Head of Business Development

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

Role Purpose 

The Head of Business Development will lead and transform PIT’s resource mobilisation function to deliver suitable, diversity, and strategic income growth aligned to the Country Strategy.

Beyond traditional fundraising, the role will position PIT as a partner of choice in advancing children’s rights, gender equality, girls’ rights and youth empowerment, by:

• Expanding institutional, corporate, and innovative financing streams
• Strengthening strategic partnerships and consortium leadership
• Driving competitive, high-quality proposal development
• Embedding influencing, localisation, and systems change approaches
• Ensuring financial sustainability in a shrinking and shifting donor landscape

The post holder will play a critical role in navigating declining traditional funding, increasing localisation agendas, and rising competition, while unlocking new funding models including private, climate finance, and blended finance opportunities.

Role Dimensions

• Leads the Business Development Unit and oversees end-to end resource mobilisation
• Accountable for ambitious annual and multi-year income targets
• Drives portfolio diversification (institutional, corporates, foundations, innovative finance)
• Oversees pipeline development, forecasting, and portfolio health
• Leads donor positioning, external engagement and partnership
• Ensures cost recovery, compliance and value-for money in funding
• Works in a matrix structure across programmes, finance, influencing and global Plan Networks
• Ensures the Partnership Strategy & processes are followed and review (when needed)

Role Requirements

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s Degree in International Development, Business, Economics, Marketing or related field
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in resource mobilisation/business development
• Proven track record of securing large-scale institutional funding
• Demonstrated success in leading teams and managing complex portfolios
• Experience in private sector engagement and innovative financing is a strong advantage

Critical Business Management Competencies

• Deep understanding of global and Tanzania funding landscapes
• Strong financial acumen (budgeting, cost recovery, forecasting
• Strong analytical and market intelligence skills
• Good analytical skills as required to obtain and process information and numerical data from a range of sources and use the insights gained to inform decisions or communications.
• Outstanding communication skills with an ability to deeply understand the starting position of an audience and produce compelling written and/or spoken communications that effectively influence others.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with an ability to relate effectively to a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds; proven track record of leading collaborative working relationships and resolving conflicts between parties with differing interests.

Experience leveraging digital tools and data for business development.

Critical Technical Competencies

• Demonstrated track experience in the areas of proposal development, grants management, resource mobilization, and/or donor contract management.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of international donor interests, priorities and requirements and proven successes in business development and proposal writing.
• Familiarity with the landscape, priorities, and methodologies of private foundations and government donors
• Experience of managing and influencing others within a matrix-managed context preferred; demonstrated expertise in influencing and persuading others to contribute towards proposal and donor-report writing

 Head of Business Development JD.docx 

Location: Dar es Salaam

Reports to: Country Director

Grade: 17

Closing Date: 21st  June, 2026

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.