Institutional Partnerships Manager

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Working in rural African villages, Village Enterprise’s mission is to end extreme poverty in rural Africa through entrepreneurship and innovation. Our model is simple and cost-effective, at just $500 per three-person business.

JOB SUMMARY

Qualifications5-7 years of experience in institutional fundraising, partnerships, or business development in international development, humanitarian, or social impact sectors.Demonstrated experience drafting and leading proposals (concept notes, EOIs, and full proposals), not just coordinating inputs from others.Proven ability to work effectively with senior leaders — managing up, anticipating needs, and supporting relationship-driven fundraising in complex environments.Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to turn complex technical content into clear, compelling donor language.Strong analytical and CRM skills (Salesforce or equivalent).Comfort operating in ambiguity, across time zones, and with multiple senior stakeholders.Bachelor’s degree required.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Manage a portfolio of institutional donors across foundations, bilaterals, and multilaterals, with a strong focus on East Africa–based programs in graduation, climate resilience, gender, and systems change—serving as day-to-day relationship manager from early engagement through award.Support donor cultivation and opportunity development by proactively engaging with senior leadership— preparing leaders for funder interactions, developing high-quality briefing materials, tracking follow-ups and commitments, and driving clear next steps to shape fundable program concepts. Prepare core fundraising materials such as pitch decks, donor briefs, and concept notes to support proactive outreach and partnership development.Lead proposal development—from early-stage narrative framing (EOIs, concept notes, and donor briefs) through full proposal writing, budgeting, and submission—ensuring clear roles, strong internal alignment, and high-quality, competitive proposals.Translate technical and financial inputs into compelling, funder-ready narratives, working closely with Programs, MEL, and Finance to integrate evidence, learning, and implementation reality into every submission.Track opportunities, contacts, and proposal stages in Salesforce, ensuring data quality and supporting accurate pipeline reporting and forecasting.Work closely with the Senior Grants Coordinator to ensure smooth handoff from proposal to award and through reporting, maintaining continuity, compliance, and strong donor experience across the full grant lifecycle.Contribute to team planning and learning by flagging pipeline risks, donor feedback, and emerging funding opportunities to the Senior Director.

REQUIRED SKILLS

Typing and note taking, Partnerships, Project management, Stakeholder communication

REQUIRED EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree