Business Development Manager

Organizational Background

JaRco Consulting is a leading international consulting firm based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, specializing in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL). We work across diverse technical sectors including agriculture, livelihoods, health, nutrition, gender, and capacity development. Our clients include international donors, NGOs, UN agencies, and private sector actors. We are currently seeking a dynamic and experienced Business Development Manager to help drive strategic growth and support the design of high-quality, competitive proposals.

Position Summary

The Business Development Manager plays a key leadership role in expanding JaRco’s global portfolio and strengthening its market presence. This position is integral to identifying new business opportunities, coordinating and developing competitive technical and financial proposals, and building strategic partnerships across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

This individual will oversee the full lifecycle of business development efforts, including the preparation of Expressions of Interest (EOIs), Concept Notes, and full proposals in response to solicitations from bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs, government agencies, and private sector clients.

The role requires strong strategic thinking, technical writing, project design, and stakeholder engagement skills, as well as the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams under tight deadlines.

Key Responsibilities

• Proactively identify and pursue new business opportunities aligned with JaRco’s strategic priorities.
• Lead or support the design, writing, and coordination of high-quality proposals, including the development of technical approaches, work plans, and budgets.
• Oversee proposal teams composed of internal staff, external consultants, and partner organizations.
• Collaborate closely with the COO and technical leads to ensure proposals are innovative, compliant, and competitive.
• Recruit and vet technical experts and key personnel candidates for inclusion in proposals.
• Establish and maintain relationships with donors, implementing partners, and potential clients to position JaRco for future opportunities.
• Coordinate pre-bid preparations, including analysis of competitive landscapes, teaming arrangements, and due diligence on prospective partners.
• Represent JaRco at networking events, donor consultations, and industry forums to promote the organization’s visibility and credibility.
• Negotiate contracts and support project startup in coordination with the COO and operational teams.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of donor priorities and trends, especially in international development and MEL.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Economics, Sociology, Agriculture, Statistics, Business Administration, Monitoring and Evaluation, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in business development, program design, or proposal development in the international development or consulting sectors.
• Demonstrated success in leading or contributing to winning proposals for bilateral or multilateral donors (e.g., USAID, EU, UN agencies, GIZ, DFID).
• Excellent technical writing and editing skills, with a strong ability to translate complex ideas into clear and compelling content.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills with experience in external representation and client engagement.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Language proficiency equivalent to that of a native English speaker is required