Associate Director, Head Bilateral, Philantropics & Special Shareholder Fund

Purpose of Job

The EBRD’s business model relies significantly on access to donor funds and productive donor relations. In 2025 alone, the Bank mobilised more than €2.1 billion in new donor support and now manages a portfolio of donor support worth around €6 billion. Donor contributions remain vital to the Bank’s ability to fulfil its transition mandate and business plans enabling technical assistance, grant-based financing, and access to concessional instruments across a number of sectors and countries of operations. Donor Partnerships (DP) acts as EBRD’s focal point for engaging with donors. It ensures mutually beneficial relationships between the Bank and donors and access to donor support that support EBRD’s strategic objectives and operational plans.

The Associate Director, Head of Bilaterals, Philanthropics and SSF manages and coordinates  the Bank’s bilateral and multi-donor funds and relationships, including the Shareholder Special Fund (SSF), as well as relations with philanthropic foundations and private sector donors. Under the guidance of the Director Donor Partnerships and the Bank’s Donor Strategy, the Associate Director sets the strategic direction and operational priorities for the Bank’s engagement with bilateral and philanthropic/private sector donors and builde and nurtures productive relations and grows a community of supportive donors, based on a deep understanding of the global development landscape and donor universe. S/he identifies and organises opportunities for the Bank to engage with a range of donor partners and implements effective strategies and plans to mobilise donor support in line with the Bank’s priorities and needs. The Associate Director also engages with the Bank’s shareholders in the capacity as responsible for the SSF, to ensure it operates effectively and grows in line with the Bank’s needs. 

The Associate Director is also responsible for establishing an effective and attractive funding architecture for bilateral and philanthropic/private sector donor funds and for the efficient and effective management of all the Bank’s bilateral, philanthropic and multi-donor funds plus the SSF in line with the Bank’s policies and procedures and donor requirements.

The Associate Director leads a team of fund managers responsible for donor relations and donor funds management and also coordinates closely with and advises Bank teams who require access to donor funds.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Under the overall direction of the Bank’s Donor Strategy and the guidance set by the Director Donor Partnerships, the post involves the following:
 

• Strategic Donor Relationship Management

Build and maintain active, productive and strategic relationships with the Banks’ community of donors resulting in mutually beneficial engagement. Grow and diversify the community to ensure the Bank has relations with a wide variety of donors bringing different resources and perspectives to the Bank’s operations across its existing and new regions. Contribute to building up the Bank’s engagement with philanthropic foundations and private sector donors with a focus on the Bank’s expanded regions and new thematic priority areas.

• Fundraising and Proposal Creation

Ensure the Bank successfully mobilises support from a broad donor community in line with its needs and on best possible terms. Design and deliver effective donor fundraising strategies including the preparation of compelling and high-quality fundraising pitches and organisation of effective fundraising opportunities tailored to different donors. Contribute to the design of innovative funding proposals and structures that can yield highest impact and strong leverage, involving various blended concessional finance solutions and both reimbursable and performance-based instruments alongside traditional grant-based financing. Represent the Bank in  negotiations, resulting in best terms for EBRD and a universe of donor agreements reflecting Bank policies and priorities and conducive to effective implementation.

• Funding Architecture and Fund Management

Ensure the Bank establish a funding architecture of bilateral and multi-donor funds that both attracts donors and offers effective solutions for user teams in the Bank. Oversee the establishment of bilateral and multi-donor cooperation funds, trust funds and special funds to host the Bank’s donor support and ensure effective and standardised delivery terms, rules and regulations. Build up a portfolio of funds from philanthropic and private sector donors in line with the Bank’s needs and requirements. Equally, ensure the Bank can accommodate donor support in a variety of forms including unfunded guarantee solutions, reimbursable or performance-based grant support, concessional lending, etc. Ensure the Bank manages and deploys its donor support in compliance with donor requirements and expectations, the Bank’s policies and best practice. Organise successful multi-donor fund assemblies, donor days, donor visits at HQ and in country, to donor capitals, etc., to monitor ongoing donor funded portfolios, fundraise and present the Bank’s achievements. Contribute to reform initiatives aimed at improving donor funds management systems and processes in line with Bank-wide transformation efforts.

• Net Income Funds

Build and manage effective funds that accommodates the Bank’s net income, notably the Shareholder Special Fund (SSF). Ensure the SSF offers flexible and predictable funding for user teams based on clear financial controls and eligibility criteria and anchored in the Bank’s strategic priorities. Ensure SSF is regularly replenished with new net income and engage effectively with the Board in its oversight role of SSF resources. This includes the development and approval of annual Work Plans, SSF internal guidelines, Rules and funding fiches. Oversee the effective launch and management of existing and new net income funds.

• Strategic Intelligence and Outreach

Ensure the Bank communicates effectively and persuasively with donors, resulting in strong, positive relations and impactful EBRD visibility. Create opportunities and tools for effective communication that both advocate for the Bank’s needs and interests and present its achievements for a variety of audiences. Ensure the Bank and key staff have a clear understanding of development trends and priorities among bilateral donors and access to vital information that impact EBRD. Build effective ways to gather and share such information with internal stakeholders. Represent Donor Partnership and support senior management representation of the Bank in international donor fora.

