Senior Associate - Strategic Accounts

Role Overview

As Senior Associate on our Strategic Accounts team, you will be the engine behind VIDA’s growth across climate, energy, and resilience markets. Day to day, you will spot emerging funding opportunities, cultivate relationships with donors and delivery partners, and turn intelligence into winning proposals — directly shaping how our consultancy expands its portfolio and delivers meaningful impact in the communities we serve.

Key Responsibilities

• Proactively identify and develop new business leads using databases like DevelopmentAid, validating each opportunity against client needs, likely budgets, and VIDA’s strategic priorities.
• Track funding cycles, donor strategies, and competitor movements across climate, energy, and resilience to surface gaps where VIDA can compete effectively.
• Map and engage a network of potential partners — including engineering firms, consultancies, and specialist organisations — and maintain those relationships through regular, purposeful communication.
• Prepare outreach materials, support partnership agreements, and coordinate joint proposal efforts with external collaborators.
• Write and coordinate technical and financial proposals for major institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank, gathering technical inputs from our Data Solutions and Product teams.
• Keep our CRM (HubSpot) current and accurate so the wider business development team always has full visibility into pipeline activity and next steps.
• Analyse proposal and tender outcomes, capture lessons learned, and feed insights back into future bids and approaches.
• Produce and maintain business development collateral — pitch decks, one-pagers, and case studies — that reflects VIDA’s latest portfolio and demonstrated successes.

Requirements & Qualifications

• At least two years of professional experience with direct involvement in business development, partnerships, or consulting.
• A proven record of contributing to — or winning — new work through competitive tenders, direct procurement, or strategic partnerships, with a solid grasp of international development funding and procurement processes.
• Genuine familiarity with climate-related topics and the confidence to hold substantive conversations with clients, partners, and technical experts.
• Demonstrated ability to engage donors, clients, consultants, and senior stakeholders, using strong communication and influencing skills to position VIDA effectively.
• Comfort working across diverse geographies and cultural contexts, with sensitivity to local dynamics and remote collaboration norms.
• A Master’s degree in international development, environmental science, climate studies, energy, geography, public policy, economics, or a related field — though equivalent relevant experience can substitute for the degree.
• Location: East Africa, Germany, or within roughly two hours of Germany’s time zone, as our team spans Europe and Africa.

What We Offer / Why Join

• Mission-driven work that creates tangible change in real lives, with room to help shape VIDA’s culture and growth story from the early stages.
• A genuinely international team of more than 15 nationalities spread across the globe.
• VSOP participation — every full-time team member shares in the company’s success.
• Fully remote and flexible working, giving you control over when and where you do your best work.
• Modern tools and technology to support your role, plus annual budgets of €500 for learning and wellbeing and €500 for your home setup.
• 28 vacation days per year, on top of public holidays in your country of residence.