RESOURCE ACQUISITION MANAGER
RESOURCE ACQUISITION MANAGER is available at WWF ZAMBIA COUNTRY OFFICE in Lusaka. Review the job description, requirements, closing date and application details below.
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1.0. INTRODUCTION – WWF ZAMBIA WWF is an independent conservation organization, with over 38 million followers and a global network active through local leadership in over 100 countries, WWF Zambia was established in 1962. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. At its core, WWF Zambia envisions a future where both people and nature thrive. The organization works across key thematic areas: Biodiversity, Food Systems and Green Economy and Climate Action. WWF Zambia operates in three key landscapes: the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, the Kafue System, and the Upper Zambezi. These landscapes are critical for sustaining biodiversity, supporting livelihoods, and enhancing climate resilience. Driven by science, advocacy, and multi-sector partnerships, WWF Zambia catalyzes impactful solutions that ensure communities benefit from healthy ecosystems while safeguarding vital habitats for future generations. WWF is hiring for the roles listed below: RESOURCE ACQUISITION MANAGER Location : Lusaka MAJOR FUCNTIONS The Resource Acquisition Manager is responsible for resource mobilization, strategic partnerships, and donor agreement management. The role oversees the organization’s resource acquisition efforts by leading the identification, pursuit, and development of funding opportunities for WWF Zambia, maintaining a strong donor pipeline, coordinating proposal development processes, and securing resources aligned with the Country Office’s conservation priorities. The Resource Acquisition Manager also works to build capacity and create an enabling environment for WWF-Zambia to develop strategic partnerships, which play a crucial role in advancing the delivery of conservation priorities. In addition, the role ensures the effective management of donor agreements, including quality assurance and timely compliance with donor requirements during implementation. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Resource Acquisition and proposal development · Develop, implement, monitor and keep up to date the WWF-Zambia fundraising strategy and annual work plans to advance WWF’s conservation objectives and increase income and regularly report on progress. · Conduct an environmental scan / frequent donor and potential funding mapping and provide donor intelligence (thematic orientations, modalities of engagement, entry points and forecasts); · Effectively lead Zambia Country Office’s proposal development process, in conjunction with the Conservation Director and other relevant staff, from capture to negotiation according to the WWF-Zambia proposal development process. · Ensure concepts and proposals meet all the requirements of donors and align with the Zambia Country Office’s strategy and conservation priorities to ensure effective and successful proposals, including a pipeline tracking system to ensure all proposals are recorded, tracked and escalated appropriately. · Work closely with the Finance team to ensure a smooth and effective budgeting process for proposal development, seeking active collaboration between members of the Country Office (CO) team, Region of Africa (ROA) team, external consultants, as well as other experts on development of robust and quality proposals. · Report proactively on the status of the pipeline and fundraising processes to WWF-Zambia CD, proactively sharing information on opportunities and fundraising challenges within the CO, but also with the ROA team with a view to strengthen collaboration and align actions. · Lead fundraising coordination with WWF-International and WWF ROA along with leads from WWF-Practices, Initiatives etc. to advance fundraising objectives. · Ensure lessons from the project development process are captured and applied to improve future proposals, promote information sharing and learning · Responsible for identifying, researching, developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with Public sector, Private sector and individual donors in close consultation and coordination with the WWF-Zambia Conservation Head and WWF fundraising teams across the network, with a focus on opportunities from the Africa Region. · Identify, scope and position WWF-Zambia as a partner of choice for new funding modalities such as direct awards, trust funds, tenders and complex consortia partnerships in line with WWF’s gatekeeping policies. · Supervise and coordinate the maintenance and upgrading of the fundraising database (C2G) to support strategy and decision-making by senior management; · Identify and oversee management of major reputational risks for WWF related to execution of grant contracts. · In coordination with the Country Director and program technical teams, draft capacity statements, past performance references, management plans and other relevant elements of the proposals. · Ensure that all project proposal processes are in line with the existing ESSF guidelines and standards Partnerships development and relationship management · Lead the development and maintenance of effective relationships with current and prospective donors; support the Zambia Country Office with networking and liaising with key in-country and international donors. · Identify key strategic partnerships for the country office and WWF as a whole, including civil society organizations, INGOs, UN and government entities, and develop and support strategies to cultivate partnerships on priority programs and initiatives. · Actively engage in and support Zambia Country Office’s communication work; ensure business development collateral (a portfolio of quality program and project proposals, research and evidence of impacts of WWF-Zambia work) are up to date and ready for sharing with potential donors. · Scope and develop partnerships with other organizations working in the international development, climate resilience and environment/ Natural resources sector and provide effective coordination for the establishment of proposal development working groups with representatives from key stakeholders within and outside the country office (consortium formation). · Act as focal point for WWF-Zambia in Network communities of practice on fundraising, public sector partnerships and corporate engagement as relevant. · Lead