Business Development Manager

Job description

ISD is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to safeguarding human rights and reversing the rising tide of polarisation, extremism and disinformation worldwide.

Why work for ISD?

ISD is not your ordinary think tank. We turn research into action that changes the world. Our insights don’t gather dust on shelves – they power the fight to protect democracy and human rights on the front lines. We’re committed to delivering real change, from the grassroots to the highest levels of global institutions. And we’re looking for passionate individuals who share our commitment to making a difference. Join us and be part of an organisation that’s making an impact.

ISD’s Guiding Principles of integrity, collaboration, agility and courage define who we are as a team and an organisation. These principles reflect our culture and guide the way we work and the choices we make.

Our benefits

• Flexible and remote working based on ISD’s Time Principles of trust, communication and flexibility.
• 25 days annual leave, plus 8 bank holidays.
• 1 week of additional paid time off over Christmas, outside of your annual leave entitlement.
• Additional paid time off for development.
• Sick pay and enhanced family friendly policies and compassionate leave.
• Company pension with 5% employer contribution.
• Annual personal development budget.
• Remote working budget.
• Employee Assistance Programme and dedicated counsellors for those working with potentially traumatic content.
• Inclusive wellbeing programme with regular wellbeing initiatives e.g. early finish on a Friday.

Salary

£35,000 – £50,000 per annum

Location

You may work from our office in central London, from home, or on a hybrid arrangement to suit you. Please note you will be required to attend the office occasionally for team meetings.

Hours

This is a full-time position, 40 hours per week. We are open to considering flexible working arrangements.

Contract type

Permanent

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

ISD is committed to promoting diversity throughout its workforce and aims for its team to be truly representative of all sections of society. We make a concerted effort to ensure our workplace, employment policies and organisational culture creates an inclusive, positive and progressive environment in which all members of our team are treated with dignity and respect. For further information about this policy or our recruitment practices, please email [email protected].

We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neuro-divergent people, carers, and people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

The role

We are looking for an experienced Business Development Manager to support the growth of our development portfolio both in the UK and abroad with government, foundations and private sector partners.

The Business Development Manager will report to the Senior Director of Project and International Operations and work closely with the Managing Director and relevant Directors of departments across our international team. They will support the design, development, and management of a series of exciting development opportunities to sustain ISD’s global portfolio of work seeking to counter hate, extremism and disinformation globally.

Key responsibilities include:

• Opportunity scoping (10%) – including monitoring funding opportunities on donor portals and websites, including open calls for proposals and commercial tenders aligned with programmatic priorities, and conducting targeted and systematic prospect research in alignment with programmatic priorities.
• Proposal development, bid management and quality oversight (60%) – including leading on all aspects of process management for new applications from planning to submission.
• Pipeline management and internal coordination (30%) – including managing ISD’s global funding pipeline and ensuring that data is accurate and up to date.

To view a full job description, please click here.

The ideal candidate

The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience in an institutional fundraising role, including managing complex application processes for grant funding and/or service provider contracts; researching and prioritising funding opportunities in line with strategic priorities; and maintaining a funding pipeline. Key to success in this role will be the ability to drive funding applications from start to finish, coordinating inputs from a range of internal stakeholders and external partners.

The role requires excellent attention to detail, impeccable writing skills, solid analytical skills to synthesise and translate draft content into compelling applications, and a proven understanding of institutional funder contracting and compliance requirements.

Please review our job description for essential criteria, and keep in mind that no candidate will meet every requirement in the advert. If your experience looks a little different from what we’ve identified, but you think you can bring value to the role, we’d love to hear from you.