Resource Acquisition Manager

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
1.0. INTRODUCTION – WWF ZAMBIA
WWF is an independent conservation organization, with over 38 million followers and
a global network active through local leadership in over 100 countries, WWF Zambia
was established in 1962. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural
environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature, by
conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural
resources is sustainable and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful
consumption.
At its core, WWF Zambia envisions a future where both people and nature thrive. The
organization works across key thematic areas: Biodiversity, Food Systems and Green
Economy and Climate Action. WWF Zambia operates in three key landscapes: the
Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, the Kafue System, and the Upper
Zambezi. These landscapes are critical for sustaining biodiversity, supporting
livelihoods, and enhancing climate resilience. Driven by science, advocacy, and multisector partnerships, WWF Zambia catalyzes impactful solutions that ensure
communities benefit from healthy ecosystems while safeguarding vital habitats for
future generations.
WWF is hiring for the roles listed below:
2.0. RESOURCE ACQUISITION MANAGER
Location : Lusaka

2.1. MAJOR FUNCTIONS
The Resource Acquisition Manager is responsible for resource mobilization, strategic
partnerships, and donor agreement management. The role oversees the
organization’s resource acquisition efforts by leading the identification, pursuit, and
development of funding opportunities for WWF Zambia, maintaining a strong donor
pipeline, coordinating proposal development processes, and securing resources
aligned with the Country Office’s conservation priorities. The Resource Acquisition
Manager also works to build capacity and create an enabling environment for WWFZambia to develop strategic partnerships, which play a crucial role in advancing the
delivery of conservation priorities. In addition, the role ensures the effective
management of donor agreements, including quality assurance and timely compliance
with donor requirements during implementation.

2.2. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
2.2.1. Resource Acquisition and proposal development
• Develop, implement, monitor and keep up to date the WWF-Zambia fundraising
strategy and annual work plans to advance WWF’s conservation objectives and
increase income and regularly report on progress.
• Conduct an environmental scan / frequent donor and potential funding mapping
and provide donor intelligence (thematic orientations, modalities of engagement,
entry points and forecasts);
• Effectively lead Zambia Country Office’s proposal development process, in
conjunction with the Conservation Director and other relevant staff, from capture
to negotiation according to the WWF-Zambia proposal development process.
• Ensure concepts and proposals meet all the requirements of donors and align
with the Zambia Country Office’s strategy and conservation priorities to ensure
effective and successful proposals, including a pipeline tracking system to ensure
all proposals are recorded, tracked and escalated appropriately.
• Work closely with the Finance team to ensure a smooth and effective budgeting
process for proposal development, seeking active collaboration between
members of the Country Office (CO) team, Region of Africa (ROA) team, external
consultants, as well as other experts on development of robust and quality
proposals.
• Report proactively on the status of the pipeline and fundraising processes to
WWF-Zambia CD, proactively sharing information on opportunities and
fundraising challenges within the CO, but also with the ROA team with a view to
strengthen collaboration and align actions.
• Lead fundraising coordination with WWF-International and WWF ROA along with
leads from WWF-Practices, Initiatives etc. to advance fundraising objectives.
• Ensure lessons from the project development process are captured and applied
to improve future proposals, promote information sharing and learning
• Responsible for identifying, researching, developing and maintaining strategic
partnerships with Public sector, Private sector and individual donors in close
consultation and coordination with the WWF-Zambia Conservation Head and
WWF fundraising teams across the network, with a focus on opportunities from
the Africa Region.
• Identify, scope and position WWF-Zambia as a partner of choice for new funding
modalities such as direct awards, trust funds, tenders and complex consortia
partnerships in line with WWF’s gatekeeping policies.
• Supervise and coordinate the maintenance and upgrading of the fundraising
database (C2G) to support strategy and decision-making by senior management;
• Identify and oversee management of major reputational risks for WWF related to
execution of grant contracts.
• In coordination with the Country Director and program technical teams, draft
capacity statements, past performance references, management plans and other
relevant elements of the proposals.
• Ensure that all project proposal processes are in line with the existing ESSF
guidelines and standards
2.2.2. Partnerships development and relationship management
• Lead the development and maintenance of effective relationships with current and
prospective donors; support the Zambia Country Office with networking and
liaising with key in-country and international donors.
• Identify key strategic partnerships for the country office and WWF as a whole,
including civil society organizations, INGOs, UN and government entities, and
develop and support strategies to cultivate partnerships on priority programs and
initiatives.
• Actively engage in and support Zambia Country Office’s communication work;
ensure business development collateral (a portfolio of quality program and project
proposals, research and evidence of impacts of WWF-Zambia work) are up to
date and ready for sharing with potential donors.
• Scope and develop partnerships with other organizations working in the
international development, climate resilience and environment/ Natural resources
sector and provide effective coordination for the establishment of proposal
development working groups with representatives from key stakeholders within
and outside the country office (consortium formation).
• Act as focal point for WWF-Zambia in Network communities of practice on
fundraising, public sector partnerships and corporate engagement as relevant.
• Lead effort to integrate national-level fundraising strategy with the landscape
conservation approach and design landscape-specific fundraising action plans;
• Create opportunities for WWF-Zambia senior staff to engage regularly with
different donors to position WWF-Zambia as a leading implementation partner.
• Contribute to the advocacy process and support WWF-Zambia to influence and
conceptualize programmatic priorities at the country and regional level.
• Build trust and long-term partnerships with key donors and investors, ensuring
that potential risks in project implementation are communicated to donors timely
and adequately and that potential reputational issues are being addressed as
quickly and effectively as possible.
• Monitor overall donor and strategic partners outreach activities to ensure that
relationships, content development, follow-up and reporting are being managed
appropriately.
• Work with program, communications, and fundraising staff from across the WWF
network to develop a range of fundraising, communications and marketing
materials to support WWF-Zambia’s conservation activities.
• Actively participate in relevant donor meetings and networking events to further
develop funding relationships.
• Participate and contribute to relevant funding platforms to broaden perspective on
industry trends, keep up to date on changes to funding and application processes
and jointly influence donor funding architecture
2.2.3. Donor Agreement Management
• Facilitate signing of agreements with donors and Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with local partners.
• Monitor the adherence and compliance of grants and projects to the terms and
donor’s requirements, including evaluations, branding requirements, project
close-outs, assets handover, etc.
• Coordinate regular program and financial reporting, overseeing compliance with
contractual requirements.
• Lead the quality assurance and effective management of donor agreements with
WWF Zambia Country Office and overall quality assurance of project and
programme development.
2.2.4. Capacity Building
• Strengthen the WWF Zambia Country Office institutional capacity to acquire
relevant grants:
• Provide adequate training to field staff on proposal development and grants
management skills (including proposal-writing and report-writing).
• Build staff and partner organization capabilities for successful grant acquisition
and management.
• Lead the management of the knowledge database to ensure information is
shared among technical team, field program and other concerned staff, to
capture new opportunities and track the ongoing grants.

