Program Manager - Donor (Female)

Please note that candidates who have already been interviewed for this position will not be considered for the re-advertised vacancy.

SECOURS ISLAMIQUE FRANCE (SIF) is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance and development aid worldwide. Since 1991, SIF has been working across more than 20 countries.

In Pakistan, we have been actively serving vulnerable communities & marginalized groups since 2010 by providing them humanitarian assistance during emergencies and supporting sustainable development programs in areas such as Child Protection & Child Wellbeing, WASH, Food Security & Livelihoods, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Education.

SIF is currently providing its services in all provinces of Pakistan, including Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan, KPK, and has a presence in 33 most vulnerable districts. In light of increasing challenges such as inflation, illiteracy, poverty, and climate change, SIF believes in enhanced collaboration between NGOs and government institutions to improve the well-being of children and alleviate community miseries.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING: As part of the implementation of the Child Safeguarding Policy (CSP), this position may have indirect access to children or personal data about children through program implementation, monitoring, and reporting. The incumbent is expected to fully comply with SIF’s CSP and ensure all project activities uphold the principles of child safety, dignity, and protection.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Strategic Business Development (30%)

• Develop and implement annual resource mobilization plans and funding targets aligned with the Country Strategy and in consultation with the Senior Management.
• Monitor and update funding pipeline performance, proposal success rates, and donor diversification efforts, and provide regular updates to Senior Management.
• Build the capacity of Program / Project Managers at CO and base offices and technical teams in proposal development, donor compliance, and business development practices.
• Develop and maintain proposal development tools, templates, and guidance materials.
• Identify opportunities for organizational growth, thematic expansion, and geographic diversification.
• Analyze project portfolio performance and identify opportunities for scale-up, follow-on funding, and long-term program sustainability.
• Make regular updates to Senior Management and the program team about the funding portfolio and the new possibilities / opportunities with the donors.

2. Donor Engagement & Partnerships (20%)

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with institutional donors (ECHO, USAID, UN, FCDO, BMZ, AHF, corporate CSR, foundations).
• Represent SIF in donor meetings, clusters, working groups, and external forums (UN, PHF, sector-specific meetings).
• Develop strategic partnerships, consortia, sub-grants, and joint proposals.
• Maintain regular communication with donors for upcoming calls, pipeline updates, and compliance requirements.
• Ensure networking and liaison with government, non-government, and private sector institutions to strengthen SIF’s visibility and partnerships.

3. Proposal Development & Innovation (25%)

• Ensure coordination and active engagement in SIF Annual Plan development process
• Lead end-to-end proposal development for all SIF and donor-funded projects, in close coordination with Base PMs, country Finance, MEAL, HR, and Logistics teams, following the SIF’s Project Management Plan (PMP) format.
• Use modern proposal techniques, including:
  • Theory of Change & Results Frameworks to link activities to outcomes.
  • Donor-centric storytelling to showcase impact.
  • Outcome mapping for complex, multi-sectoral programs.
  • Co-creation sessions with internal teams and partners for innovative solutions.

4. MEAL & Compliance Integration (15%)

• Integrate MEAL frameworks, indicators, and evaluation plans into proposals.
• Ensure proposals include safeguarding, gender, inclusion, and climate resilience measures.
• Validate proposal budgets for compliance, cost efficiency, and alignment with donor rules.
• Ensure findings from impact assessments, needs assessments, and endline evaluations are reflected in new proposals.
• Conduct regular monthly field visits to projects to collect data, case stories, and success stories for proposals.
• Ensure proper documentation of impact assessments, endline findings, and in-built needs assessments, incorporating lessons into new proposals.
• Ensure proposals meet donor requirements, technical standards, compliance, timelines, and PMP deadlines.
• Ensure Donor Accreditation process and registered SIF on different forums.

5. Coordination, Reporting & Knowledge Management (10%)

• Attend sector-specific and donor liaison meetings and represent SIF in relevant forums.
• Develop project briefs, capacity statements, and thematic summaries for different sectors.
• Maintain a BD dashboard, opportunity pipeline, and repository of proposals, donor templates, and tracking of deadlines.
• Ensure strong coordination with CPC and Base PMs to collect inputs, align technical data, and meet submission deadlines.
• Coordinate internal teams (Programs, MEAL, Finance, Logistics, HR) to collect timely technical, budgetary, and compliance inputs.
• Prepare quarterly and ad-hoc BD performance reports for SMT and senior leadership.
• Document lessons learned, innovations, case stories, and successful proposal approaches for future use.

KNOWLEDGE / STUDIES / DIPLOMAS:

• Master’s degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Economics, Public Policy, or related field.
• 5–8 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, or business development in humanitarian/development sector.
• Proven experience writing successful proposals for major donors (NDRMF, UN, ECHO, FCDO, EU, etc.).
• Strong analytical, research, and English writing skills.
• Strong understanding of donor compliance and BD processes.

HARD SKILLS / SOFT SKILLS:

Hard Skills:

• Proposal Development & Fundraising: Advanced skills in end-to-end proposal development, donor-compliant budgeting, logical frameworks, theory of change, and reporting.
• Donor Knowledge: Strong understanding of institutional donors (ECHO, USAID, UN agencies, FCDO, BMZ, AHF, foundations, corporate CSR), funding streams, and compliance requirements.
• Project Management: Proficiency in project management tools, PMP formats, timelines, and milestone tracking.
• MEAL & Results-Based Management: Ability to integrate MEAL frameworks, indicators, and evaluation findings into proposals.
• Research & Analysis: Strong skills in needs assessment, stakeholder mapping, market analysis, and competitive intelligence.
• Technical Writing: High-quality writing skills for proposals, concept notes, reports, project briefs, and capacity statements.
• IT & Software: Proficiency in MS Office Suite, project management software, and dashboards for tracking pipelines and donor submissions.

Soft Skills:

• Leadership & Coordination: Ability to lead multi-functional teams, mentor staff, and coordinate across departments to meet deadlines.
• Communication & Negotiation: Excellent verbal and written communication, donor liaison, and representation skills.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to identify opportunities, assess feasibility, and develop innovative solutions for funding and partnerships.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving: Strong critical thinking skills to evaluate donor requirements, project feasibility, and sector trends.
• Time Management & Multitasking: Ability to manage multiple proposals and deadlines simultaneously under pressure.
• Networking & Relationship-Building: Ability to develop partnerships with donors, government, NGOs, and private sector actors.
• Adaptability & Initiative: Proactive, flexible, and capable of navigating complex and evolving contexts.