledge to enable early identification of opportunities and ensure proposals are submitted within deadlines.
• Develop and monitor team workplans and budgets to ensure activities are executed on schedule and within allocated resources.
• Manage, write, coordinate and oversee the creation of viable and impactful funding concept notes and proposals aligned with organizational strategy, incorporating log frames, Theories of Change, and Monitoring and Evaluation frameworks.
• Lead the development and implementation of a business development and proposal management system that enables data-driven insights and informed decision-making.
• Conduct financial analysis, cost-benefit assessments, and revenue forecasting for business development initiatives and existing programs, tracking key performance metrics to evaluate effectiveness.

Requirements

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Essential:

• Relevant Master’s degree in management, international development/ relations or a discipline relevant to IWMI’s mandate.
• At least 10 years of experience in Resource Mobilization & Partnerships.
• Experience leading business development / resource management opportunities resulting expansion of funders and longer-term funding
• Hands-on experience analyzing donor priorities, managing engagement strategies, and identifying funding opportunities through detailed market research.
• Experience managing a team, creating a collaborative environment (and remote team management)
• Experience fostering strategic partnerships with donors, investors, and national authorities to sustain funding growth.
• Experience working at an international level and with a variety of international funding agencies
• Experience in the water resources management sector or natural resources sector is an advantage.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Essential:

• Superior proposal development and writing skills ideally targeting opportunities in Africa, Asia or the MENA region.
• Willingness to travel internationally based on organizational needs.

Benefits

This is an internationally recruited position with a competitive salary, an attractive retirement plan, comprehensive international health insurance, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and long-term disability coverage. Internationally recruited staff who are employed at a duty station outside of their home base/country of nationality will also receive relocation assistance, a housing allowance, home-leave plane tickets for self and eligible dependents and education assistance for eligible dependents. The duration of the contract will initially be for a period of three years.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. We will be accepting applications through 24:00 (IST) on August 20, 2025 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). Your application must include a CV, cover letter, and three (3) references, which may be contacted if you are shortlisted. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.