Position Title: Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO)

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Employment Type: Full-time

JaRco Consulting is a leading international consulting firm headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with operations across East Africa and beyond. We specialize in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), delivering evidence-driven insights to donors, NGOs, UN agencies, and private sector actors. With expertise across agriculture, livelihoods, health, nutrition, gender, and capacity development, JaRco is committed to driving impact through high-quality research, evaluation, and advisory services.

The Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO) is a senior leadership position responsible for shaping and executing JaRco’s global growth strategy. The CBDO leads the organization’s business development function, ensures strategic alignment with corporate goals, and positions JaRco as a partner of choice for international donors and clients.

The role provides executive oversight to the Business Development Manager and team, ensuring high-quality proposal development, strategic partnerships, and market expansion. The CBDO also plays a critical role in external representation, stakeholder engagement, and guiding JaRco’s long-term business positioning.

 Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Define and lead JaRco’s overall business development strategy in line with the organization’s mission and long-term goals.

• Supervise and mentor the Business Development Manager and team to ensure delivery of high-quality outputs.

• Provide executive-level guidance on capture planning, competitive positioning, and partnership strategies.

• Advise the CEO and Board on donor trends, funding landscapes, and strategic opportunities for growth.

Business Development Oversight

• Oversee the full lifecycle of business development activities including market intelligence, opportunity identification, proposal development, and post-award negotiations.

• Ensure proposal quality by reviewing and approving technical approaches, budgets, and compliance with donor requirements.

• Lead high-value and strategic bids, especially with multilateral and bilateral donors.

• Develop, strengthen, and institutionalize business development processes and systems across the organization.

Partnership and External Relations

• Cultivate and maintain high-level relationships with donors, government agencies, NGOs, and private sector partners.

• Represent JaRco in global forums, donor consultations, and strategic networking events.

• Negotiate consortium agreements, subcontracts, and partnerships to secure competitive positioning.

Organizational Development

• Contribute to corporate strategy, resource mobilization, and financial sustainability planning.

• Identify and support capacity building for staff to enhance JaRco’s competitiveness and market reach.

• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability within the Business Development Unit.

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree (or higher) in International Development, Public Policy, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.

• At least 10 years of progressively senior experience in business development, fundraising, or program design within the international development sector.

• Demonstrated success in securing large-scale, multi-country projects from bilateral and multilateral donors.

• Proven leadership and management experience with ability to supervise teams and drive organizational growth.

• Strong technical writing, strategic communication, and negotiation skills.

• Native-level proficiency in English is required; knowledge of French or other international languages is an asset.

How To Apply

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit their applications by email to hresources@jarco.info Please use the subject line: Your Full Name – Chief Business Development Officer Application.

Applications must include:

• A cover letter highlighting your leadership experience, achievements, and vision for business development.

• An updated CV with a clear track record of securing and managing high-value donor projects.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
JaRco is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.