Private Sector Engagement & Partnerships Manager
Are you interested to change the world by developing and contributing to Diakonia’s resource mobilization and financial sustainability strategically?
Diakonia is looking for a motivated and skilled professional to join the Global Business Development Team. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to resource development efforts, support strategic donor engagement, and work collaboratively with colleagues globally to secure funding that advances meaningful change around the world.
Dakonia works for a just, equal and sustainable future. Together with our partners and communities worldwide, we develop innovative and sustainable solutions to address the the world’s major problems. We strive for a world where all people can live with dignity, free from violence, discrimination and poverty. Diakonia’s principle organisations are the Uniting Church in Sweden and the Swedish Alliance Mission.
Role and responsibilities:
As the Private Sector Engagement & Partnerships Manager, you will contribute to Diakonia’s financial sustainability through strategic private sector engagement and partnership development. The primary focus of the role is to identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with corporate partners, philanthropic actors, and other private sector stakeholders to expand and diversify Diakonia’s funding base. Working in close collaboration with Business Development and other global and program teams, the role advances strategic positioning, proactive engagement, and innovative partnership approaches that align with Diakonia’s mission and long-term priorities.
You will carry out your responsibilities in accordance with Diakonia’s global policies and strategies guided by its feminist and human rights-based approach and core values.
Key areas of responsibilities:
- Lead the development and implementation of Diakonia’s private sector engagement and partnership strategy, aligned with organizational priorities and long-term sustainability goals.
- Build, manage, and strengthen strategic relationships with corporate partners, foundations, philanthropic actors, and other private sector stakeholders.
- Serve as the primary focal point for private sector engagement and partnership development, ensuring proactive outreach, consistent communication, and strong relationship stewardship.
- Identify and pursue strategic partnership opportunities, including corporate collaborations, multi-year partnerships, philanthropic engagement, and innovative financing approaches.
- Develop and promote tailored value propositions and partnership models for private sector engagement, including CSR, ESG-aligned partnerships and co-creation approaches.
- Strengthening Diakonia’s positioning and visibility within private sector and philanthropic communities through proactive networking, representation, and strategic engagement.
- Monitor and analyze private sector, philanthropy, and partnership trends to inform engagement strategies, organizational positioning, and opportunity prioritization.
- Support and advise country teams in identifying, cultivating, and managing private sector partnerships and engagement opportunities relevant to their contexts.
- Facilitate internal coordination and collaborate closely with Business Development, programs, communications, and country teams to ensure coherent and aligned engagement with partners and stakeholders.
- Contribute strategic input to private sector proposal development and partnership design processes, particularly on positioning, engagement approaches, and partnership framing.
- Ensure all partnerships and engagements align with organizational values, safeguarding principles, policies, and due diligence standards.
- Represent the organization in partnership platforms, donor forums, corporate engagement spaces, and external events to expand networks and strategic opportunities.
Experience and qualifications:
- Advanced university degree (master’s preferred) in business, international development, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience, with substantial experience working directly with private sector actors, corporate partnerships, philanthropy, or strategic stakeholder engagement.
- Proven track record of building, managing, and sustaining strategic relationships with corporate leaders, private sector representatives, foundations, philanthropists, and other high-level stakeholders.
- Demonstrated understanding of corporate culture and private sector engagement approaches, including the ability to navigate corporate and philanthropic environments, build trust, and engage credibly with senior executives and decision-makers.
- Established professional networks within the private sector and/or philanthropic sectors, with the ability to strategically leverage relationships and identify long-term partnership opportunities.
- Strong experience in partnership development, external representation, and resource mobilisation, including contributing to or leading successful funding and partnership acquisition efforts.
- Experience within international development and/or humanitarian contexts, with demonstrated understanding of human rights-based, feminist, and gender-just approaches, and willingness to work within and promote these values.
- Strong understanding of private sector, philanthropy, and broader funding trends relevant to international development and civil society organizations.
- Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, interpersonal, influencing, and networking skills, with the ability to translate insights into actionable engagement strategies and work effectively across diverse stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and coordinate across multiple processes in a dynamic international environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including high-quality external communication, negotiation, and representation.
- Strong digital and IT proficiency relevant to partnership development, stakeholder engagement, and business development processes.
This is a plus:
- Understanding of innovative partnership and financing approaches, including CSR, corporate sustainability and social impact partnerships, corporate philanthropy, blended finance, or shared-value approaches, is highly desirable.
- Full professional proficiency in English (written and spoken); additional languages such as Spanish, French, or Arabic are considered an asset.
We offer:
We offer you an exciting job in an international environment, where you make a difference. We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion and strive to recruit staff with different perspectives, experience and competences.
We are committed to provide a safe environment for all employees and the rights holders that we work with and support, with zero tolerance against breaches of these commitments. The Diakonia Code of Conduct is signed by all staff members.
Location: You may be based in one of Diakonia’s hub locations (Sweden, Kenya, Columbia, and Zambia/Zimbabwe) or in a country where Diakonia has an established presence and registered office.
Remote working arrangements from other countries may also be considered, subject to operational feasibility and local regulations.
Start date: As soon as possible, subject to mutual agreement.
Employment type: According to working context and local employment legislation
Application deadline: July 3, 2026.