Global Director of Business Development

Applicants must be located and have the right to work in one of the following locations (we do not offer relocation packages or visa sponsorship): US, UK, Germany, Nigeria, Iraq (Hybrid or remote working dependent on location).

Safeguarding level: 1 Contact with vulnerable adults or children.

The Global Director of Business Development drives Women for Women International’s institutional fundraising strategy, focusing on securing restricted support from governments, multilateral agencies, and private foundations. This position is responsible and accountable for setting and achieving global business development targets. The role provides overarching direction for global proposal development, strategic donor engagement, and partnership cultivation. By offering strategic input into program design, grant management, and reporting, the Director strengthens the competitiveness of WfWI’s funding efforts and supports long‑term donor retention.

Through direct engagement with donors and close collaboration with Communications, Policy, Advocacy, and key technical teams, this role elevates the visibility of WfWI’s impact and advances programmatic partnerships that position the organization as a preferred partner for work with women survivors of conflict. As a senior leader within both the Global Programs Unit and the Global Revenue Leadership Team, the Global Director of Business Development ensures strong alignment and coordination across Country Offices, Regional Hubs and Global Support Center functions to secure and steward complex grants tied to WfWI’s 2030 strategy and Global Revenue Strategy.

The role oversees strategic partnerships, donor mapping, and pipeline development across regions and technical areas, ensuring cohesive organizational approaches to growth in partnership with Regional Directors. Within the Global Revenue Team, the Director collaborates with leaders of other high‑value revenue streams and Regional Directors to effectively allocate resources and drive collective revenue targets. This includes guiding Business Development Unit staff who may support corporate or major donor proposals and working closely with the Directors of Corporates and Development to align staffing and stewardship for corporates, trusts, and foundations.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced institutional fundraising leader who is energized by building partnerships, navigating complexity, and unlocking new opportunities across regions and technical areas.

What you’ll do:

• Strategic leadership – Shape and lead WfWI’s global institutional funding strategy, ensuring it reflects organisational priorities and regional realities. Help drive the organisation‑wide revenue strategy and identify opportunities for growth in new and existing markets, including regions where WfWI does not yet have a presence.
• External engagement – Represent WfWI externally, building and nurturing relationships as well as identifying partnership opportunities that enhance our competitiveness and visibility in the fundraising space.
• Revenue Growth & Pipeline Management – Manage the global pipeline, working with regional teams to track opportunities and ensure timely, coordinated submissions.
• Team leadership – Lead and mentor a global team of business development professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, learning, and excellence.
• Planning, Budgeting & Governance – Lead annual planning and revenue forecasting for the Business Development Unit, contribute to organisational leadership forums, and report regularly to WfWI’s International Board, UK Trustees, German Supervisory Board, and US Board of Advisors.
• Operational Oversight – Oversee donor intelligence systems and CRM processes, ensuring accurate pipeline tracking and forecasting. Work closely with Finance and Programs to ensure budgets are realistic and compliant, and uphold safeguarding and ethical fundraising principles across all institutional funding efforts.

Located in Germany, Iraq, Nigeria, UK or US with the existing right to work. Proven track record of successfully achieving multi‑million USD awards, increasing annual income by at least USD 5 M a year in new business. At least 10 years of experience in institutional fundraising, with a strong record of securing government, foundation and multilateral grants in Africa, Europe, UK and the USA. Extensive experience managing donor relationships across geographies. Strong experience in developing complex, multi‑country and multi‑year proposals, with excellent writing, budgeting and compliance skills for restricted funding. Demonstrated leadership of teams and cross‑cultural management capabilities. Passionate about working in partnership internally to achieve results through knowledge‑sharing at the country, regional and global level. High levels of self‑awareness and strong conflict management skills. Strong analytical, planning and CRM (Salesforce preferred) proficiency. Commitment to WfWI’s mission and values, with familiarity with global gender, development or humanitarian sectors. In addition to fluent written and spoken English, competency in a second language spoken in a region where we work (French, Arabic, Dari, German, Swahili, etc.). All criteria marked (A) for Application must be addressed in a cover letter.

Experience working directly with or in Program Country teams. Deep understanding of women’s rights, gender equality and conflict‑affected contexts. Proven success in consortium‑based proposals or strategic partnerships. Multi‑lingual or regional expertise in conflict‑affected settings.

May require international travel, occasional evening/weekend work, extended screen time and participation in remote meetings across time zones.

We offer a competitive, location‑adjusted salary package based on local market conditions and experience. Other benefits apply depending on location. This role is either remote or hybrid, depending on location.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination, in accordance with applicable laws.