Business Development Lead - Global Gateway, Governance and EU Accession

Position Overview

The Lead, Governance and EU Accession will provide strategic leadership in expanding DAI’s portfolio across these sectors. The role is responsible for developing and pursuing a pipeline of governance and EU accession opportunities, expanding DAI’s network of partners and consultants, strengthening DAI’s market position, and raising the company’s profile among key clients and stakeholders.

The Lead will drive early pre-positioning and business growth efforts, foster strategic relationships, and contribute to the development of innovative and competitive solutions.

Alongside business development responsibilities, the role will maintain close coordination with technical practice and delivery teams to ensure that DAI’s business development approach is informed by current project experience, client priorities, and operational learning. The Lead will engage with business development and delivery colleagues, supporting knowledge-sharing, strategic positioning, and the development of technically credible and competitive solutions.

The role is not intended to involve direct project implementation management or delivery oversight. However, where appropriate and subject to project needs, contractual requirements, and availability, the Lead may contribute targeted technical input to project implementation, including potential engagement as a Non-Key Expert.

This is a full-time, permanent position. Candidates must be authorized to work in Serbia without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement the sector strategy.
• Align DAI’s business development objectives with organizational priorities and business goals.
• Identify growth opportunities, partnerships, and new business initiatives, supporting consortium development and partnering strategies.
• Monitor sector trends and provide strategic recommendations to the Lead, Public Sector Clients, EU.
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Business Development Management & Coordination

• Lead hands-on, day-to-day business development activities, including effective pre-positioning, proposal preparation, and quality review of final deliverables.
• Establish performance targets and monitor progress against agreed objectives.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, contractual requirements, and quality standards.
• Promote continuous learning between business development and relevant technical and delivery teams, helping strengthen DAI’s technical positioning and support future growth.
• Maintain regular coordination with delivery teams, including participation in relevant practice meetings or project governance forums where appropriate, to stay informed of ongoing activities, identify opportunities to leverage DAI’s experience, and ensure proposals reflect relevant project experience, client intelligence, and operational learning.

People Management

• Lead, motivate, and support business development colleagues and contributors involved in relevant sector opportunities.
• Set performance objectives and conduct performance reviews in line with established reporting arrangements.
• Support workforce planning, recruitment, and onboarding for relevant business development needs.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.

Market Positioning & Partnerships

• Develop and maintain a network of specialist partners, consultants, and technical experts across the governance and EU accession sectors, including donors and government counterparts.
• Raise DAI’s visibility and reputation within the governance and EU accession sectors.
• Build strategic intelligence on client priorities, procurement trends, competitor activity, and market developments, undertaking field missions when necessary.
• Represent DAI at industry events, working groups, and conferences.
• Develop thought leadership and knowledge products showcasing DAI’s experience and capabilities.
• Identify partnership opportunities that strengthen DAI’s technical and commercial competitiveness.

Quality and Risk Management

• Ensure the delivery of high-quality business development outputs and services.
• Identify and mitigate operational, financial, and reputational risks arising during business development and proposal processes.
• Promote adherence to quality assurance and compliance frameworks.
• Draw on lessons learned by delivery teams to strengthen proposal quality and reduce delivery risks in future opportunities.
• Be able and willing to adjust working hours as needed to support teams located in different time zones and countries.

Other

• Be able and willing to travel to any country where DAI currently operates or may wish to operate, except when DAI Global Security has deemed travel unsafe.
• Be able to regularly work from DAI’s Belgrade office.
• Undertake additional responsibilities as deemed necessary.

Qualifications & Skills

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum of 15 years of relevant professional experience, including substantial experience working with the EU and other donors on business development, proposal development, and strategic positioning.
• Master’s degree in Economics, Public Finance, Law, International Development, Public Policy, or a related field. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• Strong understanding of the EU Global Gateway strategy and its relevance to governance, EU accession, and international development programming.
• Established professional network across EU institutions, international financial institutions, development agencies, sector partners, and relevant technical experts.
• Demonstrated experience developing successful proposals, consortiums, and technical solutions for complex donor-funded opportunities, preferably within the governance and EU accession sectors.
• At least 10 years of experience in a leadership or management role, including responsibility for teams, workplans, delivery quality, and performance management.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets, multidisciplinary teams, and complex programmes or projects in dynamic, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, client relationship management, partnership development, and business development skills.
• Outstanding communication, leadership, influencing, and negotiation skills, with the ability to represent the organization effectively at senior levels.
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making skills.
• Proven leadership and people development capabilities.
• Strong financial acumen.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Strong stakeholder management skills.
• Results-oriented approach.
• Project and portfolio management experience.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.

Preferred, but not required

• Professional working proficiency in a second language, with Spanish or French preferred.
• At least 5 years of supervisory experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to preventing sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment, as well as other ethical breaches. All positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.