effort to integrate national-level fundraising strategy with the landscape conservation approach and design landscape-specific fundraising action plans; · Create opportunities for WWF-Zambia senior staff to engage regularly with different donors to position WWF-Zambia as a leading implementation partner. · Contribute to the advocacy process and support WWF-Zambia to influence and conceptualize programmatic priorities at the country and regional level. · Build trust and long-term partnerships with key donors and investors, ensuring that potential risks in project implementation are communicated to donors timely and adequately and that potential reputational issues are being addressed as quickly and effectively as possible. · Monitor overall donor and strategic partners outreach activities to ensure that relationships, content development, follow-up and reporting are being managed appropriately. · Work with program, communications, and fundraising staff from across the WWF network to develop a range of fundraising, communications and marketing materials to support WWF-Zambia’s conservation activities. · Actively participate in relevant donor meetings and networking events to further develop funding relationships. · Participate and contribute to relevant funding platforms to broaden perspective on industry trends, keep up to date on changes to funding and application processes and jointly influence donor funding architecture Donor Agreement Management · Facilitate signing of agreements with donors and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with local partners. · Monitor the adherence and compliance of grants and projects to the terms and donor’s requirements, including evaluations, branding requirements, project close-outs, assets handover, etc. · Coordinate regular program and financial reporting, overseeing compliance with contractual requirements. · Lead the quality assurance and effective management of donor agreements with WWF Zambia Country Office and overall quality assurance of project and programme development. Capacity Building · Strengthen the WWF Zambia Country Office institutional capacity to acquire relevant grants: · Provide adequate training to field staff on proposal development and grants management skills (including proposal-writing and report-writing). · Build staff and partner organization capabilities for successful grant acquisition and management. · Lead the management of the knowledge database to ensure information is shared among technical team, field program and other concerned staff, to capture new opportunities and track the ongoing grants. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES · Master’s Degree in Business Management, Law, Marketing, International Relations, Business communication, Development Studies or related fields; · At least 10 years of proven experience in business development, sales, financial resource mobilization, key account management, of which at least five (05) years have been in designing, developing and fundraising for transformational projects with INGOs/NGOs/ Not-for-profits/ and/or in a leadership role preferably within an International Development organizations or complex matrix environment. ● Experience in developing and writing project proposals for a broad portfolio of philanthropic actors, including but not limited to public sector, foundations, and corporate sponsors. ● Excellent oral and written communications skills in English; ● Knowledge and experience of the realities of conservation & development issues, donor strategies, funding instruments and contract administration ● Successful track record of cultivating funding partnerships across sectors. ● Experience of coordinating and negotiating with Government and donors at all levels. ● Excellent understanding of development partnerships, fund-raising, donor strategies, functions and international relations. ● Proven financial analysis skills which include, but are not limited to, preparing and reading financial dashboards, scenario planning, financial investment decision-making, business case development; ● Good understanding of conservation, development and political interests in the countries of WWF-ROA; ● Excellent interpersonal skills, and proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships, negotiate/mediate on issues, chair, resolve conflicts, and develop capacity; ● Self-starter with the ability to work quickly and efficiently to meet tight deadlines in and out of office hours; ● Strong cross-cultural skills and versatility in dealing with different types of partnerships; ● Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to the mission of WWF Zambia. WORKING RELATIONSHPS External He/she contributes to the overall decision making in the region. S/he works closely with staff in other departments on a daily basis, particularly with the Conservation and Finance teams at ROA and country level. S/he also coordinates and interacts with partner WWF National Offices, Global Programmes WWF International, especially staff who have relations with partners in the region (e.g., Public Sector Partnerships focal points in the National Organizations). Internal Interacts with government aid agency donors, embassies, national governmental institutions, non-governmental Organisations, academic institutions, business and industry leaders, the media, donors, specialists / consultants, and other stakeholders. EMBODIMENT OF WWF GLOBAL BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES Interested persons should have interest and align themselves with the WWF’s organization core values which are: Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration APPLICATION PROCEDURE Applications, consisting of a cover letter, a detailed CV outlining relevant qualifications and experience, and at least three (03) referees (including a current or previous employer), together with copies of academic and professional qualifications certified by the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA), should be submitted via email to wwfcareers@wwfzam.org. Please indicate the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email. Applicants for the Landscape Manager positions should also include the location they are applying for in the subject line. The closing date for applications is 11th August 2026 at 18:00 hours. Applications received after the closure date and time will not be considered and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
