Business Development & Partnerships Lead - Generation Colombia
We are seeking an exceptional Business Development & Partnerships Lead to drive strategic partnerships, secure funding to increase our impact, and oversee the processes that support the employability journey of our learners and graduates.
About Generation:
At Generation, we believe in the power of employment to change lives. We are a global nonprofit organization that supports adults to achieve economic mobility through employment. Generation trains and places adult learners of all ages into careers that are otherwise inaccessible, working in partnership with governments, employers, and other system actors. We also conduct original research and share data insights on high-priority global workforce transition topics to inform decision-making by workforce system stakeholders. Launched in 2015, Generation comprises a global hub (Generation You Employed, or GYE) and a network of in-country affiliates. To date, the network has 140,000+ graduates and 21,000+ employers across 33 professions and 17 countries.
When learners join Generation, 91% are unemployed, of which nearly half are long-term unemployed. Three months after completing our program, graduates have an 78% job placement rate, rising to 88% within six months. Of our employed graduates, 79% are hired by repeat employers who have previously hired Generation graduates, and 89% are in jobs directly related to the profession for which we have trained them. Employed graduates immediately earn an average of 3-4X their previous earnings. Two to five years after graduation, 77% of our alumni from upper-middle income countries continue to meet their daily financial needs and 63% can save for the future. To date, Generation’s global graduates have earned more than $1.9 billion in wages. Generation graduates typically have a secondary school background, 52% are female, 28% have dependents, and the majority identify with underrepresented communities in their country.
About the role:
- Job type: Paid full-time contractor (40 hours per week)
- Location requirements: Remote (with reliable WiFi), based in Bogotá, Colombia, with availability to travel within Colombia and Latin America and attend in-person events with partners.
- Start date: October 2025 for a duration of 12 months
What you’ll do:
The BD & Partnerships Lead will be responsible for securing funding from the private sector, philanthropy, multilateral organizations, and governments to expand our impact. In addition, the BD and Partnerships Lead will cultivate relationships with a wide range of employers, industry associations, academic institutions, and government agencies, securing partnerships with employers committed to recruiting Generation graduates to fill their vacancies. The role will also oversee the processes that support the employability journey of learners and graduates.
Main responsibilities:
1) Secure and diversify funding to sustain and expand the impact.
- Develop and implement a fundraising strategy aligned with Generation’s goals and growth impact priorities.
- Conduct market research and donor mapping to identify potential funders, trends, and new opportunities.
- Build relationships with new funders to diversify and expand funding sources.
- Identify funding opportunities and maintain a consistent pipeline of funding prospects.
- Draft proposals for funding opportunities.
- Prepare compelling presentations and pitch materials tailored to different audiences (corporate, philanthropic, multilateral, government).
- Track and analyze fundraising performance to ensure targets are met and inform decision-making.
- Represent Generation at external events, conferences, and networking opportunities to raise visibility and build relationships with prospective funders
2) Develop New Employer and Institutional
- Identify potential employers through networks and market research.
- Create and deliver compelling, tailored pitches to introduce Generation’s work in Colombia and LatAm to prospective employers.
- Understand companies’ talent needs and pain points during initial conversations to inform future discussions.
- Gather market intelligence, track opportunities, and conduct consistent follow-up with prospective employers.
- Secure commitments with employers and industry associations to place Generation graduates in high-quality entry-level roles and expand their candidate pools.
- Participate actively in sector-related ecosystems across Colombia and Latin America, including talent committees, industry events, conferences, and other forums to raise awareness of Generation’s work.
3) Maintain Existing Employer and Partner Relationships
- Ensure partners have a positive experience working with Generation and receive value from the partnership.
- Communicate regularly with a variety of stakeholders about Generation’s ongoing work, tailoring messages to different audiences and highlighting program impact.
- Engage partner employers consistently to solicit feedback, gather success stories, and understand upcoming needs.
- Ensure effective execution of partner agreements.
- Lead grant reporting and ensure compliance with funder requirements.
- Manage regular communications with current funders to strengthen relationships.
- Design and negotiate proposals to expand existing partnerships.
4) Manage the employability process for learners and graduates
-
Provide strategic oversight and guidance to processes supporting the employability journey of learners and graduates.
-
Ensure vacancies align with learner profiles across all programs and share profiles with employer partners in a timely manner.
-
Enable effective cross-functional collaboration with key functions such as:C&I: to ensure learners acquire technical and soft skills needed for employment, including employability essentials sessions during and after the program.
Program Management: to gather insights into learner progress and skills.
-
Review and refine strategies to track the employability progress of learners and graduates during and after the program.
-
Oversee accurate collection and documentation of employability KPIs during and post-program.
-
Participate in conversations with existing and potential employer partners to strengthen partnerships and gather feedback on learner and graduate performance and suitability.
About you:
- Bachelor's degree in any field with a solid academic record. Master´s degree preferable.
- Fluent Spanish, advanced written and spoken English.
- 8+ years of proven experience in partnerships and business development and a track record of success in managing high-profile conversations and writing/delivering proposals.
- 2-3 years of fundraising experience with a diverse type of partners (e.g., Foundations, international cooperation, high net worth individuals, etc.).
- Manage complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, timelines, and resources, with strong organization, delegation, and progress tracking skills.
- Forward-thinking mindset, capable of aligning partnerships and business development efforts with the long-term goals and vision of the organization. This involves the ability to foresee industry trends, anticipate challenges, and strategize accordingly.
- Experience leading multifunctional teams with effective leadership and mentorship skills, inspiring collaboration, innovation, and growth
- Communicate effectively to build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, influencing and motivating them to work with Generation.
- Leverage a strong network in Colombia and show enthusiasm for meeting new people and cultivating relationships; networks in Latin America are a plus.
- Excel in negotiation by balancing organizational objectives with partner expectations to ensure win-win outcomes.
- Experience in a non-profit or social enterprise, B2B sales experience, and experience using Salesforce to manage external relationships are a plus.
- Be willing to travel within Colombia and Latin America as required by the BD and funding strategy
- Passionate about providing educational opportunities that empower others to enter a life-changing professional career.
Please apply with your English resume, thank you
Generation is an equal opportunity employer.
