Business Development Manager - Africa

Business Development Manager, Africa

• Reports to: Director of Philanthropy 
• Work Location: Remote
• Travel: Up to 20% domestic and international

About Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT)

Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) sits at the nexus of participatory mapping, community-led development, humanitarian response, open data and tech. With a talented and diverse team spread around the globe, HOT is an NGO which supports a dynamic global community of thousands of dedicated volunteers using maps and open data for humanitarian response and the Sustainable Development Goals. Working with humanitarian and development partners like the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières, UN agencies, governments and others, the HOT community maps in solidarity with those affected by or at risk of disaster, contributing the maps and data aid workers need to do their lifesaving work.

About the Position

The Business Development Manager, Africa provides leadership in HOT’s efforts to successfully secure funding from a range of funders (foundation, bilateral, multilateral) in order to advance the work of HOT across the East & Southern Africa (ESA) and West & Northern Africa (WNA) Regional Hubs. The incumbent will have the experience and ability to collaborate across HOT to produce strong, well-researched funding applications that secure $2 million in annual revenue for HOT’s work in Africa. They lead strategy and donor engagement efforts in coordination with the Director of Philanthropy and Regional Directors and act as a network-builder both internally and externally. 

The incumbent will be responsible for all phases of grant management, including overseeing the grant calendar, grant writing and coordination, post-award acknowledgement, compliance, and successfully closing out grant projects with final reports to stakeholders. They will research, plan, and write a variety of types of grant proposals appropriate for different funder types.

They will thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment and demonstrate proactive leadership with an entrepreneurial mindset. They will be highly-organized, process-focused, and enthusiastic about working with program teams across HOT to assemble compelling funding proposals and able to convey the impact of open data and digital technology in humanitarian action and international development. This position requires innovative thinking and creativity to package HOT’s programs and vision in ways that attract, retain, and scale donor support.

This position is situated within the Fundraising team which is tasked with ensuring HOT has the resources, relations, visibility and positioning it needs to achieve its mission.

Responsibilities:

Relationship Management (30%)

Lead identification, positioning, and capture strategies for the right funding opportunities:

• Research, identify, and track foundation, institutional, and partner funding opportunities that are a match for HOT’s work in Africa in collaboration with the Director of Philanthropy and ESA and WNA Regional Directors.
• Analyze RFPs (Requests for Proposals) and guidelines, summarize requirements, and assess alignment with organizational goals.
• Build donor and partner relationships through regular engagement, including virtual and in person meetings and attending events, to scope and generate opportunities and influence donor strategies.
• Develop specific funding opportunities with donors and implementing partners.  [Note: This role is not necessarily the front line for all the relationships but would be the "account manager" supporting Regional Directors in constructive interactions.]
• Support ESA and WNA Hub staff to develop regional and country specific donor and partner relationships as needed. 
• Develop and use donor engagement strategies, donor pitch decks, and other written materials.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of prospective funders as well as funding ideas/concepts aligned with HOT’s mission.
  

Proposal Development (50%)

Lead and coordinate the process for grant/fee-for-service bid writing, submission, and follow up:

• Lead the overall concept note/proposal/bid development with the relevant team members including technical, operational, cost contributions, and all other relevant items within the submission package to ensure accuracy and timeliness.

• Review, edit, and write the final version of proposals and documents to ensure clear, cohesive, and impactful narratives with input from relevant teams as needed.
• Manage the development of complex proposals involving several teams and coordinate contributions, including guiding areas of collaboration and budget discussions. 
• Improve and further standardize HOT’s proposal development, review, and submission process, adopting industry good practices.
• Focus on continuous improvement to improve HOT’s win-rate over time. Follow up on applications submitted and responses received, including requesting feedback from donors on the result of the application and sharing learning from this feedback for future opportunities.
• Maintain a grants calendar and system to manage deadlines and submission status.
• Prepare required interim and final reports for funders, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
  

Collaboration & Communication (20%)

• Develop a strong understanding of HOT’s mission and programs, especially work led by ESA and WNA hubs.
• Maintain collaborative working relationships with all HOT teams to support information sharing and business development efforts.
• Maintain a working knowledge and understanding of current trends and best practices in the fundraising/grant writing sector.
• Strengthen the business development capacity of ESA and WNA teams through delivery of information, training, and tools. 

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of grant writing with a demonstrated track record leading successful funding proposals for $250,000 to $1 million+.
• Excellent writing, editing, and research skills with strong attention to detail and narrative skills.
• Understanding of international development, philanthropy, and funding trends.
• English-language fluency required. Professional proficiency in French is highly desired.
• Understanding of database management. Experience with NeonOne is a plus.
• Candidates based in the US, Europe, and Africa will be considered. 

Qualifications

• Familiarity with the philanthropic giving landscape for Africa and grant writing process.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple deadlines independently.
• A strategic thinker who has demonstrated resourcefulness in working collaboratively with various constituencies, solving problems, and leveraging storytelling to translate vision into compelling narratives.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to adapt to different audiences and cultures and to inspire and motivate others.
• Knowledge of open mapping, open data, and geospatial services is a plus.
• Discretion with confidential matters and willingness to travel as needed.

To Apply

Interested persons should submit a resume and cover letter explaining how the candidate's skills and experience align with this role:

In addition, candidates are required to submit:

• a professional writing sample that is no more than 2 pages.
  

Deadline for submission of applications is: Tuesday, August, 11th, 2026. 
Early submission is encouraged, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please note that this vacancy may close prior to the stated deadline should the volume of applications received exceed 250.