Director, Partnerships, and Business Development
- Career Category: Research / Development, Advocacy, Business Administration, Community Development, Social Work
- Schedule:Full-time
- Salary: Negotiable
Institution: Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI)
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Reports to: Executive Director
Contract Type: Full-time, Senior Leadership Position
Contract Duration: 1 years, renewable based on performance and funding availability
Position Summary
The Director, Partnerships, and Business Development , is a senior leadership role responsible for implementing CDRI’s institutional strategy and business plans, with a particular focus on long-term financial sustainability. While resource mobilisation and business development remain core responsibilities, the role goes beyond individual bids or proposals. The Director is expected to strengthen CDRI’s overall approach to partnerships, donor engagement through strategic partnership-building and funding diversification. Combining strategic insight with practical implementation, the Director will strengthen organisational systems, develop innovative services, and diversify revenue streams to support long-term growth.
The Director will work closely with the Executive Director, Chief Economist, Chief Operating Officer, and Centre Directors to position CDRI as a preferred long-term partner for governments, development partners, and regional institutions, while ensuring internal systems and incentives support delivery of this ambition.
Success in this role will be reflected in a more diversified and predictable funding base, stronger long-term partnerships, and institutional systems that support strategic prioritisation and financial sustainability.
- Strategy Implementation and Institutional Sustainability
- Lead execution of CDRI’s institutional strategy and business plans, converting priorities into actionable initiatives that address operational and financial sustainability.
- Foster innovation by developing new products, services, and funding models that enhance CDRI’s competitiveness and relevance in the evolving development landscape.
- Conduct market analysis to identify emerging funding opportunities and position CDRI as a high-value solutions provider.
- Execution of funding strategy, including donor mapping and basket fund policies.
- Oversee operationalisation and management of the basket fund mechanism to improve coordination, transparency, and effective use of pooled donor resources.
- Building Partnerships, Resource Mobilisation and Stakeholder Engagement
- Drive resource mobilisation through building a diversified, strategic, and sustainable funding portfolio aligned with CDRI’s mission and long-term goals.
- Manage the end-to-end proposal development and donor relations process to secure and steward funding effectively.
- Cultivate and maintain long-term strategic partnerships with development partners, government agencies, the private sector, and regional think tanks.
- Serve as a primary liaison to deepen collaboration and institutional impact.
- Support senior leadership in leveraging institutional networks for strategic growth and organisational performance.
- Institutional Branding and Communication
- Work with the Communications and Research teams to enhance CDRI’s brand visibility and reputation.
- Collaborate with Communications to develop outreach materials and institutional profiles to support partner engagement.
- Strengthen CDRI’s presence across digital platforms, conferences, and policy dialogues.
- Internal Collaboration and Capacity Building
- Collaborate with research centre directors to identify funding priorities and pipeline opportunities.
- Provide training and mentoring to researchers on proposal writing, donor communication, and partnership management.
- Establish systems for business intelligence and donor tracking to ensure efficiency across the institute.
- English - Fluent is required
- Khmer - Good is required
- Postgraduate Degree in International Development, Business Administration, Economics, Public Policy, or a related field.
- Progressively responsible experience in strategy implementation, organisational change or institutional development in complex organisations, business development, fundraising, or partnership management for 7 years as a minimum
- Proven experience contributing to and leading successful resource mobilisation efforts with major donors bilaterial and multilateral agencies, foundations, research and university and individual donors.
- Strong understanding of the development research ecosystem and funding landscape in Southeast Asia.
- Demonstrated ability to lead strategic initiatives and deliver results under pressure.
- Fluency in English; Khmer proficiency.
- Background in management consulting, organisational transformation, or strategy roles within development, research, or policy institutions.
- Experience in strategic organizational development or business strategy.
- Experience in strategic communications or institutional marketing.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and networking skills.
- Ability to drive institutional growth and adapt to changing environments.
- Skilled at building and maintaining trust-based partnerships with high-level stakeholders.
- Proactive and results-oriented approach to identifying new revenue streams and sustainability models.
- High ethical standards and commitment to transparency.
