Senior Partnerships Manager

Who we are

Girl Effect is an international non-profit that builds media that girls want, trust and need.

From chat-bots to chat-shows and TV dramas to tech, our content is reaching millions of girls in Africa and Asia to make choices and changes in their lives. Igniting their confidence to act differently at a time that can define their future.

We create safe spaces for girls, sharing facts, and answering questions about health, nutrition, education, relationships and so much more. And we use innovative technology so we can reach girls at scale. We arm girls with the skills to negotiate and redefine what they are told is possible, so every girl can choose to be in control of her body, her health, her learning and livelihood.

When a girl unlocks her power to make different choices that change her life, it inspires others to do so too. She starts a ripple effect that impacts her family, her community, her country. That’s the Girl Effect. 

Context of the role 

Girl Effect is on a mission to create lasting, positive change for adolescent girls around the world and we know we can’t do it alone. Achieving our bold ambitions requires growing and deepening partnerships with foundations, institutions, corporations, and philanthropists who share our vision.

As part of the Development team, you will play a key role in driving and shaping our fundraising strategy. You’ll support the implementation of our ambitious development strategy and work closely with country teams across Ethiopia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and India to identify and prioritize strategic donor opportunities both local and global. This includes supporting regional fundraising strategies that align with country-specific goals and Girl Effect’s global priorities.

In this role, you’ll act as the bridge between internal teams and external supporters. You will collaborate across programmes, impact, and finance teams to ensure proposals are compelling, technically sound, cost-effective, compliant, and aligned with donor requirements moving opportunities from first engagement to final contract. 

Your work will directly contribute to Girl Effect’s reach and impact on the lives of millions of girls, helping secure the resources needed to design and deliver innovative, scalable programming.

Key responsibilities

• Proposal Development & Program Design
• Support country teams in developing high-quality, competitive proposals by offering strategic input on program design, budgeting, and donor alignment
• Work closely with programme leads and technical experts to ensure program concepts are aligned with donor priorities and Girl Effect’s strategic goals
• Ensure timely coordination and submission of concept notes, proposals, and supporting documentation
• Donor Intelligence and Engagement
• Provide deep insight into donor trends and priorities, particularly local and regional funders
• Build and maintain a knowledge base of donor strategies, funding windows, and partnership models, ensuring internal teams are well-informed
• Represent Girl Effect at donor meetings, funding forums, and sector events to advocate for our work and identify collaborative opportunities
• New Business Development
• Lead or contribute to donor cultivation efforts, including pitch decks and briefings
• Collaborate with the communications and programme’s team to support donor visibility
• Internal Coordination 
• Serve as a connector across departments to align fundraising efforts with programmatic capacity, implementation timelines, and country-specific contexts
• Support the Chief Partnerships Officer and senior leadership in preparing for key donor engagements, strategic meetings, and thought leadership events
• Donor Stewardship
• Support ongoing donor engagement through updates, case studies, success stories, and results communication
• Maintain accurate records of donor interactions, proposal statuses, and grant timelines
• Travel and In-Country Collaboration
• Travel occasionally (anticipated to be less than 5% of time) to collaborate with in-country teams on opportunity development and donor engagement

This list should not be considered exhaustive; you will be expected to deliver other duties relevant and appropriate to this position

Organisation Accountabilities  

• Lead by example as a role model for GE’s values and professional standards
• Supports the delivery of organisational and team goals
• Seek continuous improvement within your own areas of responsibility
• Maintain full awareness of and active compliance with GE’s policies and procedures relevant to your own responsibilities and to broader policies including (but not limited to) equality, health and safety, confidentiality, and data protection

Who you are

• An already established network of partners and donors 
• Knowledge of the Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) sector, including Health, Gender, and Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC)
• Proven experience in leading or contributing to program design 
• Prior experience working with key donors such as CIFF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Mastercard Foundation, and similar institutions
• Demonstrated ability to independently develop high-quality concept notes and proposals 
• Prior engagement with donors, including personal direct interaction and representation at meetings or strategy sessions
• Willingness to learn, adapt quickly, and thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Comfortable with a hands-on role that requires both strategic thinking and execution
• Excellent communication skills verbal and written
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines 
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with an ability to manage conflict and handle sensitive issues, particularly in cross-cultural and cross-departmental contexts
• Based in Kenya or the UK to ensure alignment with our global operational time zones

What else you should know

As we continue to scale and grow - we are hugely ambitious for our future, and we are looking for people who are driven to change the world for girls.

Our teams are a diverse mix across sectors (non-profit and commercial) and specialisms (from Brand and Creative through to Gender and Insight). You’ll learn and grow in an environment that will challenge you to think and work with a fresh perspective. In turn, you can expect to work somewhere where you will be stretched and developed in your role, a place where you can build your career and work with talented, engaged people committed to our cause.

Girl Effect is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

We are committed to building an organization that is increasingly representative of the communities that we serve. To this end, due regard will be paid to recruiting candidates with diverse professional, academic and cultural backgrounds.

This role is subject to a standard background disclosure.

This role is being recruited for on a 12 month contract basis.

Applications closing date will be Thursday, 7th August 2024