• Effective internal coordination
  Establish close and regular internal coordination mechanisms with key user teams across the Bank in Banking and non-Banking teams, at HQ and in Resident Offices, to identify their needs and support and advise them in their access to, and use of, donor funds. Contribute to their effective use of donor support and implementation of donor funded activities. Represent the team in internal decision-making committees.

• Analysis, reporting, results

Ensure stakeholders have access to key financial information and relevant analysis regarding the Bank’s bilateral donor and net income portfolio, including trends and emerging challenges. Ensure the Bank provides donors with high-quality and timely reports on their support with a focus on results achieved, lessons learnt and agreed financial metrics. Design creative ways to communicate the Bank’s achievements based on donor funded projects and portfolios, both in aggregate terms and project-specific, for a variety of audiences. Ensure the ability to combine donors’ need for bespoke solutions with the Bank’s ambition to standardise reporting where possible.  
  

• Team Leadership and Staff Management

Establish clear objectives for the team and create a positive and supportive work environment where staff thrive and deliver on their objectives. Guide and manage staff in line with Bank policies and practice and support their personal development and growth opportunities. Regularly assess staff performance and guide and support staff in their delivery of their objectives. Ensure effective recruitments and minimal gaps. Champion and role model the Bank’s Behavioural Competencies and Corporate Behaviours, ensuring adherence within the team(s) so that the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct are exhibited at all times.

• Contribute to Wider DP priorities

Assist the Director in setting DP’s strategic directions and overall team management and delivery against priorities, including regular planning and information meetings and DP action plans. Contribute to the development of DP policy and strategic documents, cross-cutting analysis, reform and transformation initiatives, and corporate requirements, and support in representing DP externally and within the Bank. Contribute to a supportive and collaborative team leader environment in DP and strong cross-team collaboration

Qualifications & Skills / Experience & Knowledge

Knowledge

• Excellent understanding of the global development agenda and trends and emerging policies and practice on development finance
• Excellent understanding of the global development architecture, the broader donor landscape, donor policy priorities covering a range of public agency donors, private sector donors and donors from philanthropic foundations
• Excellent understanding of blended finance structures and the use of grants, guarantees and concessional funding instruments for project finance aims. Excellent understanding of how to deploy blended financial instruments to foster transition and mobilise private capital
• Excellent understanding of results-based approaches in the management of donor funds and best development practice in the area of aid effectiveness
• Good understanding of EBRD’s business model and its various investment instruments as well as tools for policy reform and advisory support
• Knowledge or experience in the EBRD countries of operations would be an advantage

Skills

• Excellent networking and partnership skills. A team-builder with strong ability to operate effectively with multiple teams and external partners in a multicultural environment
• Excellent communication, marketing and negotiation skills and ability to influence others
• Strategic mindset as well as strong operational understanding with ability to turn visions and ideas into projects
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills
• Creative and a self-starter
• Excellent managerial skills and a people’s person. Ability to motivate and lead staff and create positive environments
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Computer literate: Microsoft Office suite

Experience

• Extensive experience in building and managing donor relations, building networks and effective partnerships and managing donor funds
• Deep track record in mobilising donor funds for blended finance structures, concessional financing instruments and grant-based solutions and designing compelling fundraising strategies and pitches
• Proficiency in designing innovative financial products including risk-sharing tools and blended finance solutions with high leverage potential
• Extensive experience in establishing effective and attractive funding structures, managing large donor funded portfolios and a thorough understanding of the various steps in the donor project management cycle
• Substantive experience in creating and leading teams and managing people. Ability to manage, motivate and lead a team and to train and mentor junior staff.

Qualifications

• Post-graduate (Masters) qualification in international development, international relations, economics, finance or related discipline.

What is it like to work at the EBRD? / About EBRD 

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people's lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in.  

At EBRD, our Values – Inclusiveness, Innovation, Trust, and Responsibility – are at the heart of how we work. We bring these to life through our Workplace Behaviours: listening well and speaking up, collaborating smartly, acting decisively with full commitment, and simplifying to amplify our impact. These principles shape our culture and define our success. We seek individuals who not only share these values but are also committed to embedding them in their daily work, fostering a positive and high-performing environment. 

The EBRD environment provides you with: 

• Varied, stimulating and engaging work that gives you an opportunity to interact with a wide range of experts in the financial, political, public and private sectors across the regions we invest in. 
• A working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity. Our workforce reflects a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, bringing fresh ideas, energy, and innovation and enhancing our ability to serve our clients, shareholders, and counterparties effectively.
• A hybrid workplace that offers flexibility to teams and individuals; that is based on trust, flexibility and connectedness. 
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital transformation at the heart of what we do. 
• A workplace that prioritises employee wellbeing and provides a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits. 

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does.  As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic background or disability.   

Please note, that due to the high volume of applications received, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted (for further consideration).