Save the Children is inviting applications from suitably qualified personnel to fill the position of Head of New Business Development (NBD) Manager – Malawi-Zimbabwe Cluster . The position will provide strategic leadership in driving and coordinating the growth and diversification of funding across Malawi and Zimbabwe, in alignment with the Cluster’s strategic priorities. The Head of NBD will lead the development and implementation of a Cluster-wide Funding Strategy that supports the achievement of the Country Strategic Plans and ensures the mobilisation of resources for quality, high-impact programming for children across both countries. The position reports directly to the PDQ Director .
Job Summary
- Employer: Save the Children International
- Job Type: Full-time
- Location: Lilongwe, Malawi
- Category: Fundraising
- Closing Date: 2026-10-12
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership in driving and coordinating the growth and diversification of funding across Malawi and Zimbabwe, in alignment with the Cluster’s strategic priorities.
- Lead the development and implementation of a Cluster-wide Funding Strategy that supports the achievement of the Country Strategic Plans and ensures the mobilisation of resources for quality, high-impact programming for children across both countries.
- Work closely with the PDQ Director, Cluster NBD Coordinator, Zimbabwe NBD Manager, Senior Programmes and Partnerships Lead, Technical Experts, Cluster Country Director and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to identify and pursue strategic funding opportunities, strengthen donor relationships and ensure effective coordination of new business development activities across the Cluster.
- Foster strong relationships with Save the Children Members, institutional donors, partners, corporate organisations, foundations and other key stakeholders, while also supporting local and national partners to strengthen their own resource mobilisation capacity in line with Save the Children’s localisation agenda.
- Lead the Cluster’s annual funding strategy development and establish effective systems and processes for pipeline, opportunity and proposal management across Malawi and Zimbabwe.
- Provide strategic oversight of donor engagement, portfolio planning, opportunity scoping, capture planning and proposal development, ensuring that funding opportunities are aligned with the Cluster’s strategic priorities, Country Strategic Plans, Save the Children’s Theory of Change and emerging donor priorities.
- Play a key role in maintaining a real-time understanding of the Cluster’s funding pipeline, identifying thematic and operational funding gaps and facilitating scenario-based portfolio analysis to inform growth, risk and sustainability discussions.
- Lead cross-country and cross-functional opportunity scoping and capture planning, build donor and competitor intelligence, facilitate Go/No-Go decision-making and ensure that appropriate resources are mobilised to pursue strategic funding opportunities.
- Coordinate and oversee high-quality proposal development and submission processes for both country offices, ensuring timely submission, compliance and strategic alignment.
- Serve as lead writer or quality assurer for strategic, complex and high-value proposals, including humanitarian funding requests, and ensure meaningful participation of local and national partners throughout the proposal development process.
- Ensure that proposals incorporate localisation objectives, equitable partner roles and budgets, appropriate learning and MEAL frameworks, and strong technical and programme approaches.
- Support the PDQ Director and Cluster Country Director in maintaining high-level strategic donor relationships across Malawi and Zimbabwe and will represent the Cluster in donor forums, working groups and high-level meetings.
- Act as the primary liaison with the Save the Children Regional Office and Members on new business development matters, ensuring collaboration, consistency, learning and the adoption of best practice across the Cluster.
- Provide strategic leadership for humanitarian resource mobilisation, working closely with the Humanitarian and Anticipatory Action Manager, regional teams and Members to ensure readiness for rapid mobilisation of emergency resources.
- Support pre-positioning through early warning analysis, pipeline mapping, donor engagement and participation in relevant coordination mechanisms.
- Explore opportunities for private funding, climate finance and innovative finance mechanisms in collaboration with relevant Save the Children teams.
- Provide line management, coaching and mentoring support to NBD staff within the Cluster and foster a strong culture of performance, learning, collaboration and innovation.
- Build effective working relationships across Programme, Technical, Operations, Finance, Awards, Partnerships and Communications teams to ensure quality contributions to new business development and strengthen the capacity of staff and partners in resource mobilisation, programme design, positioning, capture planning and proposal development.
- In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly, including travelling at short notice and for extended periods where required.