3 QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES
• Master’s Degree in Business Management, Law, Marketing, International
Relations, Business communication, Development Studies or related fields;
• At least 10 years of proven experience in business development, sales, financial
resource mobilization, key account management, of which at least five (05) years
have been in designing, developing and fundraising for transformational projects
with INGOs/NGOs/ Not-for-profits/ and/or in a leadership role preferably within an
International Development organizations or complex matrix environment.
● Experience in developing and writing project proposals for a broad portfolio of
philanthropic actors, including but not limited to public sector, foundations, and
corporate sponsors.
● Excellent oral and written communications skills in English;
● Knowledge and experience of the realities of conservation & development issues,
donor strategies, funding instruments and contract administration
● Successful track record of cultivating funding partnerships across sectors.
● Experience of coordinating and negotiating with Government and donors at all
levels.
● Excellent understanding of development partnerships, fund-raising, donor
strategies, functions and international relations.
● Proven financial analysis skills which include, but are not limited to, preparing and
reading financial dashboards, scenario planning, financial investment decisionmaking, business case development;
● Good understanding of conservation, development and political interests in the
countries of WWF-ROA;
● Excellent interpersonal skills, and proven ability to build and maintain strong
relationships, negotiate/mediate on issues, chair, resolve conflicts, and develop
capacity;
● Self-starter with the ability to work quickly and efficiently to meet tight deadlines in
and out of office hours;
● Strong cross-cultural skills and versatility in dealing with different types of
partnerships;
● Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to the mission of WWF
Zambia.

3.1. WORKING RELATIONSHPS
External
He/she contributes to the overall decision making in the region. S/he works closely
with staff in other departments on a daily basis, particularly with the Conservation and
Finance teams at ROA and country level. S/he also coordinates and interacts with
partner WWF National Offices, Global Programmes WWF International, especially
staff who have relations with partners in the region (e.g., Public Sector Partnerships
focal points in the National Organizations).
Internal
Interacts with government aid agency donors, embassies, national governmental
institutions, non-governmental Organisations, academic institutions, business and
industry leaders, the media, donors, specialists / consultants, and other stakeholders.
4.0. EMBODIMENT OF WWF GLOBAL BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES
Interested persons should have interest and align themselves with the WWF’s
organization core values which are: Courage, Integrity, Respect & Collaboration

5.0. APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Applications, consisting of a cover letter, a detailed CV outlining relevant qualifications
and experience, and at least three (03) referees (including a current or previous
employer), together with copies of academic and professional qualifications certified
by the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA), should be submitted via email
to wwfcareers@wwfzam.org.
Please indicate the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email.
Applicants for the Landscape Manager positions should also include the
location they are applying for in the subject line.
The closing date for applications is 11th August 2026 at 18:00 hours.
Applications received after the closure date and time will not be considered and
only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.