Business Development Manager

Job summary

WFD's Business Development Manager will play a key role in delivering our ambitious Business Development Strategy, enabling the organisation to successfully bid for funding to expand its delivery of high-quality programmes across the world.

Job description

WFD’s exciting plans for growth include diversifying our donor funding and delivering our new business development strategy.

As our new Business Development Manager, you will play a central role in expanding our funding portfolio, unlocking new strategic partnerships, and scaling high-impact programmes across more than 50 countries.

Working closely with the Head of Business Development and Funding Partnerships, this role will

​Strategy - Actively engage in donor analysis; identifying emerging donor trends and contribute to the diversification of donor funding and the execution of our new business development strategy.​

​Systems -​Review and design effective business development systems and operating procedures.

​​Proposals - Lead funding opportunities with institutional donors (FCDO, ISF, EC and other bilateral European donors) including trusts and foundations when renewing or expanding WFD’s non-regional portfolio.

Person specification

• Track record of engaging with, developing and delivering business development strategies.
• At least 4 years’ experience managing end-to-end bid processes.
• Experience writing convincing bids for both grants and commercial contracts.
• Evidence of winning institutional funding.
• Strong understanding of donor landscapes.
• Experience working with global cross-functional teams.
• Strong proposal writing and budgeting skills.
• Proficient in business development systems and operations procedures including designing and implementing.
• Experience in consortium development and strong negotiation skills.
• Strategic and commercially aware.
• Highly organised and able to manage competing priorities.
• A confident communicator and collaborator
• Self-motivated and proactive.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,000, Westminster Foundation for Democracy contributes £13,326 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Apply by 25th May 2026. Upload your CV and Cover Letter directly to our website https://www.wfd.org/careers

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Resourcing Manager
• Email : recruitment@wfd.org

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@wfd.org

Further information

https://www.wfd.org/careers