Location: Brussels
Position type: Fixed-Term Contract (12 months), Full-Time, Hybrid working (2–3 days in the office)
What the hiring manager says
This is a unique opportunity to become one of the founding members of M4D's newly established Strategic Development team. You will help shape how we engage European institutions, build long-term donor relationships, and secure the partnerships that enable digital innovation to improve lives at scale across low- and middle-income countries. Working at the intersection of digital development, public policy and fundraising, you will play a central role in helping M4D grow its influence and impact across Europe and beyond.
About the Team
The Strategic Development team is a newly established function within the M4D Foundation, created to strengthen donor engagement, diversify funding streams, and build long-term strategic partnerships. Operating across markets and technical domains, the team works closely with programme leads, technical experts and external partners to identify funding opportunities, strengthen institutional relationships, and support organisational growth.
As one of the first members of the team, you will have the opportunity to help shape how the function operates, establish new ways of working, and contribute to building a high-performing fundraising and partnerships capability that supports M4D's long-term ambitions.
About the role
The EU Partnerships & Fundraising Lead will drive M4D's engagement across European institutions, funding mechanisms and strategic networks. Success in this role requires building trusted relationships with key Directorates-General, agencies, implementing partners and EU stakeholders; translating policy priorities into fundable opportunities; and ensuring M4D is visible, credible and competitive within the European funding ecosystem.
You will lead the development of a coordinated EU donor engagement strategy, identify and qualify new funding opportunities, support consortium-building efforts, and work closely with programme teams to shape concepts aligned with European priorities across digital development, climate, innovation, inclusion and sustainable development. You will play a key role in positioning M4D for high-value funding opportunities and helping technical teams navigate complex donor landscapes.
As part of a collaborative Strategic Development function, you will also lead or support strategic fundraising efforts across the Foundation, ensuring strong alignment between donor priorities, organisational expertise and partnership opportunities. You will provide surge support for high-priority bids and contribute to building a sustainable funding pipeline across the organisation.
During your first year, you will establish a structured EU donor engagement strategy, develop relationships across priority European institutions and funding programmes, identify a pipeline of high-value opportunities, and support the development of competitive proposals that strengthen M4D's long-term funding position. You will also help shape the future growth and direction of the Strategic Development team itself.
This role is initially offered on a 12-month fixed-term basis, with a strong expectation of extension and the potential to become a permanent position subject to organisational growth and funding.
About You
You will thrive in this role if you can build credibility with European institutions, navigate complex policy and funding environments, and translate strategic priorities into actionable opportunities. You will combine relationship-building skills with strong analytical thinking and commercial awareness to identify opportunities, influence stakeholders and position M4D effectively across the European development ecosystem.
You will be comfortable working across multiple thematic areas, collaborating with technical experts, and engaging confidently with senior donor representatives, consortium partners and policymakers. You will enjoy operating in a fast-moving environment where relationship development, strategic thinking and execution are equally important.
Essential Experience & Skills
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Demonstrable experience engaging with European institutions, including the European Commission, EU agencies, implementing partners, or European development actors.
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Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to establish trust and influence decision-making.
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Demonstrated success identifying, pursuing or securing funding opportunities, partnerships or strategic collaborations.
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality donor materials, concept notes, briefings and proposals.
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Experience supporting or contributing to complex, multi-partner funding opportunities, consortium development or proposal processes.
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Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret policy, donor and market intelligence and translate insights into action.
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Experience using CRM systems such as Salesforce, donor intelligence platforms, funding portals or equivalent tools to manage opportunities and relationships.
Desirable
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Experience in digital development, ICT4D, digital inclusion, climate-tech or innovation for development.
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Familiarity with EU grants, procurement processes, framework contracts or co-financing mechanisms.
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Experience working with or alongside international NGOs, foundations, consultancies or multilateral organisations.
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Professional proficiency in an additional European language such as French, Spanish or German.
About your skills
The following skills will be particularly important for success in this role:
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Stakeholder Management – building trusted relationships with European institutions, donors, partners and internal teams.
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Influence – shaping donor conversations, positioning M4D effectively and securing engagement from senior stakeholders.
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Communication – translating complex policy and funding landscapes into clear, compelling opportunities and proposals.
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Commercial Awareness – understanding donor priorities, funding mechanisms and partnership dynamics to identify opportunities for growth.
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Analysis – interpreting policy, funding and market intelligence to inform strategic engagement and fundraising decisions.
Contract type
Fixed Term Contract (Fixed Term)
Worker type
Employee
Working at the GSMA offers you unparalleled access to the mobile industry. We offer a chance to truly shape the direction of mobile, whatever your role. By joining the GSMA, you will be exposed to a fast-paced rapidly evolving environment, working on global solutions, genuinely fascinating and industry-changing projects and a stimulating and dynamic environment designed to enable you to flourish.
In addition to architect-designed offices and competitive compensation, our benefits include fantastic learning & development opportunities, generous holiday allowances, four additional days off for professional development and many others.
To learn more about the GSMA, visit our career site, our LinkedIn page and our Twitter page.
Being You at the GSMA
We care deeply about diversity, equity and inclusivity and aspire to be the best at it. Your well-being and work/life balance is important, so flexi-time and remote working is available to all staff. We're keen to ensure everyone is equal, represented and connected so we particularly encourage applications from all demographics. The sucess of the GSMA year on year will continue to be contributed by people from all walks of life.
GSMA Values
Our values not only drive our culture – they shape how we work and interact inside and outside our global organisation.
Passionately driven
We approach everything we do with unparalleled capability, tenacity and commitment, knowing that the challenging scale, pace and complexity of our work is what leads to its world-changing impact.
Insightful leaders
We continually develop and engage our expertise, insight and creativity so that we’re always ready to respond to the changing landscape with authority, agility and nuance.
Stronger together
We lean on each other so the industry can lean on us, embracing our diversity by actively seeking out perspectives and skill sets beyond our own, fuelling each other’s successes and constantly asking how we can help.
Underpinning our values is our collective mindset to show up purposefully as good human beings every day, in every situation. When we’re at our best – we are collaborative, considerate and compassionate to others, and we create a safe space for one another to thrive, assuming positive intent in our colleagues. And if we aren’t at our best and the pressure is on – we feel free to be ourselves but still remain curious, lean into the tough stuff and we are always respectful to others and accountable for the part we play.
