Your mission <p style="border:0px solid;margin:0pt 0px;color:rgb(32,32,32);font-family:Inter, '-apple-system', 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', 'Open Sans', 'system-ui', '-apple-system', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji';font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;text-transform:none;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);line-height:1.38;">Maliasili is a dynamic and innovative organization that is taking a different approach to drive locally-led conservation impact in Africa. We find the best local African conservation organizations and make them better by strengthening their organizational performance, leadership, and resourcing so that they can achieve greater impact. Our partner portfolio includes outstanding local and national organizations at the forefront of wildlife conservation, land restoration, and coastal fisheries. Our partners are pioneering conservation approaches grounded in community and indigenous land rights, generating economic opportunities from nature-based businesses, and restoring ecosystems across many of Africa’s most important landscapes. <p style="border:0px solid;margin:0pt 0px;color:rgb(32,32,32);font-family:Inter, '-apple-system', 'system-ui', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', 'Open Sans', 'system-ui', '-apple-system', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji';font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;text-transform:none;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);line-height:1.38;">Since its founding over a decade ago, Maliasili has built a portfolio of roughly 55 partners working across over 64 million hectares of critical landscapes and ecosystems in seventeen countries. We have helped our partners generate or leverage more than $27.3 million in funding for their work, developed a growing set of tools to help improve their organizational performance, and supported many of our partners to grow their impacts in the field significantly. Our goals are to build a portfolio of Africa’s best local conservation organizations, help them collaborate and learn from each other, and scale up their community-based conservation work on the ground and their leadership capacity within the conservation field. Your profile <h1 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">Role Summary</h1>The Deputy Director, Partner Funding, executes Maliasili's partner funding strategy by developing fundraising methodologies, leading direct fundraising support to partners, and serving as the primary fundraising interface with the portfolio team. This role is instrumental in building the fundraising capacity of both partners and Maliasili's own team, ensuring that portfolio partners have the strategies, skills, and opportunities to secure long-term, flexible funding. Working under the strategic direction of the Director of Collective Action and Funding, the Deputy Director translates funding strategy into practical tools, guidance, and support. This role requires the ability to move between practical, on-the-ground work with partners and higher-level strategic thinking, assessing partners’ funding needs and supporting them to find clear, actionable solutions while also working to shift funder systems to build more and better money for local organizations. The Deputy Director also deputises the Director, Collective Action and Funding, co-holding the strategic direction of the Collective Action & Funding pillar and ensuring leadership continuity. This is a remote, hybrid work-from home/occasional office position that will require frequent travel.<h1 style="line-height:1.56;margin-top:18pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">Strategic Context</h1>This role is central to achieving Maliasili's 2026-2030 strategy and directly supports all four strategic goals. By building partners' fundraising capacity, the role strengthens their organizational resilience (Goal 1) and empowers their leaders (Goal 2). By developing methodologies for securing more and better funding, it directly advances Goal 3 (Improving and Increasing Funding). And by ensuring partners are well-resourced, it enables their full participation in collective action and advocacy (Goal 4). This position is critical to achieving Maliasili's targets of mobilising $65 million through the VUMA Fund.<h1 style="line-height:1.56;margin-top:18pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">Responsibilities</h1><h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:16pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">Partner Fundraising Strategy & Support</h3><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Conduct strategic diagnoses of partners' fundraising challenges and collaboratively design effective, context-specific solutions.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Provide direct, hands-on fundraising support to partners and portfolio managers on complex or high-stakes funding opportunities and challenges, serving as a trusted advisor and strategic thought partner.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Design and lead clustered fundraising workshops and gatherings, creating peer-learning environments that build skills and generate new funding opportunities.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Identify and broker new funding opportunities for partners, connecting them with aligned donors and supporting their engagement strategies.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Provide dedicated fundraising strategy and support to VUMA and other partner-led funding mechanisms, helping them build their own resource mobilization capacity.</li></ul><h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:16pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">Strategic Funding Initiatives</h3><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Support the fundraising and strategy for the VUMA Fund, engaging donors and building momentum to secure the necessary resources.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Support the Director in implementing the overall resource mobilisation strategy to achieve the $65M goal, with a focus on innovative, partner-centric approaches.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Identify and explore new funding sources that can improve partners' access to flexible, long-term capital.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Contribute to thought leadership on the role of Maliasili partners in conservation funding, drawing on direct experience with partners.</li></ul><h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:16pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">Portfolio Team Interface & Collaboration</h3><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Serve as the primary interface between the Collective Action and Funding (CAF) team and the portfolio team, ensuring seamless coordination and support.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Work collaboratively with Portfolio Managers to triage partner fundraising needs, identify opportunities, and ensure timely and effective responses.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Collaborate with the Senior Manager, Grantmaking and Partner Funding, to ensure a smooth transition from fundraising and proposal development to grant administration and reporting.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:'Franklin Gothic', sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Collaborate with the Senior Manager, Grantmaking and Partner Funding, to build partners capacity from stronger donor pipelines to overall improvements in their donor diversity and funding portfolios.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Partner with the Communications team to develop compelling narratives and materials that support partner fundraising and position the VUMA Fund.</li></ul><h2 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:16pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">Fundraising Methodology Development & Portfolio Team Support </h2><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Lead the development and codification of fundraising methodologies, tools, and practical guides for use by the portfolio team and partners.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Design and deliver training for portfolio managers to strengthen their ability to diagnose and support partner fundraising needs.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Establish and manage a regular cadence of communication and collaboration with the portfolio team, including internal clinics, fundraising “office hours,” and strategy sessions.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Lead internal learning initiatives to build organization-wide understanding of fundraising practices, brokering approaches, and the principles of trust-based philanthropy.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Integrate fundraising tools and methodologies into the OD Hub and other organizational knowledge-sharing platforms. </li></ul><h3 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:16pt;margin-bottom:4pt;">Deputising the Director</h3><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Deputise the Director, Collective Action and Funding, co-holding the strategic direction of the pillar and providing leadership continuity.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Represent the CAF team and Maliasili in relevant internal planning, coordination and external forums as needed.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Make strategic decisions within delegated authority in the Director's absence, ensuring the pillar's work continues to advance.</li></ul><h2 style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:18pt;margin-bottom:6pt;">What Success Looks Like</h2><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;"><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Partners report increased fundraising ability, confidence, and success as direct results of the support, training, and tools provided.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">The portfolio team is equipped with high-quality fundraising methodologies and guides, leading to more effective and consistent partner support.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Clustered fundraising workshops and gatherings result in new funding secured and strengthened peer-to-peer relationships.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:'Franklin Gothic', sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">The Collective Vision Fund is effectively positioned and on track to meet its fundraising targets.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">A strong, collaborative relationship exists with the portfolio team, characterised by clear communication, mutual trust, and effective fundraising triage.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">The role effectively deputises the Director, ensuring strategic alignment and operational continuity within the CAF pillar.</li><li style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;">Contribution to achieving Maliasili's overall funding targets ($65M through VUMA and $15M brokered/influenced) is clearly demonstrated.</li></ul>Reporting and SupervisionReports to: Director, Collective Action and Funding Collaborates with: Portfolio Managers, Senior Manager (Grantmaking and Partner Funding), Communications team, Director (Leadership and Learning), and other members of the Senior Management Team.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PARTNER FUNDING @ Maliasili

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