Business Development Manager

Who we are?

IDA is an international independent non-governmental organization providing medical and humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflicts, natural disasters and epidemics regardless of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. IDA was founded in 2012 by Syrian doctors from Aleppo in response to the healthcare and humanitarian crisis in Syria.

IDA Syria is the main healthcare provider in the Northern Aleppo/Syria area, working closely with 500,000 IDPs and 700,000 host community through 20 healthcare facility and other health and nutrition projects

During last year, IDA has provided 1.2 million services in Heath, Nutrition, WaSH and Camp Management

Location: Syria - Damascus City

Job Summary: The Business Development Manager leads IDA’s resource mobilization and partnership-building efforts, working closely with the Head of Programs (HoP) to secure the funding and strategic partnerships needed to sustain and grow the organization’s programs. The role is responsible for monthly and quarterly business development planning, systematic donor mapping, proactive grant seeking, identification and quarterly tracking of funding gaps against program priorities, and the cultivation of strategic partnerships. The position represents IDA in donor meetings alongside the HoP, or independently as needed, ensuring IDA’s funding pipeline remains diversified, healthy, and aligned to organizational priorities. Main tasks and Activities

2.1 Monthly and Quarterly Planning

• Lead the development of monthly and quarterly business development plans in coordination with the Head of Programs and program teams.

• Track progress against business development targets on a monthly basis, flagging delays or emerging risks to the HoP in a timely manner.

• Prepare quarterly business development reports summarizing pipeline status, submissions, awards, and lessons learned.

• Translate organizational strategy and program priorities into actionable, time-bound business development plans.

2.2 Donor Mapping and Intelligence

• Maintain and continuously update a comprehensive donor mapping database covering institutional donors, foundations, UN agencies, pooled funds, and private sector partners relevant to IDA’s sectors of work.

• Monitor donor strategies, funding priorities, country/regional allocations, and calls for proposals to identify funding opportunities aligned with IDA’s mandate.

• Analyze donor trends and provide regular intelligence briefs to the Head of Programs and senior management to inform strategic positioning.

• Build and maintain a tracking system (funding opportunity tracker) capturing deadlines, eligibility, requirements, and internal go/no-go decisions.

2.3 Grant Seeking and Proposal Development

• Lead end-to-end grant-seeking processes, from opportunity identification through concept note and proposal development, to submission.

• Coordinate with program, MEAL, finance, HR, and operations teams to compile high-quality, compliant, and competitive funding proposals and budgets.

• Draft and/or review narrative sections, log frames, theories of change, and budget narratives, ensuring alignment with donor guidelines and IDA’s strategic priorities.

• Track submitted proposals and follow up with donors as appropriate, in coordination with the HoP.

• Maintain a record of win/loss rates and incorporate lessons learned into future proposal development.

2.4 Quarterly Gap Analysis and Funding Planning

• Conduct quarterly gap analyses comparing current and anticipated funding against program needs, identifying funding gaps by sector, geographic area, and program preference.

• Work with the Head of Programs and program managers to prioritize funding gaps based on strategic importance, beneficiary needs, and organizational sustainability.

• Develop quarterly resource mobilization action plans to address identified gaps, including target donors, timelines, and responsible focal points.

• Present gap analysis findings and recommendations to senior management on a quarterly basis.

2.5 Partnership Development

• Identify, cultivate, and maintain strategic partnerships with donors, INGOs, local NGOs, UN agencies, academic institutions, and private sector actors that strengthen IDA’s funding base and program delivery.

• Lead or support the negotiation of consortium agreements, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), and sub-award/partnership agreements, in coordination with relevant departments (programs, finance, legal/compliance).

• Represent IDA in coordination forums, networks, and partnership platforms relevant to its sectors and geographic areas of operation.

• Support due diligence processes for new partners and ensure partnership documentation is properly maintained.

2.6 Donor Engagement and Representation

• Attend donor meetings together with the Head of Programs, and independently when required, to present IDA’s work, discuss funding opportunities, and strengthen donor relationships.

• Prepare briefing materials, talking points, and follow-up documentation for donor meetings and visits.

• Act as a key point of contact for donor inquiries related to funding opportunities and partnerships, escalating to the HoP as appropriate.

• Support donor visibility requirements and ensure donor relationship management is conducted professionally and consistently.

2.7 Coordination and Reporting

• Provide regular updates to the Head of Programs on business development activities, pipeline status, and partnership developments.

• Coordinate closely with Program, MEAL, Finance, HR, and Communications teams to ensure proposals and partnership agreements are realistic, costed, and deliverable.

• Contribute to organizational strategy discussions, providing a funding and partnership perspective.

• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Head of Programs in line with organizational needs.

Requirements

3.1 Education

• Bachelor’s degree in international relations, Development Studies, Business Administration, Public Health, or a related field is required.

• A master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred.

3.2 Experience

• A minimum of 5–7 years of progressive experience in business development, grants acquisition, partnerships, or program development within the NGO, humanitarian, or development sector.

• At least 2–3 years in a senior or managerial business development role, with demonstrated success in securing institutional grants.

• Proven track record of developing successful proposals for major donors (e.g., ECHO, BHA/DoS, GFFO, BMZ, GAC, UN agencies, pooled funds, or similar).

• Experience working in the Syria response or similar complex humanitarian/development contexts is highly desirable.

• Experience leading or contributing to consortium-based proposals and partnership agreements.

3.3 Skills and Competencies

• Excellent written and spoken English; Arabic language skills are an asset.

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to translate donor strategies and program data into actionable funding plans.

• Excellent proposal writing, budgeting, and editing skills.

• Strong negotiation and relationship-management skills with donors and partners.

• Sound understanding of donor compliance requirements and grant management cycles.

• Strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities simultaneously.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); familiarity with CRM or donor-tracking tools is an advantage.

• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across departments and with external stakeholders.

• High level of initiative, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Willingness to travel as required for donor meetings, partnership engagements, and field visits.

4. Key Working Relationships

• Internal: Head of Programs, Program Managers, MEAL, Finance, HR, Communications, and Senior Management Team.

• External: Institutional donors, UN agencies, INGO/NGO partners, consortium members, and other strategic stakeholders.

5. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Timely delivery of monthly and quarterly business development plans and reports.

• An up-to-date and comprehensive donor mapping database.

• Number and value of proposals submitted and grants secured against annual targets.

• Accuracy and usefulness of quarterly funding gap analyses, with corresponding action plans developed and implemented.

• Number and quality of new or strengthened strategic partnerships.

• Donor and partner satisfaction with engagement and responsiveness.

Independent Doctors Association does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, and committed to acting professionally and ethically. Independent Doctors Association is zero tolerable with any SEA case, IDA is creating the best environment to make sure that all staff have understood SEA and how to report in case there is any suspected case

How to apply

https://form.jotform.com/222122339786963

Interested candidates may apply through the above link:

Female Candidates are highly encouraged to apply,