Funding & Partnership Consultant

Although this post is listed in Switzerland, it is fully remote, and we actively encourage applications from candidates across Europe, Africa and the Middle East who can work within three hours of Central European Time.

Company Description Fleet Forum is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2003, dedicated to making humanitarian transport cleaner, safer, and more effective. In response to growing pressure on the humanitarian sector to achieve greater impact with limited resources, Fleet Forum focuses on fleet and mobility challenges that require collective solutions. The organisation brings together NGOs, UN agencies, Red Cross/Crescent organisations, commercial fleet operators, mobility suppliers, donors, and academic institutions to align standards and share best practices. With a network of more than 40 members, Fleet Forum supports knowledge exchange and sector-wide improvement in humanitarian transport and logistics. The team collaborates with technical experts and industry partners to drive innovation and support operational excellence across the sector.

Role Description The Strategic Funding and Partnerships Consultant will strengthen Fleet Forum’s organisational sustainability by developing the structured approach to funding, partnerships and donor engagement. The role will focus on identifying and shaping opportunities aligned with Fleet Forum’s strategic priorities, improving internal systems for relationship management, and supporting the development of collaborative projects that advance safer, more sustainable and more effective fleet and mobility management globally.

Funding may include institutional and philanthropic grants, corporate partnerships and sponsorship, and funded collaborative projects. The role will focus on external funding that supports Fleet Forum’s agreed strategic priorities and portfolio. Membership income and routine consultancy sales are outside the primary scope unless specifically agreed.

Key Responsibilities

Funding Strategy and Opportunity Development

• Identify and assess funding opportunities against Fleet Forum’s strategic priorities, agreed service portfolio and prioritised project concepts.
• Support the development and maintenance of a portfolio of fundable project concepts, ensuring that opportunities are pursued on the basis of strategic fit, organisational capability and potential value.
• Maintain a forward-looking pipeline of opportunities and track emerging donor trends across the mobility, supply chain, sustainability, humanitarian and development sectors.
• Proactively position Fleet Forum for relevant funding windows and partnership opportunities.

Proposal and Bid Development

• Coordinate the development of funding applications, concept notes and proposals.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to refine project concepts and articulate compelling value propositions.
• Strengthen Fleet Forum’s ability to secure funding opportunities.

Partnership and Relationship Management

• Develop, strengthen and maintain relationships with organisations funding or investing in mobility, logistics, fleet, sustainability and development initiatives.
• Represent Fleet Forum in meetings, networking events and partnership discussions.
• Develop donor communications and engagement materials.
• Identify and foster strategic connections that create opportunities for collaboration and funding.

CRM and Knowledge Management

• Support the development and systematisation of a CRM process to track opportunities, partner relationships, engagement activities and donor priorities.
• Maintain accurate records that support strategic decision-making and continuity in relationship management.
• Improve organisational knowledge and internal coordination around funding and partnerships.

Internal Coordination and Decision-Making

• Work closely with the Delivery Director and relevant team members to assess opportunities, develop project concepts and coordinate submissions.
• Provide recommendations on opportunity prioritisation, partnership approaches and proposal positioning.
• Ensure that financial, technical and contractual commitments are reviewed and approved by the appropriate Fleet Forum decision maker before submission.
• Maintain clear internal ownership, responsibilities and deadlines for each active funding opportunity.
• Support effective handover from opportunity development to project mobilisation when funding is secured.

Experience and Qualifications

The consultant should be able to demonstrate:

• Significant experience in funding development, resource mobilisation, business development or a closely related field.
• A strong record of developing successful concept notes, funding proposals or partnership propositions.
• Experience engaging institutional, philanthropic or corporate funders and partners.
• The ability to translate organisational priorities and technical ideas into clear, compelling and fundable project concepts.
• Experience developing and managing funding pipelines, donor information and CRM-based relationship-management processes.
• Strong written communication, stakeholder engagement and coordination skills.
• The ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a small international team.
• Familiarity with the humanitarian, development, mobility, logistics or sustainability sectors would be an advantage.

Deliverables and Success Metrics

The following deliverables and results are expected in the first year.

Funding and Pipeline

• Contribute to securing €1 million in funding, measured in accordance with the definition of secured funding agreed at the start of the assignment.
• Establish and maintain a prioritised pipeline showing each opportunity’s potential value, strategic fit, probability, next action, owner and expected decision date.
• Identify and qualify at least 30 substantial funding opportunities during the assignment.
• Coordinate the submission of at least 15 concept notes, proposals or partnership propositions, subject to the availability of suitable opportunities and Fleet Forum approval.
• Provide a brief monthly pipeline report highlighting progress, decisions required, risks and upcoming deadlines.

Partnerships and Engagement

• Facilitate at least one substantive engagement per month with a prospective funder or strategic partner, including preparation, documentation of outcomes and follow-up actions.
• Develop and maintain a prioritised donor and partner contact list covering relevant institutions, decision makers, interests and engagement history.
• Establish or strengthen relationships with at least 30 priority funding organisations or partners.

Systems and Organisational Strengthening

• Implement an agreed CRM-based process for recording opportunities, relationships, engagement activities, responsibilities and next actions.
• Produce a donor ecosystem map with tiered recommendations based on strategic alignment and funding potential.
• Update Fleet Forum’s organisational portfolio with donor-facing messaging and concise summaries of prioritised project concepts.
• Produce an end-of-assignment handover covering the active pipeline, priority relationships, outstanding actions and recommendations for the next period.

Terms and Conditions

Contract Terms

• Level of effort: An maximum of three days per week, scheduled flexibly according to agreed priorities and funding deadlines.
• Period: October 2026 – September 2027

Working Conditions

• Duty location and working arrangements: The assignment will be delivered on a consultancy basis, primarily remotely. Attendance at agreed in-person meetings or events may be required where relevant to the assignment. The ideal candidate is able to have working hours within 3 hours of Central European Time.
• Travel: Any travel must be agreed in advance with Fleet Forum. Approved travel costs will be reimbursed separately in accordance with Fleet Forum’s applicable travel arrangements and are not included in the daily rate unless otherwise agreed.
• Planning and reporting: The consultant will agree priorities and work planning with the Delivery Director and participate in regular progress reviews. The monthly report will summarise completed activities, pipeline development, upcoming priorities, decisions required and days used.
• Payment and invoicing: Payment will be made against approved invoices and records of days worked, in accordance with the payment schedule set out in the consultancy agreement.
• Confidentiality and ownership: All information accessed through the assignment must be treated as confidential. Materials and outputs developed specifically for Fleet Forum under the assignment will remain the property of Fleet Forum, as further specified in the consultancy agreement.