Manager International Partnerships and Communication

Company details

The Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO) is a development finance institution governed by the Belgian state with a goal to foster sustainable development through private sector investment in partner countries.

BIO is a value driven organization that embodies open-mindedness, responsibility, determination and sustainability in every aspect of its work.

Job Details

Function

In this function, your main responsibility is to manage the public affairs and communication team, and develop and maintain productive and positive relationships with key stakeholders of the organization as identified in our public relations and communications strategy, with the goal to reach our strategic priorities as defined by the Board.

The main responsibilities of the Manager International Partnerships and Communication are:

• Team management, including planning, strategy and budget: 30%
• International partnerships development with focus on EU / Global Gateway / EDFI: 30%
• National partnerships development and stakeholder coordination: 20%
• Preparation of background notes and speaking points for the Executive Committee and support in organizing events (see below): 10%
• Support to fundraising and mobilization strategy: 10%
• Responsibility for communication on reputational risk issues: up to 5%

You will work closely with the CEO. All contacts with ministers, cabinet members and executive levels of administration and partnership organizations remain the primary responsibility of the Executive Committee.

• In close cooperation with the CEO and the Executive Committee, you are the primary point-of-contact for all matters related to our engagement with the EU and with other European DFIs;
• You serve as EDFI coordinator for BIO (information relay, opportunities identification);
• You are POC for the Intra-Belgische Overlegplatform rond Global Gateway (the intra Belgian consultative body for Global Gateway), and for EU INTPA coordination meetings on Global Gateway and DFI / ECA cooperation. You follow up on EU guarantee discussions and coordination;
• You liaise externally with other DFIs on topics of mutual interest, and internally with our investment and D&S teams;
• You are POC for the SME Alliance for Ukraine;
• You liaise regularly with Belgian key stakeholders (e.g. NGO community, administrations of the ministers of foreign affairs, climate and finance) as well as with partners from our impact ecosystem (e.g. Enabel, IFB);
• You are responsible for the preparation of the policy dialogues with the administration, briefings to parliament, information exchange requests and training for the members of the administrations. You make sure all stakeholders are adequately informed about the mission, impact results and priorities of BIO;
• Together with the Senior Communications Officer, you make sure that all communication tools are up to date and efficiently targeted, and that BIO fulfils its official reporting requirements. You prepare briefing and background notes on our investments for ministerial and Executive Committee visits, public events and travels, and you organize several public affairs events a year;
• You assist in the organization of high level contacts to bring the mission of the organization and the mobilization and fundraising strategy to a favourable conclusion;
• You manage a team of two, supported by interns, that is responsible for all external communications and publications, public affairs, and most of the events organized by BIO.

Profile

• You have an investment related or public affairs related master’s degree or equivalent through experience;
• You have at least 10 years of combined experience in diplomacy, public affairs and communication, preferably within a development finance or investment related context;
• You combine a passion for public affairs with excellent verbal and written communication skills and a keen interest in development/impact finance. You know how to defend interests without compromising relationships and how to convince counterparts based on sound arguments. Basic knowledge of technical aspects of (impact) investment and private equity, and basic notions of financial analysis, development measurement and ESG matters is an asset;
• You have experience in working with either Belgian Foreign service / Development Cooperation administration and organizations, or European administration or INTPA, or similar;
• You have at least three years of management experience, leading a small team towards excellence;
• Field experience within the context of development cooperation or investment in emerging markets is an asset;
• You are fluent in English, French, and Dutch;
• You want to work in an impactful environment that attaches great importance to its values, that has the drive to make a difference, and you have a can-do attitude where you spot opportunities and make things happen;
• You can work highly independently, you have no problem with handling multiple deadlines at the same time.

Offer

Come and join BIO for an enriching professional experience where you’ll be surrounded by motivated colleagues.

We offer an attractive package and you’ll enjoy a good balance between your work and your private life (homeworking, regular trainings…).

We’re ideally situated in Brussels – only a brisk 10-minute walk from Brussels Central Station and therefore easily accessible by public transport from several big cities.