Business Development Manager

The Business Development Manager plays a critical role in securing and growing investment to deliver Better Cotton’s global sustainability ambitions. Reporting to the Senior Director of Impact & Development, the role is responsible for shaping compelling investment cases, cultivating donor and investor relationships, and mobilising large scale funding to support sustainable cotton production worldwide.

Are you purpose-led and ready to embark on a journey to shape the future of sustainable cotton? Join us at Better Cotton Initiative and help unlock investment that supports more sustainable farming practices and improved livelihoods for nearly 3 million cotton farmers across 23 countries. This is a senior, outward-facing role that sits at the intersection of strategy, partnerships, and programme delivery. You will work closely with country teams, technical experts, and senior leaders to ensure Better Cotton’s initiatives are investment-ready and aligned with donor and investor priorities.

The Challenge

Looking ahead to 2030, Better Cotton has set ambitious impact targets, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cotton production by half, significantly reducing synthetic pesticide use, improving soil health, increasing farmer incomes, and advancing women’s empowerment across farming communities. As Business Development Manager, you will play a central role in enabling these ambitions by securing the financial resources required to scale impact. This will require a strong understanding of donor and investor markets, the ability to translate complex technical programmes into compelling funding propositions, and the confidence to represent Better Cotton in high-level external forums.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of high-quality, bankable funding proposals aligned with donor and investor priorities, working closely with technical teams and country programmes.
• Identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with institutional donors, foundations, development finance actors, and other funding partners to increase the flow of investment.
• Translate Better Cotton’s strategic priorities and technical work into clear, compelling investment narratives, pitches, and presentations.
• Monitor donor and investor market trends to ensure Better Cotton remains well positioned and responsive to emerging funding opportunities.
• Support country teams to strengthen domestic business development and resource mobilisation strategies, including quality assurance of business cases and proposals.
• Represent Better Cotton externally at relevant events, platforms, and stakeholder forums to raise visibility, influence, and partnership opportunities.
• Provide line management, coaching, and strategic direction to the Business Development Officer, ensuring strong performance and professional development.

Experience

• Demonstrated experience in business development, fundraising, or investment mobilisation, with a strong track record of securing significant funding, including grants or investments exceeding €1 m.
• Strong strategic thinking and commercial acumen, with the ability to understand market dynamics and position programmes for long-term growth.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with proven ability to develop persuasive proposals and pitch to senior stakeholders.
• Strong relationship‑building and networking skills, with experience engaging donors, investors, and partners across multiple geographies.
• Financial and negotiation capability, including experience structuring funding arrangements and negotiating contracts or agreements.
• Knowledge of agriculture, sustainability, or smallholder farming systems, particularly in emerging or developing markets.
• Experience working within or alongside international NGOs, sustainability initiatives, or multi‑stakeholder platforms.
• A professional qualification in fundraising, business development, or business management.
• Experience working across regions and cultures, including with country teams and technical specialists.
• Familiarity with climate, ESG, or impact‑focused investment frameworks.

What we offer

• Hybrid working – One day per week in our office in Canary Wharf.
• The opportunity to work from anywhere in the world for up to one month per year.
• Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time.
• Continuous learning and development.
• A generous annual leave package, including paid holiday, public holidays, additional paid days off during the festive season, study and exam days, and extra discretionary leave for life events such as family weddings or moving home.
• Enhanced parental benefits.
• The opportunity to make your mark and make a difference.

Working arrangements

The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and will be based either in London. Better Cotton Initiative offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm. The position will require limited travel.

Apply now

Send us your CV (2 pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (1-page maximum) by or before 04/02/2026 via this link. In your cover letter, please include an explanation of why your experience is specifically relevant to this role at Better Cotton Initiative. We want to see your personal style – what makes you tick and why you think your next opportunity is here with us.

Better Cotton Initiative does not use artificial intelligence or automated screening tools in its hiring process. Every application is reviewed by our People & Culture team and relevant hiring managers to ensure a fair and human‑led assessment experience.

About Better Cotton Initiative

Better Cotton Initiative is a global not-for-profit organisation supporting the production of more equitable and sustainable cotton at farm level. We exist to catalyse the cotton farming community with partners, governments and others to continuously drive positive impact by setting standards and facilitating the supply and demand of more sustainable cotton from farm to brand. In just 15 years we have aligned more than a fifth of the world’s cotton with our standard and helped farmers and farming communities thrive. Join us in building a better, more sustainable future for cotton worldwide.

About our Values

• Trustworthy (including honest, transparent, credible)
• Integrity (including responsible, authentic)
• Positive (including problem‑solving, pragmatic)
• Engaging (including adaptable, inclusive, holistic)
• Daring (including courageous, innovative, game-changing)

Better Cotton Initiative is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human, and financial resources. We have a zero-tolerance approach to any attitudes or behaviours that put children or adults at risk of harm. Safeguarding incidents are acts of serious misconduct and are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal and referral to relevant authorities for criminal prosecution. Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.