Internals Only: Gulf Region Donor Engagement Specialist

Hybrid / Remote

Full-time

Permanent employee

Your mission

The role leads War Child Alliance Foundation’s (WCAF) engagement with institutional and strategic donors in the Gulf region, driving the development of partnerships and funding opportunities to support organisational growth and impact.
It is responsible for shaping and implementing the Gulf donor engagement approach, strengthening War Child’s positioning in the region and contributing to portfolio development and income generation.
Working under the direction of the Head of Institutional Funding & Grants Delivery, the role coordinates engagement across WCAF teams and FMs, ensuring aligned approaches, effective relationship management and progression of partner and funding opportunities in a developing donor market.

What you will do:

Under the leadership of the Head of Institutional Funding & Grants Delivery, lead the delivery and implementation of the Gulf Engagement Strategy, translating strategic priorities into actionable engagement plans, partnerships and funding outcomes.
Lead the development and management of donor relationships across the Gulf region, strengthening War Child’s positioning and ensuring coherent and targeted engagement across key stakeholders.
Drive pipeline development and opportunity identification in the Gulf market, proactively shaping and advancing funding opportunities in a relationship-driven and evolving donor landscape.
Lead the planning and coordination of donor engagement across the Alliance, ensuring alignment between WCAF, Members and country teams on Gulf-related opportunities and partnerships.
Use donor intelligence, market insights and trend analysis to inform engagement and opportunity development, ensuring positioning is aligned with donor priorities and regional dynamics.
Oversee the progression of Gulf funding opportunities, working closely with Programme Funding Advisors, Account Managers and Proposal Quality to ensure timely and coordinated development of proposals.
Coordinate internal stakeholders and partnerships, ensuring effective collaboration, clear roles and strong information flow across teams involved in Gulf engagement.
Support the development of partnership models and collaboration approaches suited to the Gulf context, enabling effective engagement with a diverse range of actors.
Ensure appropriate use of systems and alignment with organisational processes, working in coordination with Compliance & Performance to support visibility, tracking and reporting of Gulf opportunities.
Represent War Child in external Gulf-facing engagements, networks and forums, strengthening relationships and expanding the organisation’s presence and partnerships in the region.

ROLE-SPECIFIC OR CONTEXT RESPONSIBILITIES

Act as the primary strategic focal point for Gulf donor engagement, leading coherent and coordinated engagement across the Alliance and ensuring alignment with organisational priorities.
Under the leadership of the Head of Institutional Funding & Grants Delivery, lead the delivery and implementation of the Gulf Engagement Strategy, translating strategic priorities into actionable approaches, partnerships and funding outcomes.
Lead market development in the Gulf region, driving proactive engagement and positioning in a relationship-driven donor environment and expanding War Child’s presence across priority donors and partners.
Shape and establish partnership approaches suited to the Gulf donor context, including engagement with foundations, government-linked entities and regional actors, positioning War Child effectively within an evolving funding landscape.
Drive early-stage opportunity positioning and relationship development, proactively identifying, influencing and advancing funding opportunities in contexts where formal pipelines may not yet exist.
Lead the progression of Gulf opportunities into viable funding outcomes, working collaboratively across WCAF, Members and country teams to develop partnerships, structure opportunities and support proposal processes aligned with organisational priorities.

Your profile

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE

Education	Relevant degree in international development, public policy, business administration or related fields.
Experience	Experience in administrative support, programme coordination or research in an NGO; Development or humanitarian setting experience; Familiarity with donor engagement and grant management preferred.
Languages	Excellent English; Proficiency in French or another relevant language is a plus.
(Technical) Knowledge	Understanding of institutional donor systems (multilateral & bilateral); Aid-sector trends; Project management tools; CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce).

