Business Development Lead (Part-time, Fixed-Term Contract)

Catalpa International is a global development organization designing innovative solutions to complex problems by integrating international development practice, design thinking, adaptive management, and technology.

The team is diverse, including designers, engineers, education specialists, development practitioners, and more. They operate across countries, cultures, disciplines, and time zones, embracing this diversity to deliver unique and impactful work.

Help us find, shape, and win meaningful work.

Catalpa is seeking an experienced Business Development Lead to shape its next growth chapter. This role is not about managing tender calendars or chasing proposal inputs. Instead, it’s for someone who genuinely engages with opportunities, understands the underlying problems, and helps transform ideas into compelling proposals.

You’ll collaborate closely with Directors and technical/program teams across the Asia-Pacific region. Your responsibilities include:

• Monitoring donor, government, and procurement pipelines to identify opportunities early.
• Researching clients, partners, markets, and competitors to derive actionable insights.
• Partnering with technical and program teams to understand challenges and shape potential responses.
• Assessing and making informed go/no-go decisions on where to allocate resources.
• Building and maintaining relationships with clients, partners, governments, and organizations.
• Leading high-priority proposals from initial positioning to submission.
• Writing, editing, and refining complex technical content into clear, persuasive proposals.
• Ensuring submissions are compliant, polished, on-brand, and submitted on time.
• Enhancing Catalpa’s storytelling through capability statements, case studies, and pitch decks.
• Exploring ways to leverage AI and digital tools to streamline and improve the business development process.

Requirements:

We’re looking for someone with strong judgment, experience, and curiosity rather than a checklist of qualifications.

• Experience working with government, bilateral, multilateral development partners, or institutional clients, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Experience with DFAT and/or MFAT opportunities is a plus.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in business development, partnerships, proposal development, international development, or a related field.
• Proven ability to manage significant tenders, proposals, or funding submissions from initial consideration to final submission.

Key traits for success:

• Strong business development judgment to evaluate opportunities and determine pursuit strategies.
• Exceptional writing skills to translate complex technical ideas into clear, persuasive, and engaging content.
• Enjoyment of connecting people and ideas, with a focus on building relationships and fostering collaboration.
• Ability to balance big-picture strategy with detailed execution.
• Curiosity and a drive to understand problems, clients, and sectors deeply.
• Organizational skills to manage complex proposals without excessive bureaucracy.
• Comfort working with ambiguous or incomplete information.
• Commitment to the social impact behind commercial growth.
• Strong cultural competency and ability to work effectively in diverse cultural contexts.

Success metrics:

Success will be measured by a healthier and more strategically aligned pipeline, stronger early relationships with key clients and partners, better opportunity decisions, consistently excellent proposals, and improved organizational knowledge.

Ultimately, success will contribute to Catalpa’s impact and long-term sustainability.

Practical details:

• Part-time, four days per week, fixed-term contract for 24 months.
• Remote role with flexibility for candidates based in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Timor-Leste, or Solomon Islands (though other locations in the SE Asia and Pacific region will be considered).
• Reports to the Catalpa Director and collaborates across the organization.
• While relevant tertiary qualifications are useful, they are not mandatory.

Eligibility:

Catalpa values diversity and encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. Feel free to apply even if you don’t feel like a perfect fit.

Work environment:

Catalpa fosters a creative, supportive environment that values diverse perspectives. They prioritize work-life balance, flexible schedules, and focus on outcomes rather than rigid timelines. The organization emphasizes self-care and collaborative planning to support both project delivery and individual well-being.

Fit:

Catalpa believes in technology’s potential to transform lives. Team members are flexible, creative problem-solvers who enjoy tackling complex challenges. They value long-term relationships and a collaborative, inclusive culture.

Catalpa is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

Safeguarding:

Catalpa prioritizes safeguarding, including the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, and the protection of children. All personnel are required to comply with Catalpa’s Child Safeguarding Policy, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy, and Code of Conduct.

If you enjoy spotting opportunities, asking insightful questions, writing compelling content, connecting people and ideas, and balancing strategy with execution, Catalpa would love to hear from you. Apply with your resume and a cover letter explaining your fit for the role.