Investor Engagement & Growth Lead

Pipeline Development & Opportunity Leadership
• Own and drive the development, prioritisation and progression of the funding pipeline in line with organisational strategy
• Identify, assess and advance funding opportunities based on strategic fit, value and likelihood of success
• Lead the progression of opportunities through targeted and strategic donor engagement
• Track and analyse pipeline performance, using insights to refine prioritisation and improve conversion

Strategic Donor Engagement & Growth
• Engage strategically with funders to deepen relationships and position SmartStart for future funding opportunities
• Identify and drive opportunities to expand, extend and grow existing donor partnerships
• Lead donor interactions that advance relationships, unlock opportunities and strengthen long-term partnerships
• Define and drive donor engagement approaches and journeys aligned to growth objectives

Proposal & Opportunity Development
• Drive the development of funding opportunities and shape proposal content, structure and key inputs
• Guide internal teams on proposal direction, framing and required inputs to ensure high-quality submissions
• Contribute to proposal positioning and strategic framing, aligned to organisational strategy and donor priorities

Market Intelligence, Partnerships & New Funding
• Interpret donor and market intelligence to inform pipeline prioritisation and engagement strategies
• Identify, develop and manage strategic partnerships with prospective funders and collaborators
• Lead the scoping and development of funding opportunities for new initiatives
• Translate insights and organisational priorities into actionable funding opportunities

Internal Coordination & Team Leadership
• Define required inputs, guide content direction, and align stakeholders for proposals and funding opportunities in collaboration with the Investor Portfolio & Grant Management Lead
• Coordinate across teams to ensure timely and high-quality development of funding opportunities
• Line manage and guide the Development Research Intern, ensuring research outputs effectively support pipeline development and donor engagement

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience
• Significant experience (6–10 years) in institutional fundraising, business development, or a related field.
• Demonstrate experience in securing and managing significant funding (typically exceeding R1m annually per funder) from institutional or strategic funders, including high‑value grants and partnerships
• Experience raising unrestricted or flexible funding from high-value institutional or strategic funders is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrate experience in managing funding pipelines, including progressing opportunities through defined stages and designing and implementing donor engagement journeys
• Experience coordinating complex processes across multiple stakeholders and functions

Specific Knowledge & Skills
• Ability to assess, shape, and advance funding opportunities.
• Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to interpret opportunities and position effectively with funders.
• Strong relationship‑building skills, including engaging and influencing external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including proposal development and donor engagement.
• Ability to manage multiple opportunities, priorities, and timelines simultaneously.