Senior Business Development Manager

at  Fairtrade Foundation

CONTRACT/HOURS: FULL TIME 35 HOURS, 12 MONTHS FIXED TERM CONTRACT

Fairtrade Foundation are recruiting a Senior Business Development Manager
to lead the development and implementation of an income generation strategy for Fairtrade Foundation programmes, including the development, implementation and monitoring of all programme fundraising initiatives, grant applications and other initiatives. The role will look to identify and develop new business and funding opportunities, to enable the growth of our programmes portfolio focusing on agriculture and value chain development, human rights and dignified work, living incomes and living wages, and climate change and the environment.
We’re looking for someone with initiative and drive, who has the confidence and ability to lead on income generation opportunities and the transformation of our programmes business development strategy and processes. You’ll need to be a team player with proven experience in fundraising and business development within the NGO sector. Experience in food systems, sustainable livelihoods, agricultural value chain development, is advantageous.
Fairtrade changes the way trade works through better prices, decent working conditions and a fairer deal for farmers and workers around the world.
Globally, across all Fairtrade members, we share a vision of a world in which all farmers and workers can enjoy secure and sustainable livelihoods, fulfil their potential and decide on their future. To achieve this we connect disadvantaged farmers and workers with consumers, promote fairer trading conditions, and empower farmers and workers to combat poverty, strengthen their position and take more control of their lives.
Fairtrade is a global movement with a strong and active presence in the UK, represented by the Fairtrade Foundation. Farmers and workers have a strong voice at every level of Fairtrade, from how they invest in and run their local organisations to having an equal say in Fairtrade’s global decision-making.
We are seeking passionate and enthusiastic candidates who share our vision for a better world, if that sounds like you, then come and join our movement for change.
At Fairtrade we are committed to the safeguarding and protection of children & vulnerable adults in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work within this environment are recruited to work for us. Therefore for this specific role a Basic DBS check will be needed as part of an offer of employment.
The Fairtrade Foundation is an equal opportunities employer, offers flexible working and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
We particularly welcome applications from candidates with ethnically diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ candidates and from candidates with disabilities, because we would like to increase the representation of these groups at this level. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to greater results for producers and farmers around the world.
Closing date: 10am on 3rd February 2025
Interviews will take place 10th February 2025

REVIEW ARRANGEMENTS

The details contained in the Job Description reflect the content of the job at the date the job description was prepared. It should be remembered, however, that it is inevitable that over time the nature of individual jobs will change; existing duties may be lost, and other duties may be gained without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. Consequently, the Fairtrade Foundation will expect to revise this job description from time to time and will consult with the post holder as appropriate

ROLE PURPOSE

Over the past 5 years, Fairtrade Foundation has built an international programmes portfolio covering 11 countries, across 8 global value chains. Our goal is to develop and grow multi-stakeholder programme partnerships to implement innovative and scalable solutions to challenges that impact Fairtrade farmers and workers across the globe. Programmes are key in delivering on Fairtrade’s impact mandate to improve the livelihoods of marginalized farmers and workers in global supply chains as well as ensuring the financial sustainability and growth of the organisation.

This role will work closely with the Head of Programme Partnerships to lead the development and implementation of an income generation strategy for Fairtrade Foundation programmes, including the development, implementation and monitoring of all programme fundraising initiatives, grant applications and other initiatives. The role will look to identify and develop new business and funding opportunities, to enable the growth of our programmes portfolio, specifically with regard to the key themes of:

• Agricultural value chain development
• Human rights and dignified work
• Sustainable livelihoods, including living incomes and living wages
• Climate change and the environment

You will lead the identification of opportunities, development and submission of proposals, and managing the bid/tender processes from scoping through to implementation and final submission. You will also be responsible for the development and stewardship of key funding and business development partners to better position the organisation to take advantage of income opportunities.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities

