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(Senior) Climate Finance Business Development Manager

19 July 2024

Are you passionate about contributing to change that matters and do you have extensive networks, and experience in mobilizing multi-million climate finance contracts from large institutional donors? Solidaridad offers you a rewarding and meaningful job in an inspiring and international setting with the opportunity to make a real difference in the world.

CONTEXT

Solidaridad believes that producing in balance with nature and building sustainable supply chains are key towards addressing carbon emissions and build smallholder farmer resilience. Solidaridad is strategically investing in building smallholder farmer resilience through climate smart agriculture, payment for ecosystem services and locally led adaptation approaches. One key goal, building on the Climate Heroes Program and other similar initiatives, is to connect at least 1 million smallholder farmers to payment for ecosystem schemes by 2030. To support our strong ambition in the space of climate adaptation and mitigation, including our payment for ecosystem services agenda, we are looking for a dedicated and motivated Business Development Manager to expand our support base for this area of work.     

RESPONSIBILITIES & PROFILE

The (Senior) Business Development Manager is responsible for growing Solidaridad’s income from large donors (mainly EU and government donor partners, European foundations and International climate funds), ​working ​together ​in ​close ​cooperation ​with Solidaridad Network colleagues and partners ​to ​achieve agreed ​deliverables.

In this position you will:

  • Research, monitor, and identify relevant funds, donors, and opportunities for Solidaridad’s propositions, particularly in the field of Climate/Natural Resource Management, Payment for Ecosystem Services and Locally Led Adaptation.
  • Build new, and build on your existing networks, to represent Solidaridad’s USP and proposition
  • Lead on the development of successful solicited and unsolicited multimillion propositions/proposals for institutional donors (particularly Climate Finance)
  • Represent and pitch Solidaridad’s work towards donor partners and targets, and build strong consortia for large-scale funding opportunities
  • Build intelligence and advise Solidaridad colleagues globally about donors, funds, and their procedures and about trends in the donor landscape;
  • Maintain strong relationships and co-design program with the regional Solidaridad teams and ensure local ownership of programs and proposals
  • Remain up to date about developments in Solidaridad’s network and existing programmes, as well as relevant resource needs within the network.

PROFILE

You are a go-getter, a fast thinker, and a real networker that connects with others easily. Teamwork and situational awareness are among your core competencies. With enthusiasm and an entrepreneurial mindset, and building on your existing networks, you take initiative and succeed in developing successful multi-million funding proposals, particularly in the field of our Climate/Natural Resource Management and our evolving Payment for Ecosystem Services and Locally Led Adaptation agenda.

The successful candidate has:

  • Academic work and thinking level;
  • In-depth understanding of donor priorities, opportunities and application processes, particularly around climate finance;
  • Strong understanding of the nexus of Agriculture, Climate Adaptation and Mitigation, and Land Use.
  • Minimum 7 years of demonstrable and direct experience in developing large scale winning proposals to European institutional donors as well as International Climate Funds;
  • An existing network relevant for Solidaridad’s proposition towards climate finance;
  • Outstanding verbal and written communication skills;
  • Advanced skills in building and maintaining (external) contacts at various levels;
  • A strong commitment to and interest in Solidaridad’s mission and work;
  • Is willing to travel frequently to Solidaridad offices in the global South (approximately 10% of work time);
  • Is allowed to work in the Netherlands;
  • English fluency.

The following experience would be considered an asset:

  • Understanding of international carbon markets;
  • Experience in working in network organizations;
  • Additional language skills.

OUR OFFER

  • A unique and rewarding job within an inspiring and international setting, starting on 1 November 2024 or as soon as possible after this date;
  • You will join the Donor Relations team in Utrecht, and will have the opportunity to work with an innovative and dedicated network of professionals across the world;
  • A one-year contract with the possibility of extension, 32-36 hours/week;
  • Gross salary between EUR 4.868 and EUR 6.111, based on 36 hours/week (salary scale 11 or scale 12).
  • An additional holiday allowance (standard in the Netherlands) will be paid to the employee in May of every calendar year. The holiday allowance is 8% of the gross salary earned in the period from 1 June up to and including 31 May, prior to the date of the payment;
  • In addition, Solidaridad pays an end-of-year allowance equivalent to 8.3% of the gross annual salary earned;
  • Solidaridad offers a non-contributory pension plan;
  • Contribution to moving expenses;
  • Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands, with the possibility to work from home part of the week and national and international travel required. 

NEXT STEPS

Do you recognize yourself in the candidate profile? Then please send your one-page motivation letter and two-page resume in English to hr-europe@solidaridadnetwork.org, stating “Application: Climate Finance BD manager” in the subject header.

Deadline for applications is COB 26 August 2024. First round (online) interviews are tentatively scheduled for 11-13 September. Second round (in person) interviews are planned for the second half of September.

Any personal data submitted in an application is treated confidentially and processed for the sole purpose of filling a vacancy, and compliant to the GDPR directive. After the selection process has been completed (upon the date of filled vacancy), all personal data of applicants who have not been selected will be destroyed immediately, unless we have your explicit approval to store your personal data for a period of maximum a year.  

QUESTIONS

Questions about the role can be addressed to Ronald Visser, Head of Donor Relations, from 13 August onwards (ronald.visser@solidaridadnetwork.org / +31 30 2720313). Questions about the application process can be addressed to hr-europe@solidaridadnetwork.org

No agencies please.

BACKGROUND

Solidaridad envisions a world in which all we produce and all we consume can sustain us, while respecting the planet, each other and the next generations. We bring together supply chain actors and engage them in innovative solutions to improve production, ensuring the transition to a sustainable and inclusive economy that maximizes the benefit for all.

Solidaridad is an international network organization consisting of seven regional expertise centres located around the world (Asia, Southern Africa, East and Central Africa, West Africa, Latin America, North America and Europe), each with their own specific expertise and focus. Globally, Solidaridad works across 13 commodities.

Solidaridad Europe focuses on market development, policy influencing, communications and donor relations. We seek to inspire the private sector, governments, civil society organizations and consumers in Europe to contribute to sustainable economic development.

For more information please refer to our website: http://www.solidaridadnetwork.org.

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