Business Development Consultant

Deadline for applications 10 January 2026 – 23:59 GMT+01:00 (Central European Time – Rome) Equal Employment Opportunity WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability. About WFP The World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organisation, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. Why Join WFP WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse and multicultural working environment. WFP invests in the personal and professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship and other programmes as well as internal mobility opportunities. A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people. We offer an attractive compensation package (see Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement). Position Details Position Title: Business Development ConsultantOrg Unit: Private Sector Partnerships (PSP)Duty Station: RomeContract Type: Short‑Term Regular Consultant (CST II)Duration: 11 monthsLine Manager/Supervisor: Head of Business Development team Organisational Context The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian agency working to create a world with zero hunger. WFP assists millions of people each year and works with partners to strengthen the resilience of communities most vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition through long‑term development programmes aimed at boosting food security, local economies, education, employment and gender equality. Purpose of the Assignment The Business Development Consultant will secure new private sector partnerships and support the execution of the Global Business Development strategy. The Consultant will manage a Business Development Specialist who will execute the corporate fundraising strategy by proactively identifying target top prospects, building a prospect pipeline and developing successful approaches to secure new multi‑year, multi‑million corporate partners. Key Responsibilities Manage and support one Business Development Specialist. Develop and implement sector strategies to engage new private sector prospects. Identify and prospect high‑value financial and high‑impact technical partnerships with the corporate sector, including cold approaches and leveraging senior networks. Create tailored collateral and compelling propositions to initiate new discussions with corporate prospects. Collaborate with the PSP Technical Unit and WFP programme experts to build new products and materials unlocking high‑value financial and technical contributions. Develop and contribute to effective pitches and materials for senior‑level meetings. Coordinate with the legal department to prepare and negotiate contracts, securing agreement on partner expectations. Ensure smooth transition of secured relationships from new business to partnership management team. Draft briefs for senior leadership to host meetings with prospective partners. Engage cold and warm prospects during emergencies and build WFP’s brand as a partner of choice for emergency giving. Monitor and report on progress against KPIs. Suggest process improvements proactively. Support regional and WFP colleagues to leverage external events (conferences, forums, panels, roundtables) for business development opportunities. Stay abreast of key private sector trends and NGO partnership developments. Provide additional support to the Global Business Development Team as needed. Deliverables at the End of the Contract Secure new multi‑year $1m+ Corporate and Corporate Foundation partnerships, leading end‑to‑end business development planning, prospecting and implementation. Complete landscape mapping and create priority sectors and prospects per market with complementary strategies. Be emergency‑ready and engage new and existing contacts during emergency appeals. Create compelling materials and value propositions to build partnerships that add value to WFP. Build and improve business development processes and materials to facilitate prospecting internationally. Maintain accurate and updated reports monitoring KPIs and deliver target results. Qualifications and Experience Education University degree in Political Science, International Development, Development Economics, Marketing, Communications or another relevant field. Advanced degree is a plus. Work History Minimum of 7 years of demonstrated experience in partnership development, business development, marketing or B2B sales, including experience creating $1m+ fundraising partnerships. Experience prospecting high‑value partners in an international organisation with a development/humanitarian mission, ideally with UN experience. Experience prospecting new clients for a private sector company or agency preferred. Extensive sales and marketing experience (research, planning, pitching, negotiating) with proven record of successful negotiations with global enterprises. Track record achieving 6‑ and 7‑figure multi‑year partnerships from prospect identification to agreement in the non‑profit or business sector. Network of corporate contacts in key markets to support prospecting pipeline building. Experience building new propositions or products for the private sector that reflect current trends and interests. Technical Skills Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel). Strong communication skills. Experience within the United Nations system or a similar international organisation is a significant advantage. Soft Skills People‑oriented, using tact and courtesy with a variety of individuals. Creative thinking and effective collaboration in a multicultural and international environment. Motivated team spirit, contributing to a gender‑balanced and inclusive workplace. Highly adaptable to change, comfortable dealing with ambiguity, stress and competing demands with grace and humor. Highly organised with exceptional planning skills. Ability to handle multiple tasks within deadlines and deliver on commitments. Initiative to solve problems and seek solutions. Knowledge of humanitarian/development sector is a plus. Languages Excellent command of spoken and written English. Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language is a plus. Leadership Framework WFP Leadership Framework guides the common standards of behaviour that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission. Reasonable Accommodation WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation please contact the recruitment team. No Fee Disclaimer The United Nations does not charge any application processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for payment of a fee please disregard it. Reminders Before You Submit Your Application All applications must be submitted exclusively through our online recruitment system. If you experience challenges while submitting your online application, please contact us at the technical support contact provided in the announcement. Applications sent to the email address provided cannot be considered. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable). Once your profile is completed, please apply and submit your application. Kindly note that the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter. Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. Additional Information Key skills: Business Development, Sales Experience, Direct Sales, B2B Sales, Time Management, Cold Calling, Computer Literacy, Telemarketing, Customer Relationship Management, Economic Development, CRM Software. Employment Type: Full‑Time #J-18808-Ljbffr