Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships

Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships

The Asia Foundation is seeking a dynamic and experienced international development professional for the role of Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships. This person will play a leadership role in strategic positioning, business development, and fundraising efforts across a portfolio of country programs. Reporting to the Director, Strategic Partnerships, and in close collaboration with Country Representatives, this role will drive pipeline development, donor positioning, partnership cultivation, and high-quality proposal development that advance the Foundation's regional priorities.

The Associate Director will preferably be based in Asia or the Pacific, with occasional travel throughout the region, as well as Australia and the U.S. This person will manage complex proposal development efforts, including design of high-impact programs, coordination of cross-functional teams, and aligning strategies of multiple country offices. The Associate Director will also provide strategic guidance on funding opportunities, oversee proposal quality and compliance, negotiate partnerships, and contribute to regional business development planning.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the proposal development process for 5-7 countries

• Co-manage overall proposal process for 5-7 country offices, in cooperation with relevant Country Representatives.
• Directly lead major proposal development efforts, particularly for high-priority and complex opportunities.
• Manage proposal teams, timelines, and deliverables across multiple opportunities.
• Ensure relevant internal units provide inputs and guidance to maximize proposal quality.
• Ensure timely submission of proposals (including final review and packaging) that meet highest quality standards and respond to donor requirements.
• Contact and negotiate with partner organizations for upcoming proposals.

Support pipeline development and drive proactive pre-positioning for anticipated public sector funding opportunities in 5-7 countries

• Regularly engage with Country Representatives to discuss proposal pipeline.
• Support pipeline tracking and prioritization for assigned countries.
• Coordinate with colleagues and outreach to donors and implementing partners to collect information on future opportunities.
• Lead capture planning for assigned opportunities, including positioning, partner mapping, and staffing. This can include leading efforts to:
• Identify key personnel for anticipated funding opportunities.
• Negotiate with prospective partner organizations for upcoming proposals.
• Provide analysis and recommendations for go/no-go decisions, including review of opportunity announcements.

Build staff capacity in proposal development (as needed)

• Develop staff capacity, through direct mentorship and advice.
• Supervise junior and mid-level colleagues during joint missions, with a focus on professional development.
• Conduct regular check-ins with mentees to track progress and identify additional areas for capacity building and support.

Quality Assurance and Learning

• Lead day-to-day quality assurance processes across proposals.
• Maintain tools, templates, and workflows that improve efficiency and compliance.
• Ensure coordination across technical, cost, and partnership inputs.
• Lead proposal debriefs and capture lessons learned.
• Analyze win/loss trends and recommend improvements.
• Support development of best practices and institutional learning tools.
• Provide inputs into regional BD strategy.

Qualifications

Education:

• Master's degree in relevant field.

Work Experience:

• At least 8 years of experience in proposal development.
• Extensive experience in proposal development for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) preferred.
• Demonstrated success in leading proposal development teams.
• Willingness to travel as required.
• Knowledge of the Foundation's major donors, including key success factors for each donor.
• Knowledge of strategic positioning for funding opportunities, including negotiating with prospective partners, attracting key personnel, identifying design priorities, and preparing for anticipated opportunities.
• At least 10 years of experience in international development, including knowledge of the countries where the Foundation works, and program sectors and approaches regularly used by the Foundation.

Skills:

• Goal-oriented with a strong track record of meeting and exceeding targets.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational, writing, and budgeting skills.
• Proven ability to lead and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust with high-level donors.

Location and Employment Terms

Applicants located throughout Asia, the Pacific and within the USA are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate may be based in a country where The Asia Foundation maintains an established office, subject to applicable work authorization requirements, local employment considerations, and organizational needs. This position is a locally engaged role and is not an International Assignee appointment. The position is not eligible for post allowances or other expatriate assignment benefits. Employment terms and benefits will be determined in accordance with the employing office and local employment practices.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation and benefits will vary by location and will be determined in accordance with the policies, salary structure, and benefit programs applicable to the employing office. The final offer will reflect the selected candidate's qualifications, experience, work location, and internal equity considerations.

How to Apply

To be considered for this position, applicants must submit both a resume and a cover letter. Applications that do not include both required documents may not be considered.

Priority Deadline: Applications received by August 17, 2026, will receive first consideration. The position will remain open until filled.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

The Asia Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.