Business Development Manager

Organization: FUNDES International
Posted: February 9 2010
Location: San José, CR

About FUNDES

Since its foundation in 1984, FUNDES has been a pioneering and visionary organization in developing the region's private sector. Its efforts have focused on strengthening the business capacity of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in order to improve their position in the markets and transform the sectors, regions, and overall business-enabling environment.

FUNDES's efforts have set the pace for creating a business development services market in Latin America geared toward the MSME. Likewise, it has helped prioritize MSMEs on the development agenda of governments, the private sector and international entities, all of which support FUNDES to carry out its mission.

As of 2009, FUNDES is operating in 10 countries throughout Latin America, encouraging the development of MSMEs, along with 175 direct collaborators and more than 450 external consultants. FUNDES is headquartered in Costa Rica.

The International Business Development Manager at FUNDES International will lead and strengthen FUNDES' regional strategy to improve the competitiveness of MSMEs, resulting in better market access, higher profitability and better efficiency, through the identification, design and implementation of regional and country level BDS projects. For such a duty he/she will engage public sector institutions, large corporations, private foundations or international organizations as customers, partners or founders. Internally, he/she will manage teams of project managers, experts and consultants. He/she will report directly to FUNDES Internacional Executive Director.

Tasks and responsibilities

Assessment of business opportunities (projects) and target markets.
Intelligence gathering on customersand competitors.
To maintain and update institutional actors, sectors and areas of interest, financing and operational mechanisms and key contacts (in accordance to the established business plan).
Prospection of key contacts.
Development, negotiation and signature of proposals.
Advising on, drafting and enforcing sales policies and processes to country offices.
To identify projects according to cultural, social, international and political context of the clients.
Relating the services of FUNDES with the necessities and expectations of the interested clients.
Optimizing the use of shared resources of the organization for the planned projects and in execution.
To provide consolidated information and with an enterprise vision of the projects that are developed in the organization.
Monitoring the execution of projects (progress reports to the client, client satisfaction monitoring, accomplishment of stages and indicators).
Formal proposalor presentationmanagement and writing.
Pitch and presentation proposals.
Representation and promotion of FUNDES internationally.
To generate information for internal and external dissemination of success stories, best practices and learning generated.

Requirements

Academic level of MA or MBA.
Minimum 10 years work experience in a consulting practice (experience in Latin America).
Proven track record in business development including increasing and diversifying income streams and strengthening and expanding core practice.
Track record in successfully preparing proposals for financing incl. grants and programs.
Capable to apply and to integrate the processes of projects management.
Manage the risk and the opportunity of a project, as well as the interdependences between them.
Capable to transmit complex concepts to different audiences (written, verbally and in graphics)
Ability selling intangible assets
Knowledge, experience and leading-edge thinking at a strategic level of the international development and private sectors, relevant actors and relevant developments concerning FUNDES core business (advisory/consulting practice).
Strong involvement with small and medium enterprises, preferably in developing countries.
Proven track record in management of diverse and decentralized teams of professionals in an innovative setting; able to lead, stimulate, inspire and coach professionals in a proactive and entrepreneurial development context.
Self propelling, result-oriented.
Motivated to work in mission driven international organization.
Capable of maintaining long-distance working relationships and of working in a small team.
An inspiring, effective and skilled communicator in both English and Spanish (verbally and written).
Highly skilled in multi-stakeholder engagement, especially with public and private sector actors and engagement in policy discussions at the highest levels of government. Experience working with multi-lateral and bilateral agencies preferred.
A strong networker with strong existing networks.
Willing and able to take risks. Businesslike and result oriented attitude. Innovative and creative.
Willingness to travel frequently (particularly in the region).
MS Office fluency.