Senior External Relations Associate at Educate!

• The ideal candidate will support in moving forward new and existing relationships that will enable us to reach our goal of impacting millions of youth annually. They should be happy to contribute in a supportive capacity to the team and will have an interest in building diverse institutional knowledge across the organization through varied projects.
• A successful candidate should be a reliable self-starter with meticulous attention to detail and exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including some professional experience preparing content for internal and external audiences. However, the role is open to individuals with diverse experience and a variety of backgrounds.
• The External Relations Senior Associate will work closely with Educate!'s philanthropy team, as well as program teams, to manage internal systems, develop high-quality content, and contribute to the ongoing management of stakeholder relationships. They will report to Educate!'s Head of External Relations, directly supporitng building and executing strategies that generate resources to support thethe organization's next phase of growth. Educate!'s work impacts youth across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda, and we are currently in an exciting period of growth. The right person for this role will enjoy interacting and collaborating with stakeholders in and outside the organization, managing complex projects, and thinking strategically and creatively within complex situations. You'll join a motivated, dynamic, and high-performing team committed to personal and professional development and impacting youth.

Performance Objectives
Develop and manage written materials to communicate Educate!'s strategy and impact externally with key stakeholders

• Write, project manage, and support the development of grant reports and proposals, collaborating with in-country teams to gather information and ensure alignment with donor requirements.
• Conduct field follow-ups and due diligence for donor requests, while researching new funding opportunities and managing prospective relationships.
• Support the fundraising team in streamlining internal systems for grant reporting, compliance, and consistent messaging across Educate!'s teams.
• Contribute to Educate!'s fundraising strategy at conferences through prospect research, event preparation, and relationship-building outreach.

Support Educate!'s fundraising strategy through revenue generation, effective stakeholder engagement and relationship management of partners

• Build a deep understanding of Educate!'s sector and ecosystem, especially key players and stakeholders within the space.
• Support in managing high priority funder relationships as "Relationship Driver or Co-pilot", a secondary point of contact for funders. This includes compiling frequent and strategic communications to partners, supporting leadership to prepare for meetings and speaking engagements, and ensuring prompt follow-up and project management of action items related to Educate!'s fundraising efforts.
• Engage in lead generation and prospect research, including supporting Educate!'s engagement in regional and global conferences.
• Continuously work to develop and build upon Educate!'s existing fundraising and relationship management systems, processes, and procedures to increase efficiency and move Educate! towards its revenue goals.
• Identify new funding opportunities through calls for proposals and building a network of contacts at key funders.

Strategic projects and team support; being a versatile team player ready to support Educate!'s strategic projects and evolving needs, adapting to various roles as the organization grows. This role will step in flexibly to meet emerging priorities and provide support where needed, which would include:

• Draft a wide variety of internal and external communications to support Educate!'s fundraising and communications efforts.
• Conduct donor research and/or sector research to inform Educate!'s development strategy.
• Support Educate!'s executive team's attendance at a variety of special events.
• Troubleshoot and project manage tasks aimed at improving efficiency and coordination on Educate!'s wider External Relations Team, such as building or refining existing fundraising, communications, or compliance processes.
• Build internal expertise on specific aspects of Educate!'s work.

Qualifications
This position is well-suited for those with 3-5 years of work experience. The ideal candidate is/has:

• A self-starter, proactive and adaptable team player with strong project management, organization, and time-management skills.
• Able to prioritize and handle multiple assignments and deadlines independently.
• Strong EQ, interpersonal skills, and social judgment, enabling effective collaboration across teams, functions, and time zones.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience tailoring content for diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Trustworthy, reliable, and responsive to evolving priorities
• Proven ability to navigate ambiguity and cultivate relationships across all levels, from junior employees to C-suite executives.
• Exceptional attention to detail.