Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have a long-term impact.
The Program / Department / Team
MicroMentor is an initiative of Mercy Corpsโ Innovations Team. MicroMentor connects entrepreneurs and business mentors on an easy-to-use social platform that strives to overcome geographical limitations and deliver business resources at scale to under-resourced communities around the globe. At MicroMentor we are committed to creating a world where entrepreneurs can pursue a thriving future for themselves, their families, and their communities. And, we give professionals and business people an avenue to pay it forward. Through the power of mentoring, we empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to create economic opportunities and jobs. We are the world's largest network of free business mentoring and a place where under-resourced entrepreneurs find the critical guidance they need for their businesses to survive and grow. MicroMentor has an expanding community, looking to add an additional 100,000+ entrepreneurs to our global community and 33,000+ mentors in FY23. Entrepreneurs matched with a mentor have shown significant results in terms of improved job creation, business survival, and revenue growth. Our team is diverse, driven, hardworking, and highly committed to the mission of supporting small businesses thriving through mentoring and to Mercy Corpsโ mission to support our worldwide team thatโs improving the lives of 19 million people in 40+ countries.
The Position
The Business Development Manager will be part of MicroMentorโs Sales and Revenue Team and will be responsible for developing and managing strategic and impactful partnerships to achieve MicroMentorโs revenue generation goals. The Business Development Manager will manage a portfolio of partnerships with clients and donors and will directly supervise the Business Development Representative.
The Business Development Manager is a results-driven, strategic thinker, and customer-oriented professional, with a strong record of successful business development and sales quota achievements. They have extensive SaaS and customer success experience and possess an in-depth understanding of virtual community management.
Essential Job Functions
PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT
Drive closure of proposals to support MicroMentorโs $6M revenue goal
Lead initial conversations with prospective partners to introduce MicroMentor and assess fit for the collaboration.
Ideate program design for prospective partners and develop concept notes and proposals in coordination with the Sales and Revenue team.
Shepherd existing strategic partnerships in the stead of the Business Development Manager, requiring business relationship management and product strategy skills to continue achieve program goals and renewals.
Serve as the business liaison between clients and the internal tech team to ensure client needs and challenges are shared and addressed via a client-centered product strategy.
Partner with the Impacts & Insights team to define and establish the right business metrics to monitor/report on numerous program goals & effectiveness.
Manage the development of custom projects in support of partnership goals
Build solid relationships and an extensive network with Mercy Corps HQ teams and country team partners, establishing shared values and clear communication.
Manage documentation of implemented activities including (as needed) meeting minutes, photos, case studies, and donor/partner reports.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
The Business Development Manager will have one direct report, the Business Development Representative.The main functions as a manager include:
Follow our mentoring culture, act as a mentor for their team.
Act in accordance with MicroMentorโs Ethos and support team member growth across the petals of MicroMentorโs Ethos
Plan and set goals with their team contributing to MM strategic objectives
Support the Business Development Representative to achieve their goals
Conduct performance reviews
Support their team with training and development career opportunities
STRATEGIC PLANNING
Support the operationalization of MicroMentorโs strategic framework via partnership design, sales, and donor and client management.
INTERNAL COMMUNICATION AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
Support internal communications and ensure knowledge management systems are up-to-date and accurate to support communication with other teams.
Ensure management of agency systems and adherence to HQ-related Program Management minimum standards.
Adhere to retention policies with the central filing of program files in agency servers.
Accountability
Reports Directly To Senior Director, Strategic Operations, MicroMentor
Works Directly With Senior Director, Finance and Administration, Senior Global Programs Officer, Global Programs and Innovation Manager, MicroMentor regional team(s), MicroMentor Departments: Product, Sales, Marketing, MERL, Finance and Compliance, MicroMentor mentors and entrepreneurs, MicroMentor customers, Mercy Corps country program staff, Mercy Corps HQ staff
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field - Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Global Development (Master's Degree is preferred)
At least 5+ years of program management, business & product strategy experience
Proven business development experience with corporate partners, with a preference for experience with e-commerce, financial services, and education/content for entrepreneurs
Proven experience managing complex partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders
Demonstrated ability to coach, supervise, mentor, develop, and lead team members
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Able to build and maintain effective internal and external relationships
Strong team player and communicator
Strong communication skills, both written and oral
Fluency in English
Passionate about entrepreneurship and the role of small businesses in economic development
Applied experience in implementing innovative solutions and achieving results
Experience designing programs with successful results
Proactive and able to work on own initiative
A problem-solver, adept in successfully dealing with issues of complexity
Strong analytical skills, and ability to synthesize complex information
Willingness and ability to travel internationally as required
Success Factors
Willingness to take the first steps and inspire others to follow
Big curiosity, and willingness to dive deep into new domains
Ability to manage uncertainty
Commitment to reflection and learning
Personal entrepreneurship experience a plus
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Portland, OR, or remotely in the U.S. with availability during Pacific Time Zone business hours. It requires up to 25% travel for fundraising and partner visits/events. This may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and developmentDiversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the worldโs most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact.We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.
Our screening process is designed to be transparent and completed in partnership with new Team Members. You will have the opportunity to disclose any prior convictions at the conclusion of the recruitment process before the check is initiated. We ask that you do not disclose any prior convictions in your application materials or during the recruitment process.
Covid-19 Vaccine Policy for US-Based Employees
Mercy Corps has determined that, in an effort to protect the health, safety, and well-being of all Mercy Corps employees working in the United States, all U.S.-based employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, regardless of prior COVID-19 infection status. This policy is necessary to ensure not only the safety of our workforce, but the ongoing functionality of the organization.
This policy will be revised as needed to comply with federal, state, and local requirements, and to respond to changing guidance from public health authorities.
For new employees this requirement goes into effect within 10 business days of employment. Team members that travel are expected to comply with host-country requirements, including vaccinations. Failure to comply may impact your employment. Proof of vaccination or exemption must be provided.