Director of Business Strategy, US Clients

About Zinc Network (Zinc):

Zinc is on a mission to drive meaningful, measurable change across development and security programming through the application of strategic and behavioral change communications, technology, and human-centered design (HCD). We deliver award-winning programs, interventions, and campaigns that change the way people think, feel, and behave across a wide range of social issues including countering disinformation, media development, and governance.

Zinc is headquartered in London and has offices in Washington, D.C., Tbilisi, Warsaw, Riga, and Nairobi. We are a team of 100+ individuals with diverse professional and cultural backgrounds, including in creative and digital strategy, production, research, behavioral science, and service design.

Zinc is a Certified B Corp and has a strong code of ethics and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Our clients include the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State (DOS), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and foundations.

About the Role:

Zinc seeks a Director of Business Strategy, U.S. Clients to lead our U.S. business development efforts and to work closely with our teams in Washington, D.C., London, and the field, reporting to Zinc’s Executive Director for Business Development. You will lead the tracking, identification, and pursuit of opportunities procured by USAID, DOS, and U.S. foundations. You will play a vital role in advancing strategic and creative partnerships with U.S. partners and clients and will be a leader in building Zinc’s profile in the U.S.

The right candidate will possess a mix of skills in business strategy, writing and communications, trend analysis, and program design. They will also have the soft skills needed to build robust client and partner relationships, facilitate locally led development and co-creation processes, and represent Zinc in dynamic and thoughtful ways to external stakeholders. Additionally, they will possess familiarity with a technical sector or service line relevant to Zinc’s programming (e.g., countering disinformation, media development, strategic communications) and will be dedicated to technical quality and professional growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the tracking, identification, and pursuit of U.S. business opportunities
• Work closely with Zinc’s Strategy, Research, and Business Development Teams to draft compelling narrative and graphics that reflect sound and creative technical and managerial approaches for responding to complex social problems
• Identify trends in U.S. business forecasting and relevant technical fields and convey those trends to Zinc’s in-house teams
• Identify and field compelling partners for joint responses to U.S. business opportunities – with Zinc serving as both prime and sub applicant depending on the identified strategy
• Work closely with Zinc’s HR services to identify, recruit, and sign program staff at the proposal development stage who reflect Zinc’s ethos and culture

• Present slide decks, case studies, and corporate capabilities to external stakeholders – showcasing Zinc’s work in dynamic and thoughtful ways
• Connect U.S. business development efforts to the larger business development efforts at Zinc – coordinating with London and field staff to prioritize opportunities, plan and allocate resources, and balance workloads
• Coordinate and advise on meetings and engagements with U.S.-based clients and partners, with intensive focus on this work during visits to the U.S. from non-U.S. based Zinc staff
• When needed and as time permits, serve as a resource on non-U.S. client opportunities
• Manage and oversee at least one Business Development Manager whose work complements the functions of this job

Requirements

Key Qualifications:

• At least 8 years of experience working in international development, democracy and governance, and/or program development
• Experience with USAID, DOS, and/or U.S. foundations
• Proven experience researching and writing winning proposals/ applications in the democracy and governance field

• Familiarity with programming, trends, and approaches in countering disinformation, advancing information integrity, building independent media, engaging civil society and activists, preventing violent extremism, and/or advancing good governance
• A commitment to learning, creativity, rolling up one’s sleeves, and contributing to meaningful, measurable change in the development sector
• A good sense of humor and a dedication to turning failures into growth opportunities
• A preference will be given to candidates who are familiar with Human Centered D