The Opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to join the Senior Leadership Team at Plan International Australia as Head of Business Development and New Ventures. In this role, you'll drive transformational impact by securing and scaling commercial funding opportunities that enable our partner offices to create lasting change in the communities where we operate.

We're seeking an entrepreneurial leader with expertise in commercial contracting and innovative funding models to help progress PIA into a cutting-edge social impact organisation.

Who are we?

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.
We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years and are now active in more than 80 countries.

Plan International, at its core, commits to Safeguarding Children and Programme Participants. That means we uphold our obligations to ensuring no children or programme participants are harmed or put in danger, due to their affiliation, interactions, or involvement with the organisation, its members, or in any of our operations, initiatives, or activities.

What is it really like?

The Business Development & New Ventures team drives social impact by securing and managing large-scale institutional partnerships. We focus on commercial contracts ($1M+) with major institutions like World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and DFAT.

You'll build and oversee a diverse portfolio of institutional funding streams, with particular emphasis on commercial contracting and payment-by-results models. You'll work closely with Country Office partners to identify opportunities and develop competitive bids.

As a leader, you'll mentor and coach your team while fostering strong relationships with Senior Program Managers and institutional partners. The role offers flexibility between our Melbourne CBD office and remote work.

Who are you?

We're looking for a commercial contracting specialist with proven success in securing and managing large-scale institutional funding. You bring:

• Demonstrated experience with commercial contracts, particularly in government, multilateral or development sectors
• Track record of improving bid success rates and growing institutional partnerships
• Strong understanding of fee models and commercial risk management
• Experience leading teams in complex stakeholder environments
• Alignment with PIA values and commitment to feminist leadership principles

Our commitment

We make hiring decisions based on your skills, passion and experience – this experience extends outside the workplace and includes lived experience. Even if you don’t wholly fit the criteria, we still want to hear from you! At PIA we believe in looking for perspectives and abilities that new team members can bring and add to our culture.

We are dedicated to working with people from all sectors of the community. We strongly encourage applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

Benefits

• We operate in a hybrid model, working from home or the office, and with capability to support remote workers interstate
• An open workplace in a central location in Southbank, Melbourne
• A flexible and supportive workplace culture to make space for the other important parts of your life
• We care about people’s learning and career ambitions and have a learning & development framework to support this
• Regular organisation events, offsite staff sessions and social events to make sure we stay connected
• Salary packaging
• Employee Assistance Program and other initiatives to support your mental health and wellbeing
• An inclusive working environment with various groups such as Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Working Group, Reconciliation Action Plan Group (RAP), Pride Network Committee and Social Committee.

Hours, pay and start date

This is a full-time, ongoing role. The role classified above award (aligned with SCHADS award). We are looking for someone to begin the as soon as possible, however can be flexible on start time.

What’s Next?

Read the full Position Description (PD) and see whether you think the role is right for you. If you’re interested, upload your cover letter and resume via the "Apply Now" button. Include in your cover letter how your skills align with the criteria as set out in the PD.
Once we’ve got these, if you advance to the next stage, you will be contacted and invited to an interview, either online or face-to-face at the office.

Please note: When you apply, and if you are comfortable to do share, please know PIA upholds a safe space to share the pronouns you use and is also prepared to make any reasonable accommodations or adjustments you may need throughout both the recruitment process as well as the course of your employment.

Applications will be reviewed continuously before applications close!

Plan International believes that in a world where children and program participants face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we do everything we can to keep children and program participants safe. As part of our efforts to create safe environments for children and program participants, candidates will be required to complete a satisfactory National police Check, sign our Safeguarding policies and code of conduct, and where necessary complete a Working with Children Check. 

Join Plan International Australia and help create justice for children and equality for girls through innovative funding approaches and impactful partnerships.