What we offer

Location : We work with global teams with team members being based in different locations. War Child is currently operates in: Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Colombia, DR Congo, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, South Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Uganda, Ukraine (soon to be registered), and Yemen. We also have offices in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Preference is given to applicants who reside and have valid working permits. War Child does not offer relocation.
Type of Contract : Local contract with salary and secondary labour conditions based on the in-country salary scale, local T&C's will apply.
Internals only may apply.

Why You Should Apply

Meaningful Impact : Contribute directly to improving the lives of children and families affected by conflict through quality education and long-term, sustainable change.
Professional Growth: Join a dynamic organisation that values learning, innovation, and professional development, with opportunities for capacity building and growth through the role and War Child’s global network.
Global Reach : Play a key role in scaling a ground-breaking programme across multiple conflict-affected contexts worldwide.
Collaborative & Inclusive Culture : Work alongside passionate, mission-driven colleagues in a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace that prioritises safety, fairness and equal opportunity for all.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their applications (CV and motivation letter in English) by June 26, 2026. We are reviewing submissions on a rolling basis, so early applications are strongly recommended. ________________________________________________________________________________
By submitting your application you certify that all of the statements made in your application are true, complete, and correct and are made in good faith. You understand that falsifying, misrepresenting or intentionally withholding information will be grounds for rejection of your application or withdrawal of any offer of appointment or, if an appointment offer has been accepted, this will be ground for employment sanctions, such as, but not limited to, instant dismissal. In addition, you understand that you need to submit a Criminal Record Certificate and that, if you fail to submit it, no employment relationship can be established.

Disclaimer

Only applications received via our website are processed.
If we appoint a suitable candidate before the given closing date, we reserve the right to remove the vacancy from our website before that date. In such a case, any responses received after that time are not processed.
It could be that during our selection process the closing date for the vacancy is extended. If so, and you have not yet heard from us, your application will remain active.

Over ons

Onze organisatie
War Child is een dynamische organisatie waar een informele sfeer heerst en waar veel ruimte is voor creativiteit en eigen initiatief. Het imago dat War Child extern uitdraagt, is een blauwdruk van het werk op het hoofdkantoor: het is dynamisch, vernieuwend, integer en gericht op het behalen van resultaten tegen lage kosten. War Child besteedt zoveel mogelijk budget aan het helpen van kinderen in oorlog en doet er daarom alles aan om de kosten zo laag mogelijk te houden. Onze arbeidsvoorwaarden zijn op het niveau van de Nederlandse NGO sector. Het kantoor is gevestigd in de Amsterdamse wijk Watergraafsmeer. We werken in een hybride vorm, met de combinatie van thuis en op kantoor.

Veiligheid
War Child werkt vanuit humanitaire waarden en normen. Van mogelijke nieuwe collega’s vragen we hetzelfde. Voor War Child staat de veiligheid van de kinderen en jongeren die we steunen voorop. We bestrijden elke vorm van misbruik. Omdat we willen dat kinderen en jongeren geen enkel risico lopen komt dit uitgebreid aan bod bij de werving van nieuwe collega’s. Als onderdeel van sollicitaties vragen we daarom om referenties naar aanleiding van het Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme en een recente Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag (VOG).

Gelijke kansen
War Child droomt dat alle kinderen in vrede kunnen leven, wie ze ook zijn en waar ze ook opgroeien. Daarom is War Child trots dat we gelijke kansen bieden aan iedereen die met ons wil werken. We bevorderen diversiteit en willen dat iedereen zich bij ons thuis voelt. War Child selecteert mogelijke nieuwe collega’s ongeacht hun gender, ras, nationaliteit, beperking, leeftijd of seksuele voorkeur.

Sollicitaties
We besteden zoveel mogelijk van onze inkomsten aan de ondersteuning van kinderen en jongeren. Daarom werken we efficiënt. Dat betekent dat we alleen sollicitaties bekijken die we via onze websites ontvangen. Mochten we een geschikte persoon vinden vóór de sluitingsdatum, verwijderen we de vacature van onze websites. Sollicitaties die we later ontvangen, kunnen we dan niet meer in behandeling nemen.