Business Development Lead

Remote / flexible location in the SE Asia and Pacific region, with a preference for candidates based in Australia, PNG, Fiji, Timor Leste or Solomon Islands. Part-time/4 days a week, fixed term contract for 24 months Reports to Catalpa Director Catalpa in a nutshell Catalpa International is a global development organisation designing new, creative ways of tackling complex problems. We integrate international development practice, design thinking, and adaptive management with the potential of technology to drive change. Our team is an eclectic bunch. We have designers, engineers, education specialists, international development practitioners, program people, operations people and plenty of people who don’t fit neatly into any particular box! We work across different countries, cultures, disciplines and time zones — and we like it that way. Our work is one of a kind and honestly, pretty cool! Check us out at Help us find, shape and win the work that matters Catalpa is looking for an experienced Business Development Lead to help shape the next chapter of our growth. This isn’t a role for someone who just wants to manage tender calendars and chase people for proposal inputs. We’re looking for someone who gets genuinely interested in an opportunity — who wants to understand the problem behind it, figure out where Catalpa could add something valuable, bring the right people into the conversation and help turn a good idea into a compelling proposition. You’ll work closely with our Directors and technical and program teams across the Asia-Pacific, helping us identify opportunities earlier, build stronger relationships with clients and partners, and develop brilliant proposals for work we’re excited to do. And yes, there will still be deadlines, compliance matrices and the occasional frantic final proposal check. It is business development, after all ;-) So, what would you actually do? You’ll have a pretty broad remit, but your job essentially comes down to this: Help Catalpa find the right opportunities, position ourselves well and put forward excellent responses. That means you’ll: keep a close eye on what’s coming — across donor and government pipelines, procurement portals, country strategies, sector priorities and our networks help us identify opportunities early rather than waiting for a tender to land in someone’s inbox research clients, partners, markets and competitors and turn that information into useful insights work with our technical and program teams to understand problems and shape potential responses help us make sensible go/no-go decisions about where we invest our time and energy build and maintain relationships with clients, partners, governments, consultants and other organisations across the region lead priority proposals from early positioning through to submission write, edit and shape complex technical content into clear, persuasive proposals make sure our submissions are compliant, polished, on-brand and — importantly — submitted on time help us better tell the Catalpa story through capability statements, case studies, pitch decks and other useful content; and keep improving how we do business development, including finding sensible ways to use AI and digital tools to make the whole process smarter and more efficient. A detailed Terms of Reference can be found here. Who are we looking for? We’re less interested in finding someone who ticks every imaginable BD box and more interested in finding someone with the judgement, experience and curiosity to do this role really well. Experience working with government, bilateral or multilateral development partners or other institutional clients will be important, as is experience in international development and the Asia-Pacific - experience working with DFAT and/or MFAT opportunities would definitely get our attention. You’ll probably have around 5+ years of relevant experience across business development, partnerships, proposal development, international development or a related field. You’ll have managed significant tenders, proposals or funding submissions and know what it takes to get a complex response from “should we go for this?” to “submitted!” But experience alone isn’t really what will make this role work. You’ll probably thrive at Catalpa if you… Have good BD judgement - You can look at an opportunity, ask smart questions and form a view about whether — and how — we should pursue it. Can really write - You can take complicated technical thinking and turn it into something clear, persuasive and human. You’re equally comfortable shaping a strategy, drafting a response, editing someone else’s technical content or diving into tender requirements. Like connecting people and ideas - You enjoy building relationships and bringing different people together around an opportunity. Can see the big picture without losing the details - One minute you might be discussing Catalpa’s positioning in a market; the next you’re checking whether somebody’s CV meets a tender requirement. Are curious - You like getting underneath a new problem, understanding a client or sector and working out what really matters. Can create order without creating bureaucracy - You’re organised and you know how to keep a complicated proposal moving — but you don’t need a 17-step process for everything. Are comfortable when things aren’t completely mapped out - Some opportunities start with a tender document. Others start with a conversation, a relationship or half an idea. You’re comfortable working with both. Care about the work behind the win - Growth matters to us because it allows Catalpa to keep doing meaningful work. We want someone who understands the commercial side of business development without losing sight of the social impact we’re here to create. Strong cultural competency and demonstrated ability to work effectively in diverse cultural contexts is a must. #J-18808-Ljbffr