Director, Donor Relations, Advocacy and Fundraising – Europe and Canada

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is a public-private partnership committed to saving children’s lives and protecting people’s health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries. The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. 

Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of more than a billion children and the prevention of more than 17.3 million future deaths, helping to halve child mortality in 73 lower-income countries and creating economic benefits of over USD185 billion for the countries. Gavi also plays a key role in improving global health security by supporting health systems as well as funding global stockpiles for Ebola, cholera, and other critical vaccines. When COVID19 struck, Gavi worked with partners to help shape the global response against pandemic and provide access to almost 2 billion doses of vaccines to people around the world – the fastest and largest rollout of vaccines in history. The Vaccine Alliance uses innovative finance mechanisms to secure sustainable funding and adequate supply of quality vaccines for the poorest communities in the world. Gavi brings together the public and private sector drawing on their expertise to modernize the immunization systems. Using the acumen of the private sector has helped unlock the latest technology – from drones to biometrics – to save millions more lives, prevent outbreaks before they can spread and help countries on the road to self-sufficiency. Learn more at www.gavi.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Since 2020, Gavi has raised $23 billion from public and private donors to support its vision of “leaving no one behind with immunization” and its ambitious plans to prevent killer diseases with vaccines and protect the world against global health threats.  A key part of Resource Mobilization and Growth, the Donors Relations, Advocacy and Fundraising – Europe and Canada – team drives sovereign and private sector fundraising and engagement, leveraging ODA, innovative financial instruments, and ambitious new public-private partnerships, in key industrialized markets with a particular focus on Canada, UK, Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The team also builds visibility and trust across a range of national, regional, and global forums through smart donor relations and campaigning with civil society advocates, parliamentarians and influential voices. 

Gavi is now preparing the road to its next replenishment for 2026 – 2030, in a context of poly-crisis for the international community. Support from existing donors and engagement of new donors will be critical to enable the organization to meet its objectives.

Gavi is looking for an experienced, passionate, and driven Donor Relations, Advocacy and Fundraising – Europe and Canada. The Director provides leadership, strategic direction, and management of Gavi’s relationships in a range of markets.

In the context of the preparation of Gavi next replenishment for 2026 – 2030, the Director supports the design and implements a strategy to mobilize political, diplomatic, and financial support from donors in his markets that will enable the organisation to deliver on its ambitious objectives.  

The Director manages senior donor and stakeholders’ relations in a set of markets under the purview of the team and provides strategic thought leadership on shaping and implementing ambitious prospecting and fundraising strategies towards new and existing sovereign donors, corporations, foundations, philanthropists, multilateral banks, and other key investors. 

S/he also oversees the relationship with donors that contribute to key innovative instruments and works closely with the development and innovative finance teams to ensure buy-in and alignment of donors investing in IFFIm (Gavi’s vaccine bonds) and other key mechanisms. 

Finally, s/he also drives the design and implementation of strategies for shaping and implementing ambitious approaches to enhance visibility, credibility, and trust in markets, regionally and globally, working closely with other Gavi leaders to promote and nurture a strong voice for the Vaccine Alliance in key forums (notably G7, G20) and leverage key influencers, civil society advocates, parliamentarians, and other champions.

•Lead, manage, and develop the Donor Relations, Advocacy and Fundraising – Europe and Canada team, and play a key part in the overall Resource Mobilisation and Growth (RMG)’s success by providing senior-level strategic business development and advice, and working collaboratively with other members of the RMG leadership;

•Provide organisation-wide guidance and co-ordination in envisioning, developing, and implementing strategies to mobilise core resources as well as funding for specific initiatives, notably in the context of the Gavi replenishment;

•Shape a comprehensive engagement strategy and build strong donor relationships in key markets to harness capital and ensure support; ensure systematic analysis of funding trends, develop funding targets and forecast income projections to ensure effective resource mobilisation, notably development of appropriate instruments and key alliances and partnerships with senior Governments representatives, senior corporate executives, and influential business platforms;

•Develop ambitious private sector partnership fundraising, building on the Gavi Matching Fund, and implement successful private sector approaches in key markets, to maximize private sector contributions into Gavi;

•Manage donor engagement on innovative financial mechanisms, working closely with development and innovative finance teams, to ensure donor buy-in and support for IFFIm and other instruments;

•Support Gavi’s involvement in global, regional, and market-level processes through partnerships with sovereign and private sector donors, civil society advocates, and other influencers and champions.

•Provide senior leadership, strategic advice, and high-level co-ordination in visioning, developing, and growing sovereign & private sector engagement, and efforts to mobilise funding and expertise in support of Gavi. Lead the team to produce strategic pitches, and business & investment cases, to grow sovereign and private sector resources;

•Stay abreast of relevant government policies and decisions and the corporate and foundation landscape. Drive the team to ensure systematic analysis of funding trends, develop funding targets, and forecast income projections to enable effective resource mobilisation in key markets. Identify financing structures and new sources of support to match future Gavi needs. Develop strategic options with senior management;

•Mainstream, across a broad range of critical markets, Gavi’s sovereign & private sector engagement and fundraising tools and instruments, e.g., the Gavi Matching Fund, and innovative transactions that have proven successful;

•Inform and drive negotiation and implementation of new instruments to leverage sovereign and private sector funding and lead associated transactions. Lead outreach to key financial and investors groups, pitch and negotiate financing mix (including existing and new funding windows);

•Think through, develop, pitch and structure complex deals and funding agreements. Build new public and private donor relationships at senior level and play a promotional role in generating new business.

