1. Location: Brussel (Belgium)
2. Working day: Full time
3. Vacancies: 1
4. Work modality: On site
Ayuda en Acción
Job description
A strategic partnership of European NGOs
Working together for a just and sustainable world free from poverty and hunger.
Alliance2015 is a strategic partnership of seven leading European INGOs working across 90 countries with a combined annual income of €1 billion to achieve greater scale and quality of humanitarian and development impact through smart collaborations. In an era of unprecedented disruption to traditional humanitarian and development financing—marked by significant ODA cuts and the closure of USAID operations—Alliance2015 requires effective operational coordination to maintain network cohesion, facilitate knowledge sharing, and support member organizations through these challenging times.
Position Overview
Job Title: Alliance2015 Director - Strategic Transformation & Business Development
Reports to: Alliance2015 President
Direct Reports: Alliance 2015 Hub staff in Brussels
Location: Brussels (with some travel)
Contract: Belgian open-end contract
Context & Strategic Imperative
The traditional development funding landscape has fundamentally shifted. With major bilateral donors reducing commitments and the closure of key funding streams, Alliance2015 must rapidly evolve from a coordination platform to a dynamic, entrepreneurial alliance that creates new opportunities for collective action. This role demands a transformational leader who can simultaneously drive innovation, build new partnerships, and position Alliance2015 at the forefront of global development discourse.
Role Purpose
The Director will serve as Alliance2015's chief opportunity architect and external catalyst, leading the organization's strategic transformation while building new ecosystems of influence and funding. This role combines entrepreneurial vision with facilitative leadership to unlock the collective potential of Alliance2015 members in an increasingly complex and resource-constrained environment.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Business Development & Opportunity Creation
5. Pioneer in identification of New Funding Ecosystems: Identify & profile emerging donors including climate funds, private foundations, impact investors, sovereign wealth funds, and innovative financing mechanisms
6. Build Strategic Partnerships: identify tech companies, academic institutions, think tanks, and other non-traditional partners to expand Alliance2015's influence and reach
Thought Leadership & External Influence
7. Position Alliance2015: Represent the alliance at high-level forums, conferences, and policy dialogues
8. Drive Policy Engagement: Identify policy gaps and opportunities where Alliance2015 can shape critical and emerging frameworks in areas like climate-food systems-development nexus, digital governance, and humanitarian-development coherence.
9. Cultivate Media Presence: Build Alliance2015's profile through strategic communications, thought pieces, and engagement with key journalists and influencers
10. Lead Diplomatic Engagement: Develop relationships with new EU leadership, emerging economy diplomatic missions, and multilateral institutions beyond traditional development actors
EU Institutional Relations
11. Navigate New EU Architecture: Build relationships across the European Commission's evolving structure, particularly focusing on the Green Deal, Digital Decade, and Global Gateway initiatives
12. Maximize EU Funding Access: Lead sophisticated bid development for EU programmes while identifying ways to blend EU funding with other sources
13. Engage with EU general policy framework: Position Alliance2015 as a key partner in developing new EU approaches to global challenges, particularly in climate-food systems-development integration
Internal Alliance ways of working
14. Facilitate Strategic Visioning: Lead Alliance2015 through strategic planning processes that align member organizations around new opportunities and approaches
15. Drive Collective Action: Design and implement initiatives that demonstrate the power of collaborative programming and advocacy
16. Build Internal Innovation Culture: Foster entrepreneurial thinking across the alliance while maintaining member autonomy and diversity
17. Strengthen Network Resilience: Develop new models of member engagement and resource sharing that increase collective sustainability
Administrative, Finance & Team Management
18. Oversee Brussels Office: Ensure smooth day-to-day operations and compliance with administrative requirements
19. Manage Direct Reports: Supervise 3 staff, conducting annual appraisals and ensuring staff development and team building
20. Liaise with hosted/seconded staff (4) and maintain effective working relationships
21. Prepare and manage budget and ensure financial reporting requirements are met
22. Support Governance Functions: Provide secretariat support to the Executive Board and President
Requirements
Person Specification
Essential Requirements
Strategic Leadership Experience:
23. Minimum 10 years in senior roles within international development, humanitarian aid and/or social enterprise, with at least 5 years in business development, strategy, or transformation leadership
24. Proven track record of securing major funding (€50M+) from diverse sources including non- traditional donors
25. Demonstrated success in building and leading multi-stakeholder partnerships
26. Existing legal right to live and work in Belgium
Entrepreneurial Capabilities:
27. Experience in organizational transformation or leading change in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
28. Track record of identifying and capitalizing on emerging opportunities in uncertain conditions
29. Ability to combine visionary thinking with practical implementation skills
External Relations & Influence:
30. Established networks across EU institutions, member state governments, and international organizations
31. Experience engaging with private sector, foundations, and innovative financing mechanisms.
Facilitative Leadership Style:
32. Exceptional ability to build consensus and drive action across diverse organizational cultures
33. Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships while driving ambitious results.
Communication Skills:
34. Outstanding written and verbal communication skills in English;
additional European languages highly valued
35. Ability to translate complex ideas into compelling narratives for diverse audiences
Desirable Qualifications
36. Advanced degree in relevant field (international relations, development studies, business)
37. Experience with existing core sectors in humanitarian and development action: climate resilience building, food systems transformation, civil society partnership strengthening;
and emerging sectors-climate finance, sustainable finance, digital development, etc.
38. Background in consulting, investment, or other performance-driven environments
39. Knowledge of Alliance2015 member organizations and their programmatic focus areas
40. Experience living or working in developing country contexts
Apply
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Send CV and cover letter to: by midnight CET on Sunday, 5th October 2025 .
We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.