Director of Partnerships and Fundraising at Action For Ocean (AFO) – Dar es Salaam

Application Deadline: 25 November 2026

Action For Ocean (AFO) is seeking qualified and experienced professionals for the position of Director of Partnerships and Fundraising.

Job Overview

• Position: Director of Partnerships and Fundraising
• Organization: Action For Ocean (AFO)
• Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• Department: Business Development and Fundraising
• Reports To: Executive Director and Senior Management Team (SMT)
• Contract Type: Full-Time, renewable based on performance and project continuation

About Action For Ocean (AFO)

Action For Ocean (AFO) is a marine conservation organization dedicated to promoting the health and resilience of ocean ecosystems and supporting the wellbeing of coastal communities. Recognizing the deep connection between people and the sea in Tanzania, AFO integrates sustainable livelihood activities into its conservation efforts to reduce pressure on marine resources and foster long-term stewardship. By providing viable economic alternatives, AFO empowers communities to take ownership of conservation goals and build resilience to environmental challenges.

Position Purpose

The Director of Partnerships and Fundraising will spearhead the execution of AFO’s existing fundraising strategy and pipeline, focusing on converting qualified opportunities into signed funding commitments, securing cash flow, and establishing high-value partnerships. This role is pivotal in driving AFO’s resource mobilization efforts to support its approximately US$16 million five-year funding ambition. This is a hands-on fundraising and deal-closing role, prioritizing execution over strategy development.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Raise and Secure Resources
   • Take ownership of annual fundraising delivery targets.
   • Advance AFO’s existing pipeline from cultivation to asking, negotiation, signed agreements, and disbursement.
   • Personally lead and close major funding opportunities.
2. Build Donor Relationships
   • Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with foundations, individuals, family offices, companies, and institutional funders.
   • Secure new, renewed, unrestricted, and multi-year support.
   • Activate US philanthropy opportunities through AFO’s Myriad USA giving mechanism.
3. Convert Partnerships into Results
   • Lead strategic engagement and negotiate partnerships that bring finance, technical capabilities, influence, or access.
   • Ensure partnerships deliver tangible outputs, not just agreements without measurable results.
4. Lead Fundraising Execution
   • Direct and coach the Business Development and Fundraising Manager.
   • Prioritize proposals and staff time investments.
   • Collaborate with programme, Finance, and Communications teams to develop strong, costed funding requests.
5. Manage Funding Intelligence
   • Maintain a disciplined fundraising pipeline with named owners, stages, decision dates, and next actions.
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   • Provide monthly forecasts differentiating prospects, proposals, signed commitments, and cash receipts.
6. Protect Quality and Reputation
   • Negotiate appropriate cost recovery, delivery commitments, and reporting terms.
   • Prioritize funders aligned with AFO’s community-led conservation model and long-term sustainability.
7. Enable Executive and Board Fundraising
   • Prepare and involve the Executive Director and Board in high-level fundraising tasks and relationship stewardship.
   • Ensure reliable follow-up after every engagement.

How Performance Will Be Measured

The successful candidate’s performance will be assessed based on:

• Annual value of new signed funding agreements and cash received against approved targets, including progress towards AFO’s five-year mobilization goal.
• Conversion of priority pipeline opportunities.
• Size and quality of multi-year and flexible funding secured.
• Number and value of new major donors.
• Donor renewal and retention.
• Value of strategic partnerships.
• Accuracy of fundraising pipeline forecasts.
• Timely execution of agreed next steps.

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must demonstrate the following qualifications and professional experience:

• At least 8 years of experience in fundraising, philanthropy, strategic partnerships, or business development, including senior responsibility for revenue/resource mobilization.
• A verifiable history of personally leading or closing significant grants, major gifts, sponsorships, or partnership funding.
• Ability to demonstrate the amounts secured, types of funders, dates, and specific personal role in securing the funding.
• Excellent senior-level relationship-building, donor pitching, and negotiation skills.
• Strong financial judgment, persuasive writing, and management skills.
• Experience with international philanthropy or conservation/development funding.
• Ability to manage cross-functional teams and engage funders globally.

Important: Candidates who have only supported proposal administration without personally leading or closing significant funding opportunities do not meet this requirement.

Application Instructions

Interested and qualified candidates should complete the official application form. Applicants will be required to upload the following documents and information:

• Cover letter.
• Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Contact details for two professional referees.

Application Form: The application form is linked in the original job description under the word “here”.

Deadline: 25 November 2026

Note: Ensure that your application clearly demonstrates your fundraising achievements, including the funding amounts you have personally secured, the funders involved, dates, and your specific contribution.

CLICK/TAP HERE TO APPLY: APPLY HERE