Director, Public Funding and Partnerships

Overview

Director, Public Funding and Partnerships Jobs in Johannesburg, South Africa at Conservation South Africa

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

Position

Summary

This position is based in Cape Town/Johannesburg, South Africa, or Nairobi, Kenya. CI is launching an initiative to strengthen the financial stability of Africa’s Keystone Protected Areas (KPAs). These KPAs are critical for biodiversity conservation and serve as the core of larger ecological systems in landscapes. The role is responsible for developing and directing CI’s public fundraising and partnership portfolio for bilateral and multilateral donors for CI’s Africa’s Keystone Protected Areas initiative, working closely with the Director, Development & Communications, the Resource Mobilization Technical Assistance Facility team, and the Global Public Partnership team.

Responsibilities

Public Funding Opportunity Identification & Pipeline Management

• Identify, research, and map solicited and unsolicited bilateral and multilateral funding opportunities aligned with KPA Finance Initiative priorities.
• Monitor international and regional public donor priorities, policy developments, and conservation funding landscapes.
• Communicate relevant calls for proposals and donor intelligence to RM Managers, global programs, and regional teams.
• Maintain accurate fundraising pipelines and donor engagement records within institutional CRM systems.

Proposal Development & Grant Acquisition

• Lead the end-to-end development of large, complex public funding proposals, from concept through submission and contracting.
• Provide guidance, coordination, and technical support to RM TAF staff, CMPs, and government partners throughout proposal preparation, including timelines, partnership structures, risk analysis, resourcing, and donor terms and conditions.
• Draft and/or review proposal content, ensuring quality, coherence, donor compliance, and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Coordinate due diligence documentation and donor review processes as required.
• Collaborate with Finance, Project Delivery & Monitoring, and Grants Management teams to systematize proposal development processes and ensure effective handover from prospective to active grants.

Public Partnership & Fundraising Strategy

• Implement the Africa Fundraising Strategy to grow and diversify flexible and project funding from bilateral and multilateral donors.
• Work with RM TAF, global programs, regional divisions, GPP, and donor leads to develop and execute donor-specific engagement and fundraising strategies.
• Build and manage a diversified portfolio of public funding revenue in collaboration with RM Managers, CMPs, and partners.
• Coordinate with the FMU RM unit to leverage co-investment and blended finance opportunities and scale larger investments.
• Strengthen internal and external understanding of the role and value of global public donors within the KPA Finance Initiative.

Donor Stewardship & Partnership Management

• Strategically position the KPA Finance Initiative with priority public partners, including bilateral and multilateral donors, UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations, development finance institutions, and government entities.
• Act as RM TAF focal point for priority public donors, managing relationships in line with existing engagement strategies and in coordination with GPP.
• Cultivate long-term, high-impact partnerships by supporting dialogue, collaboration, and co-creation of funding opportunities with donors and partners.
• Represent CI and the KPA Finance Initiative in donor meetings, external stakeholder engagements, conferences, and relevant events, and backstop senior leadership as needed.
• Respond to donor inquiries and support ongoing stewardship throughout the funding lifecycle.

Additional Responsibilities

• Contribute to global policy initiatives around resource mobilization.
• Perform any other…

Title: Director, Public Funding and Partnerships

Company: Conservation South Africa

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

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