Manager, Professional Development and Consultancy

Job Description

Requirements

• REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:
• A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Conservation, Environmental Management, Education, or related field (Master’s degree an advantage).
• 5+ years of experience in professional education, training, business development, consultancy management, or project management — ideally within conservation, sustainability, or related sectors.
• Demonstrated success in securing and managing contracts or partnerships with large institutions, government bodies, or international NGOs.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders and deliver on time and within budget.
• Required Competencies:
• Strong business development and client relationship management skills.
• Excellent project management, coordination, and organisational abilities.
• Strong communication, proposal writing, and presentation skills.
• Financial acumen and experience in budgeting and contract management.
• Familiarity with digital learning tools, CRM systems, and workplace platforms such as G-Suite, Slack, Salesforce, or equivalents.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: proactive, adaptable, results-driven, and comfortable with ambiguity.
• A strong interest in conservation, sustainable development, and leadership in Africa.
• Excellent interpersonal and intercultural communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a small, distributed, and agile team.

Responsibilities

• Business Development and Client Engagement:
• Identify, pursue, and secure new professional development and consultancy opportunities with conservation organisations, government agencies, NGOs, and private sector partners across Africa.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships, ensuring long-term partnerships and repeat engagements.
• Prepare high-quality proposals, expressions of interest, budgets, and contracts for consultancy and training assignments.
• Represent SOWC in external meetings, conferences, and networks to expand visibility and business opportunities.
• Professional Development Courses:
• Design, market, and manage a portfolio of short courses and leadership programs for conservation professionals, including open-enrolment and bespoke offerings.
• Coordinate course logistics, marketing, participant recruitment, and delivery, ensuring a seamless learning experience.
• Work with adjunct faculty, subject-matter experts and the ALU Learning Experience Design and Implementation (LEDI) teams to develop course content and facilitate delivery.
• Develop and implement marketing strategies and partnerships to expand enrollment and reach new audiences across Africa.
• Monitor and report on course impact and feedback, ensuring continuous improvement and relevance to the sector’s evolving needs.
• Consultancy Services:
• Manage end-to-end delivery of consultancy assignments, including project planning, coordination of experts, reporting, and client communication.
• Ensure timely and high-quality outputs that meet contractual obligations and strengthen SOWC’s reputation for excellence.
• Maintain accurate financial and administrative tracking and reporting for each consultancy project in coordination with the Operations and Finance teams.
• Operational and Financial Management:
• Working with the Fundraising and Operations department, oversee project budgets, invoicing, and reporting, ensuring compliance with ALU’s financial policies and donor requirements.
• Contribute to the development of annual workplans, revenue targets, and financial forecasts for the professional development and consultancy portfolio.
• Maintain centralised systems for proposal tracking, client communication, contracts, and project documentation.
• Partnerships and Collaboration:
• Work closely with the Fundraising and Operations Manager to align fundraising, communications, and partnership strategies with the professional development agenda.
• Collaborate with the ALU Marketing and Communications and the ALU Business Development team to produce marketing materials, alumni stories, and success narratives that strengthen brand visibility
• Contribute to SOWC-wide initiatives such as the Business of Conservation Conference (BCC) and other external stakeholder engagements.