Specialist, business development Full Time NEW

BD Specialist, Development-Trade & Private Sector Partnerships

The advisor will lead the development of innovative programs and partnerships positioning CDF Canada at the forefront of the trade–development nexus. The role focuses on building high-impact partnerships with Global Affairs Canada (GAC), other international donors private sector actors, and multilateral institutions, while designing competitive proposals that integrate development outcomes with economic and trade opportunities.

This position straddles program development, external relations, and strategy, and is responsible for identifying and structuring opportunities aligned with Canada’s and other international donor’s evolving international assistance priorities.

Core responsibilities

1. Strategic positioning and opportunity development

• Monitor and interpret GAC other donor  priorities, including trade–development nexus, private sector engagement, and Aid-for-Trade
• Identify emerging funding opportunities (GAC, other donor, IAIP, FinDev, MDBs)
• Position CDF early in program design phases (before calls are released)
• Develop strategic concept notes aligned with GAC and other donor priorities

2. Partnership building (this is the heart of the job)

• Build and manage partnerships with:
• Canadian private sector, SME and industry actors
• Financial institutions and impact investors
• Local partners in the Global South
• Multilateral organizations (World Bank, regional banks, etc.)
• Structure partnerships with clear roles (not symbolic partnerships)
• Facilitate collaboration between actors with different incentives (NGOs, private sector, public sector)

3. Program and proposal development

• Lead the design of complex, multi-partner proposals
• Ensure all proposals integrate:
• Development outcomes (poverty reduction, gender equality, climate)
• Economic/trade logic (value chains, market access, SME growth,certification, export market)
• Translate technical concepts (blended finance, value chains) into fundable program designs
• Oversee proposal writing processes (not necessarily write everything themselves)

4. Internal capacity building

• Support program teams in integrating trade–development approaches
• Develop internal tools/templates for partnership and proposal development
• Help shift organizational culture toward this hybrid model

Must-have experience

• 7–10 years in at least two of the following:
• International development programming
• Private sector engagement
• Trade facilitation
• Consulting or advisory (economic development, value chains, etc.)
• Direct experience with GAC or similar donors strongly preferred
• Experience building multi-stakeholder partnerships (not just managing them)
• Proven track record developing successful proposals or programs

Critical skillset

1. Translational thinking
2. Can move between:

• development language (gender, poverty, resilience)
• economic language (markets, investment, value chains)

1. Partnership structuring
2. Knows how to turn:

• “we should collaborate” → into actual roles, incentives, and deliverables

1. Strategic instinct
2. Can rapidly assess:

• where GAC or other donors are going (even when unclear)
• where funding will emerge

Personality traits

• Slightly impatient with traditional NGO processes
• Comfortable talking to both:
• senior government officials
• private sector executives
• Not ideological (this role requires pragmatism)
• Ability to work across teams.
• Excellent writing and analytical skills.
• Meticulous, self-starter who can work without constant supervision.