Director, Strategic Growth and Partnerships

**About WorldFish**

WorldFish is an international research organization working to transform aquatic food systems to reduce hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. It collaborates with international, regional, and national partners to co-develop and deliver scientific innovations, evidence for policy and knowledge to enable equitable and inclusive impact for millions who depend on fish and other aquatic foods for their livelihoods and nutrition. Our work in countries advances progress on multiple 2030 Sustainable Development Goals through science and innovation, with a vision of healthy people, healthy planet and shared prosperity.

**About the Position**

WorldFish is seeking a visionary and results-driven **Director, Strategic Growth and Partnerships** to lead the organization’s global transformation and growth agenda. As a key member of the senior leadership team, this high-impact role will work closely with the Director General to chart and execute an ambitious strategy that positions WorldFish as the world’s leading research-for-development organization in aquatic food systems.

The Director will serve as the chief architect of WorldFish’s growth strategy—cultivating strategic alliances, unlocking innovative financing mechanisms, and securing high-value partnerships with donors, development banks, philanthropic foundations, governments, and the private sector. With a bold mandate to generate at least 30% of WorldFish’s annual portfolio through new revenue streams, the Director will play a pivotal role in expanding the organization’s global influence and funding base.

This is a unique opportunity for a dynamic leader to shape the future of food, nutrition, and climate resilience in the Global South—driving sustainable impact at scale through science, innovation, and collaboration

**Key Responsibilities**

**1. Strategic leadership and organizational growth**

- Lead the development and execution of bold, forward-looking strategies that position WorldFish for long-term growth and global influence.
- Provide high-level strategic guidance on expanding WorldFish’s reach, impact, and financial sustainability.
- Align internal capabilities and external partnerships to achieve impact at scale through regional program expansions, innovative financing, and private sector engagement.
- Develop and implement an institutional roadmap for building strategic alliances with private sector actors, philanthropies, and mission-aligned investors to enable co-investment in science and innovation.
- Establish governance and accountability frameworks to ensure the successful execution of strategic initiatives.

**2. Strategic fundraising and resource mobilization**

- Secure long-term multi-year funding agreements, with the responsibility to raise the equivalent of 30% of the WorldFish portfolio annually, leading to a growth in WorldFish annual revenue.
- Cultivate strategic relationships and diversify funding sources by adding new high-value donors, institutional funders, and investment partners. This new funding should account for at least 10% of the WorldFish portfolio.
- Lead the development and execution of an overarching long-term organizational fundraising and business development strategy and targets.
- Oversee all high-level resource mobilization efforts (including efforts led by the Resource Mobilization Lead and team), ensuring alignment with the organization’s growth vision and impact ambitions and ensuring an organization-wide approach to fundraising.
- Lead strategic dialogues with multilateral and bilateral donors, philanthropic foundations, and emerging donors to shape investment priorities aligned with WorldFish’s long-term goals.

**3. High-level partnerships and institutional positioning**

- Develop and execute a high-level partnership strategy to forge and maintain transformational partnerships with governments, international organizations, donors, and private sector actors to elevate WorldFish’s profile.
- Shape and influence global dialogues on sustainable aquatic food systems, and the blue economy.
- Develop strategies to secure government mandates and policy alignment, positioning WorldFish as a trusted science-driven development partner.
- Represent WorldFish at the highest levels in forums, negotiations, and strategic alliances.
- Increase donor retention rates and secure a high level of new transformational partnerships per year.
- Broker multi-stakeholder alliances that leverage the strengths of private sector partners, impact investors, and technology firms in delivering scalable solutions.

**4**. **Driving Innovation in Business Development**

- Oversee the development of mission-aligned business models, ensuring they are structured for success and aligned with the organization’s impact goals.
- Spearhead new models of revenue generation, including public-private partnerships, blended finance, and market-based solutions.
- Lead the commercialization of WorldFish products and services, working cl