•Provide leadership, expert advice, and co-ordination in envisioning, developing, and implementing campaign strategies to support the mobilization of funding and political support across key geographies;

•Help coordinate outreach in view of building support at international conferences and summits;

•Develop, broaden, and strengthen network of high-level influencers and advocates in support of Gavi’s mission. Identify and cultivate key champions, develop strategic options to raise trust and visibility;

•Actively engage and maintain senior level relationships with civil society leaders, parliamentarians, artists, talent and other champions as needed.

•Lead a team that initiates, negotiates, and tracks grant and partnership agreements and renewals;

•Define and drive market engagement strategies. Lead, mentor and coach Division Heads and their teams. Work with Heads and senior donor managers to ensure strong, trusted, and effective relationships with donors;

•Engage with Gavi Board members from donor countries, particularly in view of Board and Committee meetings; ensure regular dialogue with Board and Committees donor representatives and constituencies;

•Proactively address private and public donor needs and requests. Ensure team fulfils donor reporting requirements included in legal agreements. Oversee the delivery of critical evaluations, risk assessments, answer donor and partners’ requests and lead on high quality documentation and reports;

•Facilitate internal discussions across directors in the Gavi Leadership Forum and with their teams, to monitor progress and performance towards agreed log frames and deliverables;

•Lead on putting in place and managing effective instruments to forecast and track donor commitments. Drive best-practice public and private donor portfolio management. Capture learnings and share knowledge. 

•Lead and empower a team of resource mobilisation professionals, managing and supporting donor relationships and generating new and sustained business in markets. Manage team activities, lead, guide, coach and develop staff;

•Advise the team on development of engagement strategies in donor countries, building bi-partisan constituencies and mobilizing key champions. Lead and empower the team to build new public and private donor relationship at senior level and play a promotional role in generating new business;

•Provide onboarding and ongoing support, coaching and mentoring to team members; lead and coordinate the team’s work; cultivate a productive, collaborative working environment;

•Ensure effective collaboration with the Innovative Finance and Development Finance colleagues on IFFIm and other funding mechanisms;

•Facilitate effective partnerships and cross-secretariat initiatives aimed at implementing selected pillars of the resource mobilisation strategy. As needed, serve as the focal point with specific teams whose inputs are critical to the strategy process and act as lead in cross-Secretariat discussions;

•Lead on and carry out sensitive and strategic projects in accordance with the team objectives. 

•Provide executive advice and support to top management to help design and manage replenishment efforts and public and private resource mobilisation strategies;

•Serve as a member of the RMG leadership team; 

•Manage key relationships and initiatives;

•Advanced university degree in public or business administration, finance, or other relevant fields.

•Minimum of 15 years significant and progressively responsible professional work experience.

•Results-oriented individual, entrepreneurial and hand-on;

•Solid credibility in fundraising, business development including client relations and political advocacy, particularly in Europe;

•Familiarity with political and technical governmental decision-making processes;

•Understanding of both public and private sector perspectives and experience engaging with political and business leaders;

•Extensive background identifying and articulating strategic issues, trade-offs, and priorities;

•Excellent leadership & management skills;

•Strong technical, analytical, and project management skills;

•Track record in producing high quality work with short deadlines and make effective, timely decisions;

•Outstanding networking, representational, communications and negotiation skills. An ability to be proactive and persuasive;

•Demonstrated ability to work across institutional boundaries with various teams and utilise talent and expertise of team members in a productive way;

•High degree of discretion, tact, and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders at all levels;

•Fluency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint;

•Ability to adapt and work within a multicultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment;

•Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English.

•Excellence in management; established operational track record in achieving results.

•Exceptional tact, political, diplomatic, and interpersonal skills.

•Excellent networking, representational, communications and negotiation abilities; proactive and persuasive.

•Ability to cope with uncertainty.

•Demonstrated ability to build and sustain working relationships with a variety of constituencies, understanding of both public and private sector perspectives.

•Awareness of and sensitivity to political issues of Board members in all tasks.

•Ability to conceptualise, innovate, plan and execute ideas, as well as to impart knowledge and coach.

•Strong analytical skills; organised and detail oriented.

•A track record in producing high quality work on a variety of issues with short deadlines and make effective, timely decisions.

•Creativity and innovation, a self-starter with energy and enthusiasm.

•Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and across teams and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organisation.

•High standards of personal conduct and integrity.

•Written and spoken fluency in English;

•Written and spoken fluency in French, German or Italian highly desirable.

•Sovereign and private sector donors and partners; 

•Civil society leaders, parliamentarians and other advocates and champions;

•Multilateral development banks and international and bilateral agencies;

•Gavi Secretariat.

If you wish to apply, please provide a cover letter and resume by clicking on Apply. Deadline for applications is 14th March.

Please note that as a vaccine organisation and in order to provide duty of care towards its employees, Gavi is requiring its new employees to confirm that they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as a condition for pursuing employment with us. You can find out more by visiting this link.           

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In support of Gavi’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, we hire globally and welcome applications regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, national origin, family status, sex, gender identity or expression, physical characteristics, race, religion, spirituality or sexual orientation. Gavi has zero tolerance towards sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse as well as any form of discrimination or harassment. Everyone at Gavi is expected to conduct themselves with integrity and respect towards each other. Gavi is committed to creating a work environment that is safe and professional, therefore all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference checks. Read more here.

Gavi brings together the public and private sectors to save lives and protect people’s health by increasing equitable and sustainable use of vaccines against 18 infectious diseases. You will be joining an organisation at the centre of the international COVID-19 response, at the most critical time in global health in a lifetime. You will work in a culturally diverse environment with over 70 nationalities. You will collaborate with partners such as WHO, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank – and from business, civil society and government. And you will work in the first global health organisation to receive equal gender salary certification. Your unique experience, skills and talents can help us achieve our vision of leaving no one behind without the life-saving power of vaccines.