With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.
Come join our 31,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!
Employee Contract Type:
Local - Fixed Term Employee (Fixed Term)
Job Description:
Purpose
The Business Development Manager is responsible for the coordinated operational delivery of the approved social enterprise programme revenue streams and delivering transformative programmes in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), livelihoods, food security, environmental resilience, community development and others. The post-holder will translate the approved Social Enterprise Model into a functioning, revenue-generating, mission-aligned commercial operation — building the necessary systems, teams, partnerships, and client relationships from inception.
The post-holder will also ensure that enterprise activities are efficiently planned, resourced, monitored, and reported; that client and partner relationships are professionally managed on a day-to-day basis; and that community enterprises, field operations, and professional services delivery meet agreed quality, financial, and impact standards.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Planning and Programme Management
- Develop and maintain the annual Social Enterprise Operational Plan — translating the Director-approved strategy and budget into monthly activity schedules, resource allocation plans, and delivery milestones across all four streams
- Coordinate activity scheduling across approved enterprise streams to maximise asset utilisation (particularly the water RIG and laboratory), avoid resourcing conflicts, and ensure that humanitarian emergency drilling responses receive priority access as required by organisational protocols
- Prepare monthly operational performance reports for the Business Development & External Affairs Director, including revenue tracking, cost variance analysis, pipeline status, key operational risks, preparing quarterly Board reports, annual enterprise reviews, and donor/investor updates
- Manage the enterprise-wide work planning system, ensuring all stream officers and support staff have clear weekly and monthly task plans aligned to enterprise priorities
Multi-Stream Enterprise Operations — Delivery Across SE1, SE2, SE3 and SE4
Water Infrastructure Commercialisation (SE1)
- Maintain the contract register for all water services engagements, tracking delivery milestones, invoice issuance, payment collection, and client satisfaction — liaising with clients including WARO Countries, MMDAs, GWCL, private developers etc on contract progress and technical queries
- Support the preparation of technical proposals and quotations for prospective water services clients using the approved pricing matrix; monitor the RIG and laboratory preventive maintenance schedule; and administer the water laboratory's Ghana Standards Authority accreditation requirements including sample logging, chain-of-custody documentation, and annual compliance reviews
Carbon Credit Programming (SE2)
- Provide operational coordination across FMNR sites and solar facilities — managing field visit logistics, community liaison scheduling, and MRV monitoring network operations, including the maintenance of the FMNR site database (GPS coordinates, tree cover data, farmer group records, and community consent documentation)
- Support the administration of the Community Benefit-Sharing Protocol, ensuring all benefit payments to farmer groups are accurately recorded and documented to audit and Verra/Gold Standard registry standards
- Track carbon programme milestones against the Project Design Document (PDD) timeline; assist with the compilation of MRV monitoring reports and data packs for the Validation and Verification Body (VVB); and coordinate EPA Ghana permit renewals and environmental management documentation
Community Product Enterprises (SE3)
- Manage the day-to-day operations of the community product enterprise programme — overseeing Community Enterprise Support Officers in their work with producer groups, coordinating the Community Enterprise Revolving Fund (disbursements, loan register, repayment tracking), and managing the quality assurance system including FDA-required batch testing and product inspection schedules
Commercial Professional Services (SE4)
- Manage the professional services pipeline through the CRM — tracking opportunities, coordinating the preparation of proposals, expressions of interest, and tender submissions, and ensuring all submissions are technically sound and delivered on time
- Coordinate the delivery of training and capacity building programmes; maintain the professional services portfolio (case studies, team CVs, past performance records) for commercial contract opportunities; and monitor all procurement platform registrations including UNGM, World Bank DACON, AfDB, and Government of Ghana portals
Marketing, Communications and Business Development Support
- Maintain and update the enterprise's marketing and client communication materials — including the capabilities statement, service brochures, professional services prospectus, and digital content — ensuring all materials remain current, accurate, and professionally presented
