Senior Associate – Business Development Job Vacancy in Nairobi | Aceli Africa

Job Description

Senior Associate – Business Development

Location: Nairobi
Job Type: Full-Time
Experience: 5–7 Years
Education: Bachelor’s Degree required (Master’s preferred)
Functional Area: Business Development / Sales / Marketing

About Aceli Africa

Aceli Africa is a market-enabling initiative working to unlock more than $600 million in private sector lending for agricultural SMEs across Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia by 2025. The organization partners with approximately 40 financial institutions – including commercial banks, NBFIs, and impact lenders – to increase their appetite for lending to inclusive agricultural enterprises.

Through financial incentives and technical assistance, Aceli strengthens the capacity of high-potential SMEs to access and effectively manage financing. Launched in 2020, the initiative has mobilized $75 million in funding from leading global development partners and operates under the umbrella of Global Development Incubator, a U.S.-based nonprofit with an affiliated entity in Kenya.

Role Overview

The Senior Associate, Business Development will support fundraising, donor engagement, impact reporting, and strategic growth initiatives. This role works closely with senior leadership to sustain and expand Aceli’s funding base.

Key Responsibilities

1. Donor Engagement & Pipeline Management (40%)

• Build and manage relationships with current and prospective funders.
• Prepare proposals, concept notes, budgets, and renewal submissions.
• Track funding pipelines and provide regular updates to leadership.
• Develop briefing materials ahead of donor meetings and engagements.

2. Impact Reporting & Narrative Development (40%)

• Coordinate and produce donor reports (quarterly, semi-annual, annual).
• Translate program data into compelling impact narratives.
• Prepare materials for steering committees and donor requests.
• Ensure consistency and quality across donor-facing communications.

3. Strategic Initiatives & Fundraising Support (20%)

• Identify new funding opportunities and strategic partners.
• Improve fundraising systems and explore AI-driven efficiencies.
• Support preparation of board-level fundraising updates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 5–7 years’ experience in business development, grant management, or executive-level project coordination.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Proficiency in Salesforce, PowerBI, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• High ethical standards and professionalism.
• Willingness to travel occasionally and work across time zones.
• Experience in agriculture, African markets, finance, or impact storytelling is an added advantage.

Application: Interested candidates should apply via the Aceli Africa careers portal on SmartRecruiters.