AddressThe Director will play an important role in advancing the objectives of Land O’Lakes Venture37’s organizational Growth and impact strategy. The Director is an experienced business development professional with established relationships with US Government customers, including USAID and preferably USDA, and experience working in agriculture development and economic growth. The Director’s focus will include influencing and executing the organization’s USAID and USDA competitive bid strategy, alongside managing key customer and partner relationships. She/he will be an active participant in intel gathering and proposal development, including leading proposal efforts, to drive quality, competitive project designs and proposals. She/he will also lead execution of customer development plans, with support from other team members, and cultivate new customer and stakeholder relationships including the development of international and local private sector and NGO partnerships. The Director will have multiple direct reports and is expected to travel 20% of the time.
Strategy and pipeline development
Drive business development strategy through active pipeline development, with a particular focus on key customers USAID and USDA, ensuring early intel capture and targeted pursuit of priority customers and procurements.
Identify funding trends and contribute to bid analyses and capture plans to position V37 competitively.
Manage and update opportunities and contacts in Salesforce.
Proposal Development
Lead, develop and mentor proposal managers and other team members as assigned.
Oversight, mentorship and support to non SGP staff and partners contributing to proposal efforts.
Leadership of key proposals critical to Veture37’s business development strategy
Conduct in-country reconnaissance to collect/analyze data informing proposal design
Customer and partner relationship development
Leverage, cultivate and deepen relationships with key customer contacts globally; leverage networks and deepen understanding of key influencers to strengthen institutional relationships and create pathways to new funding opportunities.
Contribute to the development and execution of customer development strategies; retain strong working knowledge of strategies to guide capture efforts and deepen institutional knowledge base.
Draw on technical acumen to serve as informed representative of V37 in key customer meetings.
Leverage, cultivate and expand relationships with implementation partners including international NGOs, businesses and academic institutions.
Marketing
Conduct marketing trips to meet with key customers and lead customer visits to Land O’Lakes to influence program design
Position V37 for new business opportunities through speaking engagements and attendance at industry events
Required Experience/Knowledge (to be able to perform this job):
Master’s Degree in International Development, Business Administration, Agriculture, Economics or related field plus a minimum of ten years relevant work experience, or combination of additional education and experience to total ten years
Outstanding relationship-building skills and client-centered approach to partnership development
Demonstrated experience, knowledge and success orchestrating and leading winning USAID bid strategies and proposals
Significant experience in proposal leadership roles including leading and writing proposals
Demonstrated understanding of emerging trends in international agriculture/economic development
Demonstrated ability to work with technical leads to conceptualize and develop program designs
Experience in leading and working with multi-cultural staff, including awareness of and sensitivity to working with multi-cultural groups in multiple socio-economic settings
Proven team building and staff development experience with ability to mentor staff on proposal development.
Ability to write and/or review – including proposals sections, concept notes, RFI responses and marketing materials
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
Ability to travel and work effectively in emerging economies
Preferred Experience/Knowledge:
Demonstrated experience, knowledge and success orchestrating and leading winning USDA bid strategies and proposals
Experience living and/or working in developing countries,
Experience with program management
Experience working on projects with an agriculture focus;
French and/or Portuguese language skills;
Experience with non US government customers including other bilateral, multilateral or foundation donors
About Land O'Lakes, Inc.
Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.
We provide a broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best. Land O'Lakes is Where Your Future Takes Root.
Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/Vets/Disabled. The company maintains a drug-free workforce, including post-employment substance abuse testing pursuant to a Drug and Alcohol Policy.
Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.
