Senior Associate - Strategic Accounts

Role Overview

You will be the driving force behind VIDA’s next phase of growth in climate and energy, taking ownership of the entire business development cycle — from spotting early signals in the market to closing proposals with major international donors. Your days will mix deep research, strategic conversations, and hands-on bid writing, all aimed at turning VIDA’s technical expertise into funded projects that make a real difference on the ground.

Your work matters because every opportunity you uncover or win directly expands the organisation’s ability to deliver climate, energy, and resilience programmes across Africa and beyond. You’ll sit at the intersection of technical teams, external partners, and funding institutions, ensuring that VIDA is consistently visible, credible, and well-positioned for the right opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Proactively identify and develop new business opportunities using platforms like DevelopmentAid, cross-referencing donor strategies, active programmes, and emerging funding streams to build a robust pipeline.
• Qualify incoming and researched leads against client budgets, real needs, and VIDA’s strategic focus areas, deciding where to invest time and resources.
• Maintain an up-to-date competitive and market intelligence picture, tracking donor priorities, programme lifecycles, and competitor positioning to uncover white space.
• Map, approach, and nurture relationships with engineering firms, consultancies, and other potential implementation partners, building a network that strengthens joint bids.
• Lead the writing and coordination of technical and financial proposals, primarily for clients such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank, while also supporting direct procurement opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal Data Solutions and Product teams to gather accurate technical content, cost inputs, and innovative approaches that differentiate VIDA’s proposals.
• Keep the CRM (HubSpot) accurate and current, giving the wider business development team full visibility into opportunity status, next steps, and expected timelines.
• Produce and refresh business development materials — pitch decks, one-pagers, case studies, and capability statements — that reflect the portfolio and demonstrate tangible project success.

Requirements & Qualifications

• At least two years of professional experience with direct, hands-on involvement in business development, partnerships, or consulting environments.
• A proven record of contributing to winning work via competitive tenders, direct procurement, or partnership-led proposals, with solid knowledge of how international development funding and procurement actually function.
• Comfortable and credible discussing climate-related topics — climate adaptation, energy transition, resilience — with technical experts, clients, and senior partners.
• Demonstrated ability to engage donors, government clients, consultants, and senior stakeholders, using strong communication and influencing skills to steer conversations toward opportunities.
• Experience working across different geographies and cultural contexts, with the flexibility to collaborate effectively in distributed, multicultural teams.
• A Master’s degree in international development, environmental science, climate studies, energy, geography, public policy, economics, or a similar field is preferred, though equivalent practical experience is acceptable.
• Based in East Africa, Germany, or within roughly ±2 hours of the Central European time zone, given that the team operates across Europe and Africa.

What We Offer / Why Join

• Purpose-driven work that moves beyond software and deliverables to create measurable change in people’s lives, with the room to influence strategy and culture as the company grows.
• A truly international environment representing more than 15 nationalities across the globe, bringing diverse perspectives to every project.
• Ownership in the company’s success through a VSOP participation plan available to every full-time team member.
• Full remote flexibility, with the autonomy to decide when and where you work best.
• Modern tools and technology to perform your role effectively from any location.
• Annual budgets for learning or wellbeing and for setting up your home office, plus 28 vacation days and public holidays where you live.