Head of Business Development

Head of Business Development

Contract type: Fixed term | Full time – 37.5 hours per week

Location: WaterAid Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka.

Salary: Monthly gross salary BDT 3,05,000/- with excellent benefits (Flexible for deserving candidates with strong track record and demonstrated credentials)

Change starts with water. Change starts with you.

Every day, millions of people live without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid exists to change that – for everyone, everywhere. Join us, and your energy will help unlock people’s potential and create a fairer future.

About WaterAid

We’re a global federation driven by one vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen.

About the team

The Business Development function is responsible for securing, diversifying, and growing institutional, bilateral, multilateral, corporate, and other funding sources to support the organisation’s strategic priorities and programme objectives. The team works closely with Programme, Technical, Advocacy, Finance, People, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) teams, as well as regional and global colleagues, to identify funding opportunities, develop competitive proposals, cultivate donor relationships, and ensure compliance with donor and organisational requirements.

About the role

This is a critical leadership position responsible for driving the organisation’s resource mobilisation agenda and securing funding to achieve the strategic objectives of the country programme. The role provides strategic leadership for business development and fundraising, including donor mapping and engagement, opportunity identification, donor intelligence, and development of high-quality proposals and concept notes.

The position leads the identification, pursuit, and submission of competitive funding opportunities from institutional, bilateral, multilateral, corporate, and other strategic donors. It also oversees opportunity tracking through the Restricted Income System (RIS), strengthens donor relationships, manages donor expectations, and ensures compliance throughout the grant lifecycle.

Working closely with Programme, Technical, Advocacy, Finance, People, MEL, and WaterAid global and regional teams, the role will maximise funding opportunities, strengthen fundraising capacity, and enhance WaterAid Bangladesh’s positioning with current and prospective donors. The position is based in Dhaka with regular field travel as required.

In this role, you will:

Strategic Management

• Lead and continuously strengthen WAB’s fundraising strategy to drive sustainable growth, innovation and diversification of income.
• Expand and sustain strategic donor partnerships, positioning WaterAid Bangladesh as a partner of choice and reducing reliance on limited or unrestricted income.
• Set fundraising priorities and targets aligned with the Country Programme strategy and maintain strong collaboration with WaterAid global and Federation teams.

Business Development

• Lead business development initiatives and identify strategic funding opportunities aligned with WAB’s country strategy and WASH priorities.
• Lead the development of high-quality proposals, concept notes and partnership arrangements, ensuring effective coordination with relevant teams and WaterAid counterparts.
• Develop strategic partnerships with donors, INGOs, consortium partners and other stakeholders to pursue high-value funding opportunities.
• Maintain donor intelligence, funding pipelines and proposal records to strengthen future business development and organisational positioning.

Fundraising

• Assess funding gaps and establish annual fundraising targets, priorities and timelines in line with programme needs.
• Proactively identify, track and pursue funding opportunities and build relationships with prospective donors and strategic partners.
• Represent WAB as opportunity owner for locally raised grants and coordinate with WaterAid UK, regional teams and Federation members on joint opportunities.
• Strengthen fundraising capacity across teams and ensure effective use of relevant WaterAid fundraising systems.

Grant Administration & Management

• Provide oversight of the restricted funding portfolio, ensuring grants are managed in line with donor agreements, budgets, workplans and WaterAid requirements.
• Monitor grant performance, expenditure, compliance, reporting and key milestones, working closely with Programme, Finance and PMER teams.
• Identify and manage delivery, financial and contractual risks, ensuring timely corrective action and escalation where required.
• Oversee grant set-up, amendments, reporting, audits, donor communication and timely close-out of grants.

These responsibilities will be reviewed with the line manager from time to time.

To be successful, you will need:

Education: Master’s degree preferably in Social Science, Development Studies, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Management, Marketing or any relevant discipline. Advanced degree from recognised overseas institution/University would be an advantage. 

Experience: Minimum 12 (twelve) years of relevant experience with reputed organisation, preferably with INGO. Years of experience may be relaxed for the candidates with fast track growth record or notable achievements. Proven track record of leading fundraising teams, building strong donor relationships, and securing and managing institutional, bilateral, multilateral, and corporate grants.

Skill, Knowledge and Competencies:

• Proven expertise in fundraising, business development and resource mobilisation, with experience securing and managing institutional, bilateral, multilateral, corporate, INGO and UN funding.
• Strong donor mapping, opportunity identification, donor stewardship and relationship management skills, with a sound understanding of donor trends and the fundraising landscape in Bangladesh and globally.
• Demonstrated expertise in proposal and grant development, with excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, networking and representation skills.
• Strong strategic partnership, consortium management and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to work effectively with global, regional and international teams.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop high-performing teams, with strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy, adaptability and professional integrity.
• Strong strategic thinking, planning, prioritisation, problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Sound understanding of WASH issues, development programming, gender equality, safeguarding, diversity and inclusion, with commitment to organisational values.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, online fundraising, CRM and donor management/database systems.

View the full job description here
Closing date: Applications close 05:00 PM BD time on 07 September 2026.
How to apply: Click Apply to answer the Pre-screening questions and upload your CV only.

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application?
At WaterAid, we strongly advise against using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that provides every applicant with an equal opportunity to succeed. We value hearing about your unique experiences and perspectives in your application, and, if shortlisted, during the interview as well.

Pre‑employment screening
To apply for this role, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to local law and WaterAid’s Safer Recruitment.

Our benefits
Festival bonus, provident fund, gratuity, life insurance for self, health insurance for self, spouse and children, cell phone allowances etc. are applicable as per policy provision.

Our Global Commitment:

Our People Promise

We will work with passion and focus to make sure everyone everywhere has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid is a place of purpose – where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have. We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are determined to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values. 

Equal Opportunities

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life and status. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, caste, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability status, neurodiversity, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation. 

Safeguarding

We are committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero- tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and to any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks (which can include counterterrorism, safeguarding and criminal records checks). 

Together, we’ll change the world through water.

Join us and be part of the change!