WorldFish Business Development Lead in Batu Maung 191 views

Application Deadline: 11 July 2020

Post level: Internationally Recruited Staff

Type of contract: Fixed term 3 year (option to renew based on performance and budget)

Language(s) required: English (native/fluent writing and oral skills)

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

WorldFish is an international, non-for-profit research organization that works to reduce hunger, malnutrition and poverty by improving fisheries and aquaculture. With a 45-years track record of leading-edge science, WorldFish generates research evidence and innovations to inform sustainable practices and inclusive policies that enable better livelihoods and healthier diets for millions of poor people, particularly women, who depend on fish for food, nutrition and income. WorldFish is a member of CGIAR , the world’s largest global partnership on agriculture research and innovation for a food secure future. Headquartered in Penang, Malaysia and with regional offices across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, WorldFish leads the cross-disciplinary CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Fish Agri-Food Systems (FISH).

ABOUT THE POSITION

WorldFish is looking for someone who is passionate about identifying and developing investments in projects that deliver high quality research and global impacts and are financially sustainable. S/he thrives working in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary global team and appreciates that to be effective in developing and managing pipeline opportunities for WorldFish requires data and business intelligence, creative thinking, a strong business acumen and an ability and management style to get things done.

The Business Development Lead will play a critical role in supporting the Director of Business Development and Partnerships, in securing innovative funding to support the delivery of WorldFish’s strategy. The post holder will focus on converting research ideas into secure funding for WorldFish through the effective interaction with internal and external stakeholders and leads on:

• The identification and approval of funding opportunities;
• Concept note and proposal development; and
• Award negotiation and contracting.

The incumbent will work closely with the Research Leads and Country Directors to support the achievement of revenue targets and responsible to:

• Support the pursuit and identification of funding opportunities from both traditional and innovative sources;
• Provision to internal stakeholders of timely and high quality investor intelligence/donor intelligence that may lead to direct business opportunities;
• Oversight of the funding pipeline, ensuring timely and appropriate decisions are made regarding the pursuit of funding through the Partnership and Investment Committee (PIC) and any other organizational mechanisms;
• Coordinating the development of high quality concepts and proposals that meet the organisations strategic objectives, with solid log frame, Theory of Change and Monitoring & Evaluation integrated, and which are financially viable and demonstrate value addition; and
• Coordination of business development activities, relationship management and customer/donor engagement.

S/he must be very comfortable with new innovative approaches and technology and is willing to learn in detail about how the organization in the context of the One CGIAR transformation undertakes work and seek ways to continually improve process, performance and delivery.

The successful candidate will:

• Oversight and management of pipeline opportunities, ensuring its completeness as well as timely and appropriate feedback, in association with the Partnership and Investment Committee (PIC), to internal and external stakeholders and achieving WorldFish revenue targets.
• To oversee and maintain appropriate funder contractual agreements to ensure the appropriate operational frameworks are in place.
• As the Secretariat of the PIC ensure timely go, no-go decisions are made that meet WorldFish strategic objectives, deliver impact and value add.
• Coordination of information in order to respond to requests for proposal specific information – both internally and externally. Ensures support to logistics and administrative tasks for contracts pursuit and delivery.
• Develop, implement and ensure compliance of clear internal policies on business opportunities and its governance. Develop effective processes, standards and templates to increase efficiency and quality.
• Introduce and adapt appropriate tools and systems to support the work of business development and in building/reviewing structures, processes, and best practices including supporting the development of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to help WorldFish gather market intelligence and evaluate business and partnership opportunities results in real time.
• Research and analyses of market intelligence on investor strategies, priorities, stakeholders and beneficiaries. Ensures that there is a database of potential donors/customers, partners and competitors.
• Oversight and coordinate the preparation of concept notes, expressions of interest and formal proposals, with appropriate resources. Work collaboratively with Research Leads, Country Directors, Finance and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning teams to ensure the organization produces high quality proposals on time.
• Support in contributing to contract negotiations and extensions.
• Assist the Project Management team in project start-up preparation activities including recruitment, procurement, office set up and inception phase planning.
• Lead, manage and coach the team based on WorldFish leadership principles and performance management system.
• When required, represents WorldFish to investor/ customer, donor, national authorities, and other organization to build networks, coordinating business development activities, relationships management/ engagement, identifying new program opportunities, as well as to advocate for WorldFish’s mission.

Requirements

This job might be for you if you have the following skills and experience:

• Degree holder in business, marketing or relevant disciplines, professionally qualified in project management APM or equivalent is desirable.
• At least 8 years of professional experience in business development for a commercial company, a large multilateral agency, or a global research organization involved in international development.
• Broad, proven experience successfully managing and executing proposals, leveraging best practices integrated with digital applications and business systems.
• Practical knowledge of log frames, Theory of Change, M&E and their integration into project development and business applications.
• Experience in successfully managing pipeline opportunities, gathering market intelligence and maintaining and active CRM database.
• Strong negotiation/influencing skills and excellent written and verbal communication skills. High written and verbal proficiency in English is essential.
• Demonstrated drive to lead with high energy and a positive attitude, and to solve problems in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Demonstrated innovative and impactful team leadership skills with strong coordination and teamwork skills; leveraging various styles to build high performing team.
• Understanding of and prior experience with aquaculture and fisheries sectors is preferred, but not essential.

Ideally, the candidate may also bring these skills:

• A good communicator
• Adaptive and Result-based Management skills
• People-focused
• A can-do collaborative attitude
• An innovator

Benefits

Salary & Benefits

This is an Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS) position with an annual salary ranging between USD 88,500 and USD 99,700 gross per annum. WorldFish’s IRS shall receive comprehensive benefits including (but not limited to) housing allowance*, relocation and repatriation assistance*, dependent education allowance*, home leave entitlement*, comprehensive insurance coverage for staff and eligible dependents, and pension/provident fund contribution.

Note: Items marked * are not applicable to staff recruited as Home Country Internationals (nationals of the country of posting). All benefits are subject to terms and conditions.

Our Offer

The position will be based in Penang, Malaysia. The initial employment contract will be for a 3-year period, with possibility for renewal depending on performance and the availability of funding. Interviews will be held via video conference in July 2020 and the successful candidate should be available to commence as soon as possible. Due to the high volume of applicants for WorldFish positions, we appreciate all interest but only short-listed candidates will be notified.

How to apply

Interested applicants are invited to submit the following information online latest by 11 July 2020:

• A cover letter including a 2-page (max) description of why you are an ideal candidate and what you would bring to the role;
• A current curriculum vitae;
• Names and contacts (telephone and e-mail addresses) of three professional referees who are familiar with your qualifications and work experience. Your nominated referees ideally should have persons from each of the following category: direct supervisor, internal peer and/or direct report.

Screening will start as soon as possible, and will continue until the position is filled. Only selected candidates will be contacted.

Our Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

WorldFish has seven offices across Asia, Africa and the Pacific, with more than 400 staff and 27 nationalities who contribute to a dynamic multicultural work environment.

WorldFish is committed to promoting a work environment where diversity and inclusion is valued and we seek to have gender balance in the organization. Our Leadership Team is 50/50 in terms of its gender split and 60% of our management cadre are women. We continue to seek diversity and gender balance across other dimensions and we support individual performance and potential in achieving our organizational goals and mission.

We are an equal opportunities employer and strongly encourage women and men from developing nations to apply.