Business Development Manager

LOCATION: London, UK (remote options for suitable candidates will be considered on a case-by-case basis)

REPORTING TO: CEO

ROLE TYPE: Full-time, 1-year fixed-term renewable 

SALARY RANGE: GBP 55,000 - GBP 70,000

CLOSING DATE: 12th Jan 2025

ABOUT ARK 

ARK is a social enterprise, empowering local communities through the provision of agile and sustainable interventions to create greater stability, opportunity and hope for the future. 

We believe that strong, resilient communities are the foundation of local, national, regional and international development and stability – and ultimately a safer, peaceful and more prosperous world. At ARK, we have delivered research and programmatic interventions validating this approach in over twenty countries since 2008. As a social enterprise we work in partnership with communities, our donors, and other implementers to build local capacities, generate opportunity and bring about sustainable change. 
Learn more about our impact here:  https://www.ark.international/impact 

Purpose of the Role
The purpose of this position is to lead ARK’s business development efforts, working to secure new opportunities but also contribute to ARK’s strategy, ensuring we remain responsive to the needs of our clients and the communities we support. As such, this position includes managing project and proposal design and drafting, opportunity tracking, partner identification and engagement, competitor analysis, client engagement and strategy development.   

The role involves proactively identifying new opportunities and strengthening ARK’s market positioning, including representing ARK at market engagement events, meetings with potential partners, and industry events to showcase its expertise and build strategic connections.  

What you'll be doing

• Bid prioritisation, coordinating resources for bids and ensuring the coherence of all tender submissions.  
• Develop high-quality cross-cutting content and processes for business development and work closely with ARK’s technical leads to ensure ARK stays at the cutting edge of the sector. 
• Improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of ARK’s BD activity by directly contributing to tender submissions and mobilising team members and external resources to work on identified opportunities. 
• Work closely with the senior leadership team to prioritise opportunities and ensure adequate resources are allocated to our responses.  
• Manage the BD lessons learning process, driving continuous improvement of ARK’s BD activities. 
• Secure new projects by leveraging your successful track record in a previous BD or senior development sector role, innate understanding of our client’s requirements, and ability to write clearly and compellingly.  
• Work with the senior leadership team to develop our commercial strategy, including developing our commercial offer and positioning within the market.  
• Routinely scan relevant BD portals and frameworks to proactively identify new opportunities that align with ARK’s values and capabilities and build relationships with new donors and partners identified.  
  
  Strategic Market Positioning:  
• Work to enhance ARK’s visibility and influence within the sector. This includes building relationships with potential clients, strengthening partnerships, and identifying opportunities to align ARK with emerging trends and needs in the market.  
• Represent ARK at conferences, workshops, and meetings to promote its mission and capabilities.  
  
  Opportunity tracking:  
• Work with ARK’s senior leadership and Operations Team to identify framework and related business development opportunities.  
• Monitor framework call-down requests, expressions of interest and terms of reference for potential projects and keep up-to-date with all developments on government frameworks and other market developments, include partner identification and competitor analysis.  
• Proactively identify upcoming opportunities and seek to develop new relationships with potential donors and partners.  
• Coordinate bi-weekly business development meetings and ensure accurate tracking of the pipeline of future tender opportunities, regularly updating the senior leadership team on the BD portfolio. 
  
  Bidding process:  
• Conduct background research covering a range of different geographies and thematic areas, including stabilisation, security and justice, governance, conflict and peacebuilding, development and strategic communications.  
• Coordinate bid processes and author responses in coordination with relevant colleagues and partners.  
• Ensure that appropriate internal and external review teams are in place and that all content is provided to them on time.  
• Ensure the coherence and quality of all tender submissions.
  
  Business Development Strategy:  
• Lead the development of ARK’s Business Development strategy, working closely with the senior leadership team to understand strategic shifts in the sector and to identify new opportunities to grow ARK’s project portfolio and to diversify our offering and funding.  
• Maintain established relationships and build new ones with donors, partners and subject matter experts.  
• Work closely with ARK’s communications team to ensure we are well-positioned for future opportunities.  
  
  Networking and Representation:  
• Leverage your established network within the sector to identify opportunities, engage with senior stakeholders, and position ARK as a trusted and innovative partner.  
• Act as a public face of ARK at key sectoral events and conferences, driving efforts to enhance ARK’s brand and visibility.  
  
  Information management:  
• Support the aggregation of learning within the department and the development of more streamlined knowledge management processes related to core thematic areas and geographies. This includes coordinating with project teams to ensure examples of successful implementation and best practice are kept updated, as well as engaging with and augmenting ARK’s pool of Subject Matter Experts. 

Essential:  

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant subject (e.g. international relations, development studies, political affairs, peacebuilding, etc) or relevant experience.
• Extensive track record of successfully securing grants and contracts in this sector from governmental and non-governmental sources.  
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain high-level networks within the sector, with a proven ability to leverage these relationships for strategic positioning and collaboration. 
• Proven ability to develop high-quality technical and commercial proposals, with a strong understanding of financial and commercial strategy.  
• Strong analytical ability and excellent written English. 
• Well-organised with meticulous attention to detail.  
• Performs effectively under pressure and manages time well, respecting deadlines. 
• Strong communicator that works well as part of a team.  
• Detailed understanding of the organisations active in our key markets. 

Desirable: 

• Advanced degree in a relevant subject (e.g. international relations, development studies, political affairs, peacebuilding, etc) 
• Previous experience working on donor-funded projects and programmes in a project management, research or monitoring and evaluation role.  
• Relevant university education in the social sciences (political science, international development, etc).  
• A second language. 

Why join ARK?  

• Impactful Work: Your expertise will directly impact the lives of those in need.  
• Global Reach: Collaborate with international experts and local stakeholders.  
• Innovation: Engage in pioneering solutions for sustainable change.  
• Career Growth: Expand your horizons with varied projects and challenges.  

Our People  

Our team covers a diverse range of professional backgrounds, from diplomacy, humanitarian, development and the military, to the UN, civil society groups, multilateral organizations, journalism and the private sector.  

Smart: We think deeply about things. We’re proud of our institutional knowledge and our grounding in rigorous research, which we use to make informed decisions.   

Humble: Our work leaves little room for pride or arrogance. Our operating environment is constantly evolving, and we recognize out limitations. We believe in and rely on the education and experiences of others while remaining quick to read, invite feedback, and ask sensible questions.   

Accountable: Each of us want ARK, its partners, and beneficiaries to succeed. This means taking initiative, assuming ownership when necessary and never giving up on our beneficiaries. We are committed and accountable, to both our donors and the communities we serve.   

Collegiate: We know we are stronger together and that every contribution counts. We trust each other and always support each other.   

Outspoken: We tackle diverse challenges, and we always want to find the best solution to a problem. We aren’t afraid to share our opinions, and we want to hear those of others too.   

ARK Group is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. ARK Group does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs or sexual orientation. We welcome all kinds of diversity. ARK Group places human dignity at the center of its development and stabilization work and is this committed to the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adults. All ARK Group employees and related personnel are expected to share this commitment and only those who also uphold these values will be recruited as part of our team. This vacancy is therefore subject to a range of due diligence checks.