- Manage the enterprise's digital presence in coordination with the Business Development Director and Communications team: keeping the subsidiary website updated, maintaining linkedIn content, and coordinating product social media channels for SE3
- Coordinate the development of case studies, impact stories, and testimonials from completed contracts and community enterprises — working with technical staff to compile evidence and with Communications to ensure quality production
- Organise enterprise marketing events, sector conference attendance, and client engagement activities — managing logistics, materials, and follow-up communications
- Assist with market research: gathering intelligence on competitor pricing, emerging client needs, procurement trends, and carbon market developments to inform enterprise strategy
Financial Management, Compliance, Safeguarding and Reporting
- Monitor and report on the tax compliance calendar for the enterprise subsidiary, coordinating with the Finance & Compliance Officer to ensure VAT returns, WHT remittances, and PAYE submissions are prepared and filed on time
- Maintain the Capital Asset Register for enterprise assets under management, recording acquisitions, disposals, depreciation, and condition reports in line with the approved Capex governance framework
- Ensure all enterprise operations under management comply with WVG’s' safeguarding policy, PSEA framework, environmental standards, data protection policy, and Code of Conduct — and that all community partners, associate consultants, and commercial partners meet equivalent requirements
- Maintain Enterprise Risk Register, updating risk ratings and mitigation actions on a quarterly basis based on operational experience
- Support the annual Social Return on Investment (SROI) data collection process, coordinating with beneficiaries, community enterprises, and programme staff to compile the quantitative and qualitative evidence base
Partnerships, Stakeholder Relations & Capacity Strengthening
- Build and maintain productive working relationships with key operational partners and clients, including WV Countries from WARO, MMDAs, water utilities, FDA Ghana, Ghana Standards Authority, GEPA, community cooperative leaders, and associate consultants
- Support the Community Enterprise Graduation process: facilitating the transition of mature community enterprises from organisational support to market independence, maintaining productive alumni relationships
- Liaise with WVG programme teams to ensure enterprise activities are coordinated with, and complementary to, core development programming — avoiding duplication, leveraging shared assets, and maintaining community goodwill
- Identify training and development needs among AP and key project staff and coordinating relevant internal or external training as approved
- Provide on-the-job mentoring and coaching to relevant staff, building their skills in enterprise operations, client management, financial tracking, and report writing
- Support new staff induction within the enterprise team — ensuring new joiners understand the social enterprise model, their specific role, WVG’s systems, and compliance requirements
Knowledge, Skill & Experience
- A postgraduate qualification (Masters or equivalent) in Business Administration, Development Studies, Project Management, Environmental Management, Economics, or a closely related field.
- Prior experience in an international NGO, development finance institution, or hybrid development-commercial organisation.
- Familiarity with Ghana Revenue Authority compliance requirements, including VAT, WHT, and PAYE administration.
- A professional certification in project management (PMP, PRINCE2), financial management (ICAG, ACCA part-qualified), or a relevant technical discipline is desirable.
- The Social Enterprise Manager is an operationally strong, detail-oriented professional who combines a practical understanding of commercial enterprise with genuine commitment to development mission. The post-holder must be equally comfortable managing a contract delivery calendar, supporting a community producer group, preparing a client proposal, and monitoring a budget variance.
- A minimum of 6–8 years of progressive professional experience, with at least 4 years in a role with direct operational management responsibility
- Demonstrated experience managing operational programmes, projects, or commercial activities with a combined budget of at least GHS 100,000 per year
- Experience working within or alongside a social enterprise, commercial business, NGO earned income programme, or revenue-generating development initiative
- Practical experience in at least two of the four enterprise streams: water services, carbon or environmental programme management, community enterprise or cooperative development, or WASH professional services administration
- Experience in developing small to sized teams (3 staff)
- Demonstrable experience in client relationship management, contract administration, and business development support
- Experience working with community groups or cooperatives in Ghana or comparable sub-Saharan African contexts, with cultural sensitivity and an understanding of community enterprise dynamics
Applicant Types Accepted:
Local Applicants Only
