Senior Manager, Donor and External Relations
Spark Microgrants
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Office
Location: Kigali • Rwanda
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Job Level
Tech Stack
About the role
- Lead the development and execution of Spark’s donor engagement and fundraising strategy for Rwanda in close collaboration with the Country Director.
- Identify, pursue, and secure new funding opportunities aligned with organizational priorities and growth plans.
- Oversee proposal development processes, ensuring strong coordination, quality assurance, and timely submission, while drawing on technical teams for content expertise.
- Provide leadership with insights on donor trends, funding landscapes, and partnership opportunities relevant to decentralization and community development.
- Create and steward relationships with institutional donors and strategic partners through structured engagement, updates, and high-level briefings.
- Serve as Spark’s senior representative with government and external stakeholders at a strategic and relationship-management level, ensuring alignment, visibility, and institutional support.
- Maintain senior-level relationships with MINALOC, LODA, MINECOFIN, and other government bodies, ensuring strong support and coordination for NF rollout and implementation.
- Represent Spark in high-level coordination platforms, donor forums, and strategic convenings to strengthen positioning and partnerships both in Rwanda and where relevant internationally.
- Oversee partnership agreements and MoUs from a strategic oversight perspective, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
- Provide strategic direction to the development of donor-facing and external communications materials, including success stories, presentations, and briefing notes.
- Ensure consistent, high-quality communication with donors on progress, milestones, and strategic developments, in coordination with program and communications teams.
- Lead high-level donor and partner engagements, visits, and visibility initiatives that strengthen institutional relationships.
- Lead and mentor staff within the Donors and External Relations function, including the Program Development Manager and Communications Officer.
- Contribute to organizational strategy, annual planning, and external positioning efforts.
- Act as deputy to the Country Director when required, supporting leadership of in-country operations and representing Spark externally at senior forums.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in international development, Communications, Business Administration, Public Relations, or related fields.
- Minimum 7–10 years of experience in donor relations, partnerships, fundraising, or resource mobilization within the nonprofit or international development sector.
- Strong knowledge of grant management, compliance, and proposal writing.
- Excellent communication skills—written, verbal, and presentation.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholder relationships.
- Strong people skills and cultural sensitivity.
- Demonstrated experience working with national level government.
- Experience in managing teams and serving on program/team management structure.
Benefits
- Equal Opportunity
- Reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in undue hardship to daily operations.
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
grant managementproposal writingfundraisingresource mobilizationdonor engagementstrategic planningcommunications materials developmentpartnership agreements oversightquality assuranceprogram management
Soft Skills
communication skillsleadershiprelationship managementcultural sensitivityteam managementorganizational skillsstakeholder engagementmentoringstrategic directionmulti-priority management
Certifications
Master’s degree in international developmentMaster’s degree in CommunicationsMaster’s degree in Business AdministrationMaster’s degree in Public Relations