Senior Director, Philanthropic Partnerships

  • Senior-level, Full-time staff position
  • Posted on 9 October 2025
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Job Description

Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) is a leading product development partnership (PDP) in the field of antimalarial drug research and development. Its mission is to reduce the burden of malaria in disease-endemic countries by discovering, developing and delivering new, effective and affordable antimalarial drugs.

Over the past two decades, MMV has worked with an extensive network of donors, private and public sector partners, experts and clinical centers in endemic countries to develop an outstanding portfolio of antimalarial projects.

Our portfolio is financed through funding support coming from government agencies, private and corporate foundations, international organizations, corporations and private individuals. MMV is fortunate to have a solid standing, with a healthy strategy already set for our resource mobilization in 2026 and beyond

For a newly created position we are currently seeking a Senior Director for Philanthropic Partnerships who will form a footprint in our success and play a critical role in driving MMV’s next generation of funding growth. The Senior Director will lead on cultivating bold, high-value philanthropic and innovative financing partnerships with a focus on diversifying MMV’s donor base, catalysing new sources of investment, and expanding MMV’s reach within the broader philanthropic and private capital ecosystem. This role is not just about identifying prospects, it’s about conceptualising and implementing entry points, telling MMV’s story in new and resonant ways, and helping shape the organisation’s positioning in a shifting global health financing environment. It requires creativity, influence, discipline, and deep familiarity with philanthropic motivations and trends.

The Senior Director will provide daily leadership to MMV’s new revenue work across philanthropic donors, working closely with the Head of Resource Mobilisation, and will actively contribute to the development of MMV’s long-term funding strategy

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Design and lead the execution of MMV’s philanthropic engagement and growth strategy, aligned with organisational objectives and revenue targets.
  • Map and prioritise new foundation, trust, HNW, and philanthropic network prospects
  • Cultivate new relationships through insight-driven engagement and tailored value propositions.
  • Identify and pursue catalytic opportunities (e.g., challenge funds, pooled funding platforms, family office engagement, etc.).
  • Oversee preparation of concept notes, investor briefings, pitch decks, and opportunity scans.
  • Represent MMV externally at major philanthropic events and convenings.
  • Build and steward a qualified pipeline of high-value prospects across philanthropic and adjacent fields.
  • Collaborate closely with the Communications, Advocacy, Access, and Science teams to ensure messaging is consistent and compelling.
  • Engage with Business Development to ensure innovative financing model exploration is well managed and effective relationships are maintained.
  • Support team learning and knowledge capture around donor intelligence, relationship tracking, and engagement strategies.

Success metrics

  • Value and diversity of new philanthropic funding secured
  • Advancement of new donor prospects through the engagement pipeline
  • Strategic fit of partnerships aligned with MMV’s core and emerging priorities
  • Visibility and positioning of MMV in the philanthropic ecosystem
  • Internal collaboration and quality of cross-functional inputs into proposals and pitches

Education and Experience:

  • Minimum 10 years of experience in fundraising, philanthropy, external relations, or strategic partnerships.
  • Proven success in securing large-scale funding from multiple philanthropic institutions or private wealth networks. The interview process will require demonstration of this.
  • Deep knowledge of the philanthropic landscape (e.g., foundation governance, donor motivation, impact investing trends).
  • Strong understanding of global health, development finance, and/or scientific research environments.
  • Experience representing organisations at high-level external engagements

Technical Skills:

  • High-level prospecting and strategic engagement
  • Narrative development and pitch design
  • Strategic communications and donor influence
  • Understanding of CRM and donor pipeline management
  • Philanthropic landscape fluency (institutional and individual)

Behavioural Skills:

  • Entrepreneurial mindset with the discipline to execute
  • Skilled relationship-builder with executive presence
  • Creative thinker who brings fresh ideas and strategic framing
  • Resilient and adaptable in complex environments
  • Able to manage ambiguity and deliver under pressure
  • Willing to travel, consistent with the job requirements (at least 20%)

Starting date: earliest start date possible

Interested applicants should send their CV and a cover letter giving reasons for their intere st in the position before Wednesday 23 October 2025. During the interview process, we will ask you to provide details about the types of funding sources you are connected with and the geographic locations of those networks.

We consider individuals for employment based on their skills, abilities and experience. We thrive to attract and hire a strong, talented and diverse workforce, prohibiting discrimination based on race, colour, religious or political beliefs, age, nationality, physical, mental or developmental disability, gender, sexual orientation.

MMV’s offices are located in Geneva, Switzerland, where we work in a hybrid workplace environment. We would expect the selected candidate to be at the office at least 40% of their desk working time. This is not a remote hire and MMV offers relocation assistance for suitable qualified candidates coming from abroad.

For more information about MMV’s activities please refer to our website www.mmv.org.

Recruitment agencies are kindly requested to refrain from submitting applications.

About the Organization

Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) is a leading product development partnership (PDP) in the field of antimalarial drug research and development. Its mission is to reduce the burden of malaria in disease-endemic countries by discovering, developing and delivering new, effective and affordable antimalarial drugs.

Over the past two decades, MMV has worked with an extensive network of donors, private and public sector partners, experts and clinical centers in endemic countries to develop an outstanding portfolio of antimalarial projects.

Our portfolio is financed through funding support coming from government agencies, private and corporate foundations, international organizations, corporations and private individuals. MMV is fortunate to have a solid standing, with a healthy strategy already set for our resource mobilization in 2026 and beyond

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