Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships

Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships Location: United States, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Uganda or Zambia (must be a country where we operate, have an office and/or registered state) Department: Program Generated Revenue (PGR) Supervisor: Director of Strategic Partnerships Type: In-Office, Hybrid or Remote, Full-Time JOB PURPOSE The Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships is a pipeline builder and revenue generator - a sales-minded professional who thrives on identifying and unlocking new funding opportunities at scale. Rather than incremental stewardship, this role is about ensuring solid fundraising funnel velocity with high-value institutional prospects and positioning Living Water International (LWI) to 10X its growth in Program Generated Revenue (PGR). The ideal candidates have cut their teeth in sales or business development, find professional satisfaction in prospecting, pitching, and winning new business, and are motivated by ambitious targets. They will drive market intelligence, donor engagement, proposal development, and negotiations, always with an eye toward generating significant new revenue streams that fuel LWI’s global holistic WASH mission. CORE CHARACTERISTICS Pursue Excellence KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Own the top of the funnel Proactively research, identify, and qualify high-potential institutional funders (foundations, bi-laterals, multilaterals, NGOs, corporate philanthropies). Commission and manage internal and external outsourced prospecting partners Commission and manage internal and external outsourced prospecting partners (e.g., National Philanthropy representatives, consultants). Keep a constant pulse on donor priorities, market gaps, and competitive trends Keep a constant pulse on donor priorities, market gaps, and competitive trends. Build and manage a high-volume opportunity pipeline in Salesforce and the PGR Tracker Build and manage a high-volume opportunity pipeline in Salesforce and the PGR Tracker. Represent LWI at conferences and networking events with a hunter mindset Represent LWI at conferences and networking events with a hunter mindset. Strategic Visibility & Donor Engagement Pitch Living Water International as the partner of choice in holistic WASH programming. Lead donor-facing meetings, presentations, and visits - moving opportunities from cold leads to qualified prospects. Position LWI as a thought leader and credible partner through visibility strategies. Develop and execute account plans for priority donors to drive repeat opportunities. Proposal Development Organize and lead cross-functional teams (Program, Monitoring & Evaluation, Finance, Human Resources, Operations) to design winning bids. With support from the Grant Writer & Systems Coordinator, create tailored, compelling proposals with sharp narratives, budgets, and results frameworks. Ensure submissions meet donor compliance requirements while standing out competitively. Manage the full writing and packaging process with urgency and innovation. Negotiation & Closing Lead negotiations with donors on technical scope, budget, and terms—pushing toward a close. Collaborate with Legal, Finance, and Executives to finalize award agreements. Drive each opportunity through the full sales cycle to signed contract. Integrate compliance and risk considerations early in the pursuit process. Identify red flags in proposal and program design with Finance and Legal during acquisition. Maintain highest ethical fundraising standards (safeguarding, anti-fraud, mission alignment). Partnership & Coalitions Identify and pursue consortium opportunities that strengthen competitiveness. Represent LWI in coalitions that expand visibility and deal flow. Capacity Building & Learning Train colleagues in business-development best practices. Capture lessons learned to refine acquisition strategy and improve win rates. EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE / SKILLS Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or international development with focus on revenue generation, business development, fundraising and sales. 2+ years of grants acquisition or business development experience (sales experience highly valued). Track record of driving pipeline growth and winning major deals. Strong written and verbal communication skills; persuasive, confident presenter. Demonstrated ability to lead proposal teams under tight deadlines. Skilled in donor engagement, Salesforce (or similar CRM), and prospecting tools. Ability and willingness to travel internationally up to 30%. Additional Qualifications Familiarity with Christian NGO or faith-based donor ecosystems. Experience in WASH, public health, or international development. Experience with grants in Africa. Proficiency in French, Spanish, or other languages. MORE ABOUT LIVING WATER Living Water International exists to demonstrate the love of God by helping communities acquire desperately needed clean water and to experience “living water”—the gospel of Jesus Christ which alone satisfies the deepest thirst. We mobilize churches and communities through water access, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions to increase the physical, spiritual, and social wellbeing of the most vulnerable in communities around the world. With over 300 global staff, we currently work in 15 countries and have provided access to safe water to nearly 6.5 million people. WE OFFER Competitive compensation package (based on country of origin) Opportunities for professional training & development Spiritual care and formation program Casual dress code #J-18808-Ljbffr