Head of Business Development and Partnerships

• Job TitleHead of Business Development and Partnerships
• OrganisationWaterAid Uganda
• Reports ToCountry Director
• SupervisesBusiness Development Officer
• LocationKampala
• Experience7+ years in donor fundraising
• Deadline6 November 2026, 12:00 GMT

WaterAid is an international not-for-profit founded in 1981 and focused solely on clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene, working with communities in 22 countries.

WaterAid Uganda has worked in the country since 1982 and aims for everyone in Uganda to have clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene by 2040, working with government, civil society and communities.

The Head of Business Development and Partnerships secures diversified, sustainable funding for WaterAid Uganda and positions it as the go-to agency for WASH programming.

Strategy and Pipeline

• Lead the country funding strategy and annual business development plan.
• Use market intelligence, donor trends and competitor analysis to guide funding decisions.
• Shape the pipeline through donor mapping and prospecting, and keep pipeline data accurate.

Bids and Proposals

• Lead bid/no-bid decisions and challenge unviable opportunities.
• Lead concept notes, EOIs, proposals and pitches with programme, finance and policy teams.
• Make sure submissions have strong win themes and meet compliance requirements.

Partnerships and Contracts

• Lead donor and partnership engagement.
• Negotiate contracts, co-financing, risk allocation and donor terms.
• Build fundraising culture and donor literacy across the country programme.

Education and Experience

• Degree in project/programme management, social sciences, development studies, business administration, public health or equivalent experience; a master’s is an advantage.
• At least 7 years raising and managing funds from donors such as the EU, DFID, SIDA, NORAD and DANIDA.
• Extensive experience securing multi-million funding from institutional, corporate, philanthropic and private donors.
• Experience in consortium building, donor engagement, contract negotiation and co-financing.
• Experience working across country, regional and global teams.

Technical Skills

• Proposal leadership: Winning bids.
• Pipeline management: Forecasts and metrics.
• Contract negotiation: Donor terms.
• Market intelligence: Donor trends.

Soft Skills

• Networking: Donor relationships.
• Strategic thinking: Bid/no-bid calls.
• Entrepreneurial drive: Create opportunities.
• Coordination: Cross-team submissions.

Fixed-term contract, renewable based on performance and funding, with competitive salary and benefits. The exact salary is not stated.

• Senior Management Team seat.
• Shape a national funding strategy.
• Respected global NGO.
• Kampala-based.
• Senior pick among business development jobs in Uganda.

Apply through WaterAid’s careers page (Workable): click Apply, answer the pre-screening questions and upload your CV and a cover letter in English, both essential. Applications close at 12:00 GMT (3:00 PM Kampala time) on Friday, 6 November 2026.

You must show you are eligible to work in Uganda, and WaterAid runs background checks before hiring. WaterAid advises against using AI tools in your application. See more NGO jobs in Uganda.

• Quantify funds you raised.
• Name the donors you won.
• Show consortium bids you led.
• Write your own cover letter.
• Apply before 6 November.