Requirements
- A minimum of a Master’s Degree in International Development, Project Planning and Management, Social Studies or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- At least 7 years of demonstrated experience identifying and securing funding from government donors, multilateral agencies, corporate donors and/or foundations.
- Demonstrated experience in analysing funding landscapes and developing programme funding strategies aligned to strategic organisational goals.
- Proven experience facilitating programme design and Theory of Change development with technical, operations, MEAL and finance teams.
- Excellent proposal writing skills, with demonstrated experience as a lead writer/penholder for large-scale grant applications.
- Experience working within an INGO environment and a strong understanding of operational and programme management issues.
- A detailed understanding of funding mechanisms for development and humanitarian programming.
- Demonstrated ability to solve complex issues through critical thinking, analysis, clear decision-making and stakeholder engagement.
- Highly developed networking and relationship management skills, with the ability to build productive relationships with donors and external stakeholders.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including influencing, negotiation, facilitation and coaching skills.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure, manage multiple stakeholders and deliver high-quality outputs within tight deadlines.
- Demonstrated people leadership skills, including the ability to manage direct reports and lead teams through matrix management arrangements.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a member of a Senior Management Team and contribute constructively beyond the resource mobilisation function.
- Experience in project and change management, including working with international and cross-functional teams and delivering organisational change initiatives.
- A high degree of flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing needs and priorities, including humanitarian emergencies.
- Fluency in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Understanding of innovative finance mechanisms for international development is desirable.
- Experience in child rights programming and/or thematic expertise in areas such as health and nutrition, education, poverty reduction, child protection or governance is desirable.
- Programme management experience within an INGO is desirable.
- Experience in climate finance, localisation and/or private sector resource mobilisation will be an added advantage.
How to Apply
About the Company
The Save the Children Fund, commonly known as Save the Children, is an international non-governmental organization. It was founded in the UK in 1919; its goal is to improve the lives of children worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications are typically required for a Head of New Business Development role in Malawi?
Most employers require a bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field, with an MBA or master's degree often preferred for senior positions. You should also have 7-10 years of experience in fundraising, business development, or sales, particularly within the NGO or development sector. Certifications in project management or fundraising from recognized bodies like CFRE can strengthen your application.
What does a typical day look like for this role in the Malawi-Zimbabwe cluster?
Your day usually involves identifying and cultivating donor relationships, writing proposals for institutional donors, and coordinating with country office teams across both Malawi and Zimbabwe. You will attend meetings with embassies, UN agencies, and corporate partners, while also analyzing funding trends and reporting to regional leadership. Travel between cluster countries and occasional international trips are common.
How does the local work culture in Malawi affect this senior fundraising position?
Malawian workplaces value respect for hierarchy and relationship-building before business transactions, so patience and personal rapport are essential for donor cultivation. Punctuality is appreciated, though meetings may start flexibly, and understanding of local languages like Chichewa can help with community-level engagement. You will need to navigate bureaucratic processes with government partners, which requires persistence and cultural sensitivity.
What career progression opportunities exist after this role in Malawi's NGO sector?
Successful performance can lead to regional director positions covering Southern or Eastern Africa, or global roles in international headquarters. Some professionals move into executive director positions at country level, or transition to consulting for development agencies. Building a strong track record in Malawi also opens doors with larger INGOs and multilateral organizations operating across Africa.
What benefits are typically included in senior fundraising roles with international NGOs in Malawi?
Packages usually include comprehensive medical aid covering local and sometimes regional treatment, pension or provident fund contributions, and generous annual leave often exceeding 20 days. You may receive housing allowances, relocation support for international hires, and education allowances for dependent children. Specific benefits vary significantly by employer and funding source, so review each offer carefully.
How should I apply and what do employers in Malawi prioritize in candidates?
Apply through official career portals or reputable job boards like NGO Jobs Africa, ensuring your CV highlights quantifiable fundraising achievements and regional experience. Employers prioritize proven revenue generation from institutional donors, familiarity with Malawi's development landscape, and demonstrated leadership of multicultural teams. Strong written English, proposal writing samples, and references from previous supervisors are typically required.