Job Summary

The Partnerships and Business Development Manager is a highly-demanding role that requires someone with advanced proposal writing skills, a solid work ethic, and proven time and priority management skills.

Supported by the VP of Partnerships and Business Development, a Senior Business Development Partner, a Business Development Specialist, and two interns, the successful candidate will work with teams within and outside the Company to develop global and country-level business development strategies and serve as AACS Consulting's senior representative to critical stakeholders. Ultimately, the Partnerships and Business Development Manager is responsible for identifying and securing long-term partnership and project opportunities in the Company's geographic and service offering areas.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Lead AACS Consulting's business development portfolio with a strong focus on strategic pre-positioning of AACS Consulting's services and programs, providing landscape analyses by technical sector and by country, developing competitive partnerships, pre-bid capture, and proposal development.
2. Work closely with the Business Development and Leadership teams and lead the proposal development and submission processes. These include obtaining inputs on technical methodology for an assignment from relevant team members, conducting research to prepare compelling proposal content, and finalizing (undertaking careful editing, budgeting, review, and approval) proposals prior to submission.
3. Understand and regularly and meaningfully contribute to AACS Consulting's vision and strategy for continuous growth and expansion.
4. Lead the development and maintenance of effective relations with US-based and other internationally-based partners and clients for AACS Consulting's core service lines of Research and Analysis, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning, and Institutional strengthening.
5. Work closely with the Business Development and Leadership teams and lead the proposal development and submission processes. These include obtaining inputs on technical methodology for an assignment from relevant team members, conducting research to prepare compelling proposal content, and finalizing (undertaking careful editing, budgeting, review, and approval) proposals prior to submission.
6. Identify and match technical and geographic strategic priorities with appropriate opportunities and initiatives to lead in securing projects for AACS Consulting.
7. Research, track, and cultivate funding opportunities and partnerships; analyze and assess their appropriateness for AACS Consulting; disseminate pertinent information to the Business Development and Leadership teams and initiate the proposal development efforts.
8. Regularly analyze AACS Consulting's bid wins and losses to inform strategy on future bids and align our strategic and technical approaches.
9. Oversee the development and maintenance of a database of internal and external consultants who can support the development and implementation of AACS Consulting projects across the strategic locations and preferred geography where AACS Consulting is working.
10. Represent AACS Consulting at meetings, conferences, and workshops with clients, prospects, and other stakeholders, representing the best of the Company.
11. Closely work and coordinate with the Marketing, Communications, and Reporting team to produce marketing materials, designs, flyers, and infographics that are crucial to promoting brand identity.

Required Skills and Experience

1. Masters or Ph.D. in a related field with 1-3 years of relevant experience.
2. Strong proposal writing and proven language editing skills, ideally in sectors related to AACS Consulting's sectoral focus areas (Agriculture and Food Security, Governance and Rule of Law, Economic Development, Education and Youth, Gender and Social Inclusion, and Environment and Energy)
3. Experience and expertise in writing winning proposals, concept notes, capability statements, and other business development documents to promote the brand and secure future business.
4. Experience or understanding of requirements of non-US donor agencies (EC, IFAD, UN agencies, World Bank, and others) preferred.
5. Entrepreneurial and results-oriented, with experience working in fast-paced, dynamic teams.
6. Two to five years of experience in business development in the international development sector is preferred.
7. Superior written and verbal communication skills; cross-cultural communication skills required.
8. Strong team skills: able to work collaboratively with senior AACS Consulting staff, consultants, donors, local governmental agencies, and other experts in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual environment.
9. Computer proficiency in MS Office and Google Suite is required.