Job Description
External Relations Manager
Location: UK and Germany (Employment Contract) and other European Countries (through other contractual mechanism options)
Purpose of the position
The External Relations Manager is a member of the External Relations team that is positioned within the External Affairs department.
The External Relations Manager will develop strategies to acquire donors, prepare or supervise the writing of proposals, manage existing donors including coordination or writing of donor reports and manage a broad network to sustain and strengthen the donor relationship as well as build advocacy for fundraising strategy and implement these in close collaboration with the External Affairs team and other DNDi colleagues.
Specific Job Responsibilities
Secure funding
- Develop fundraising and advocacy for fundraising strategies and action plans to maintain prospect and acquire new public or institutional donors – specifically for European countries to start with such as France, Switzerland and Spain.
- Write and coordinate the production of persuasive fundraising proposals including budget, activity plans, log frames/milestones and indicators in close collaboration with DNDi colleagues.
- Negotiate financial agreements and MoUs with donors or strategically key institutions.
Steward donors
- Manage existing donors by writing or coordination of writing of reports.
- Develop content and strategies for high level meeting with donors, write presentations and manage meetings or visits for donors with a focus on audiences in targeted countries .
- Update donors on key developments of the organization or in regard to their funding – in close collaboration with Advocacy team and the communication team
- Prepare briefing notes and support Executive team members for meetings, events, interactions with donors and key stakeholders.
- Organize donor field visits, ad hoc meetings and reports or updates as necessary.
- Coordinate and follow up on financial management of donor relationship including donor payments.
- Follow up on any other requests or legally agreed requirements of the donor (i.e. procurement procedures) in collaboration with according to departments.Manage relationships with key partners from science in civil society and academia as well as networks to support Executive Team members and others for outreach to key partners in targeted countries and other countries as required.
Interaction
- Work closely with Fundraising colleagues working on public fundraising and share information and expertise.
- Supervise consultants or junior staff members to support securing or managing donors when necessary.
- Participate and support in the development of some donor reports for donors not in your portfolio and also the External affairs action plan.
- Work closely together and advise on Communication strategy in relation with fundraising activities for the targeted countries with Communications department.
- Support key events or activities of DNDi (i.e. congresses, anniversaries, World NTD day, launch of strategic plan) by active outreach and close collaboration with other departments and external partners to make these happenings successful
- Participate and contribute to team meetings by providing updates.
- Contribute to transversal development of the organization through participation in meetings, provision of updates from key conversations with donors and other network partners.
Administrative tasks
- Maintain assigned donor contact list.
- Update donor/contact database (Salesforce).
- Give input and update reports such as monthly report or presentations, tracking sheets Intranet or Website.
Reporting line
- The External Relations Manager reports to the Senior Manager (External Relations)
Interactions
- This position works with many teams and across many departments including External Relations, Communication and Advocacy, R&D, Finance and Planning, Legal, Business Development, Procurement, M&E, the Access team and Regional Offices
- The incumbent has a representational role through the promotion of programs and maintain productive relationships by projecting the image of a credible partner.
Job Requirements
Skills and Attributes
- Clear and systematic thinking demonstrates good judgment and problem solving competencies.
- Strategic thinking and leadership abilities
- Strong management, negotiation, and advocacy skills
- Strong ability to use initiative, prioritize, multi-task, and work well under pressure to meet deadlines.
- Strong communication skills in multicultural, multi-lingual environments
- Strong ability to work effectively as part of a global team.
- Strong ability to provide high level support in project/program delivery.
- Strong ability to manage medium/large projects with budget management.
- Has autonomy for taking actions and decisions.
- Strong ability to interact with external stakeholders.
- Lead and motivate a small team for optimum performance, supervising junior staff.
Experience
- Minimum 6 years’ fundraising experience in which at least 4 years at Senior Officer level
- Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment and matrix structure.
- Experience of working in public and private sector is highly desirable.
Education
- Advanced post graduate degree or graduate degree with equivalent in experience to reach Master level.
Other Requirements
- Fluency in English, French & Spanish.
- Proficiency in local languages, specifically Spanish is highly desirable.
- Very good knowledge of Microsoft Suite.
Other information
To apply
- Please submit your application using the online form.
- Deadline for application: accepting applications until 01 March 2024
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
- Application submission for this position may close early if we have enough suitable applicants.
About the Organization
The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is an international, not-for-profit research and development (R&D) organization that develops and delivers new treatments for neglected diseases affecting millions of the world’s poorest people.
Together with more than 200 public research and industry allies worldwide, we use the power of partnership, innovation, open science, and advocacy to find solutions to a great injustice: the lack of medicines for life-threatening diseases that disproportionately impact poor and marginalized people. Driven by collaboration, not competition, and by patients’ needs, not profits, we promote equitable access, foster inclusive and sustainable solutions, and advocate for a more effective global biomedical R&D system that meets the needs of neglected patients.
Since our inception DNDi has delivered 13 new treatements for people with sleeping sickness, visceral leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, HIV, hepatitis C, and Malaria that have saved millions of lives. We now aim to deliver an additional 15-18 new treatmens by 2028 - addressing R&D gaps for neglected tropical diseases and viral infections, including new pandemic-prone diseases (such as Covid-19) and climate sensitive diseases (such as dengue) with a focus on the needs of patients in low and middle-income countries.
With more than 240+ employees of 30+ nationalities located in nine offices on four continents, DNDi is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential parts of our culture and key drivers of our success. We encourage candidates of diverse profiles and backgrounds to apply.
The External Affairs Department drives DNDi's visibility, influence and financial sustainability. Its teams (Policy Advocacy, Communications, and External (Donors) Relations) ensure that DNDi is visible and influential in key circles respected for its approach and achievements, supported by powerful and committed stakeholders effective in advocating for neglected patients and driving policy change and successful in securing the resources needed to deliver on its mission. Since