• Strategy development, leveraging growth opportunities with new donors:
• Lead the design and participatory development of a Programme Partnerships business development strategy, focusing on 6-7 figure opportunities, including donor mapping and landscape assessment, donor engagement plan development, capture planning, pipeline development etc.
• Prospecting and effectively pre-positioning with a network of potential new funders, regularly stewarding and meeting to discuss FTF’s work with aligned donors, recording conversations, effectively leveraging growth opportunities to pitch or co-design programmes.
• Identify key new funding prospects to develop and deliver donor engagement plans, pre-position for opportunities and capture plan for known live opportunities effectively.
• Lead proposal development and execution process, including partner identification, bid development, and liaison with internal and external stakeholders for successful, high quality submissions.
• Proactively reach out to potential new partners that could represent consortium leads for larger-scale institutional donor or climate-financed programmes. Build strategic relationships and coalitions with key partners, ensuring FT is a sub-grantee ‘of choice’.
• Supporting the Programme Leads in expanding the ambition/scale of programme development on existing programme opportunities.
• Providing strategic guidance to multi-funder, larger opportunities on how investment and funding could be structured, results attributed etc.
• Supporting continued development of business development materials on our key programmes themes, enabling ready-to-go pitches for both the Programme Partnerships and other teams to use as opportunities arise in conversations with partners (including new donors, existing partners, prospective commercial partners, retailers, etc).
• Reinforcing our position in the sector as a leading NGO in delivering impact programmes, sharing our expertise and work to a wider audience, including working with the B2B comms team to proactively seek opportunities to present the impact of our work e.g. through events, reports and other communication opportunities.
• Process improvement and strengthening for high quality and timely business development:
• Leading and chairing business development meetings with the Programme Partnerships team to review and assess new opportunities and ensure cross-team learning on current opportunities, leveraging synergies and expertise, and follow up on agreed actions.
• Work collaboratively across teams to drive the Fairtrade Foundation Fundraising strategy forward.
• Implement and manage an effective opportunity tracking and reporting systems.
• Define and socialise processes for consistent and high quality proposal budgeting that ensures full coverage of implementation costs, as well as administrative costs, working with Finance to leverage opportunities for internal cost recovery, as well as enhanced coverage of existing positions.
• Define and socialise processes for quality programme design – from EoI, to concept note and then full proposal stage, ensuring full participation and engagement across FTF to ensure buy in, including strengthened engagement with E&I to improve learning, strengthened assessment and mitigation of programme risks, with engagement across FTF (incl. legal).
• Lead on internal buy-in/sign-off of new business opportunities including the implementation of formal approval processes.
• Ensure pipeline and income projections are updated regularly on Salesforce to ensure accurate income forecasting and reporting.
• Where relevant recruit and manage volunteers to support business development objectives.
• Stakeholder relationship management, both internal and external
• Develop strong working relationships across the Fairtrade systems with colleagues involved in business development and resource moblisation.
• Represent Fairtrade Foundation within the global Fairtrade network on resource mobilization, including representation at working groups, including sharing of information and coordination on business development.
• Work with Fairtrade Producer Networks (FTA, CLAC and NAPP) to define priorities, improved ways of working, co-design new programmes and jointly pursue funding opportunities.
• Attend and represent FTF at external meetings, events, conferences, workshops etc. that are relevant for opportunity and relationship development, proactively networking with relevant individuals.
• Championing fundraising and our programme partnerships work internally to ensure colleagues are proactively seeking ways to bolster business development opportunities.

DELIVERABLES IN THIS ROLE

These include but are not limited to:

• A business development strategy and engagement plan.
• Development and submission of proposals and tender documents in a time manner and to a high standard.
• Regular and accurate reporting on progress towards income targets and projections.
• Securing funding for Fairtrade Foundation programmes, with adequate internal cost recovery to ensure organisational sustainability and growth.
• Evidence of new and improvement of existing donor and funding partnerships and relationships.
• Improved internal ways of working on programme business development.