BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

Company information

Company

HST Careers

Division

Corporate Services

Province

Gauteng

Job Specification Information

Title

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

Description

The Health Systems Trust wishes to appoint a Business Development Specialist who provides operational, administrative and technical support to the Business Development Unit to contribute toward achieving the Unit’s strategic goal. The Business Development Specialist contributes to business development by leading the due diligence aspect of proposal writing and ensuring alignment with donor requirements. The role involves communicating with donors and providing guidance and support to partners on due diligence processes. It also includes conducting literature reviews, coordinating proposal checklists, drafting capacity statements, and sourcing and strengthening CVs for proposals. The incumbent is responsible for maintaining the MS Teams platform and the Client Relationship Management (CRM) database, as well as managing business development subscriptions and leading opportunity searches. The role further entails setting up meetings, including handling IT-related requirements for virtual sessions, and compiling statistics on proposal searches to support internal business development reporting. The position is based at the Midrand office, Gauteng. This is a fixed-term contract position, renewable based on funding.

Key Responsibilities

• Engage in professional communication with donors and partners on a daily, weekly or monthly basis as required • Contribute to and support all required BDU meetings with partners and donors • Engage in professional communication with other units and functions within HST to contribute to effective collaboration on proposals • Effective contribution to cultivating strategic partnerships with funders, representing HST in meetings and fora, local, nationally and internationally • Work with the Finance team to develop proposal budgets ensuring consistency with technical narrative and value for money • Lead or contribute to proposal submitted • Support evidence-based innovative products and offerings • Provide regular reporting to the BD Director and BD Unit on progress, impact, challenges, and opportunities • Ensure compliance with HST’s communications policies, ethics, and safeguarding standards • Write and submit proposals for following the Proposal Development Process (PDP) guidelines and working with relevant technical team for programme design input • Effective support to the HST contract and grants team and contact development • Conduct market research and analysis for opportunity identification and positioning of proposals • Write and submit proposals for following the Proposal Development Process (PDP) guidelines and working with relevant technical teams for programme design input • Input to the HST and BD strategies • Effective support to the HST contract and grants team and contact development • Conduct market research and analysis for opportunity identification and positioning of proposals • Contribute to updating CRM and OneDrive platforms • Contribute to due diligence requirements for each proposal as required • Provide administrative support to BD activities e.g. meeting set up and minutes • Actively support opportunity searches • Map funders, partners and competitors • Support BD knowledge management for proposals • Own training and development opportunities identified • Contribute to training and development of BD Officer and project teams • Relevant information resources and tools shared/developed • Utilise department resources in an effective, efficient and economically manner

Key Attributes

• Research and analytical skills with the ability to use data-gathering methods and converting Works in ways that demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to HST’s vision, mission and values, and insights into high-quality proposals • Demonstrates understanding of how the role contributes to development and delivery of organisational goals and priorities • Assess and interpret information to identify options, make timeous decisions and allocate resources effectively to implement required actions • Accepts ownership and accountability, while thinking ahead and deciding on courses of action to sustain momentum and achieve desired outcomes • Plans, organises and schedules work to meet individual, Unit and Section objectives while achieving quality and value for money • Builds positive relationships, co-operating with and valuing the opinions of others, both within and outside the organisation, demonstrating an understanding of and commitment to effective teamwork and partnerships. • Varies the way in which ideas and information are communicated, ensuring that key messages to a diverse set of audiences, both verbally and in writing, are clearly understood • Positively influences others, creating acceptance and support for ideas, inspiring others to give their best to achieve desired results, while maintaining effective relationships with individuals and teams • Supports positive change and actively looks for ways to improve execution of the role functions Knowledge of funding policies, priorities and requirements of major health systems funders such as philanthropic organisations, government, Pharma, CDC, BMGF, the Global Fund and the EU • Technical (public health) and business-style writing and editing skills • Innovative mindset and ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking • Good interpersonal skills to work with diverse internal and external stakeholders, including multi-disciplinary health and non-health systems subject- matter experts. • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team

Education Required

Matric

Qualification Required

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, public health or related field • Courses in research or business would be an added advantage

Experience Required

• At least 5 years’ experience in a fundraising, business development or marketing/fundraising research role, preferably in an NGO or academic setting • Understanding of the public health sector • Experience in opportunity research and proposal-writing for health funding grants or contracts from various funders

Remuneration

A salary package commensurate with the successful candidate’s experience and qualifications and in line with HST’s Job Grading System will be offered.

Other Job Details

• Interested applicants must complete their application online at: https://careers.hst.org.za/ • Applicants are to ensure that their online applications are completed in full, and that comprehensive CVs are uploaded with the online application in order to be considered. • Applicant’s CV must be saved with a filename reflecting their name and surname. • No applications sent via e-mail will be considered for the job, as all applicants must submit their applications online at the provided link. PLEASE NOTE: • Preference will be given to applicants residing in the particular province that this project will be supporting. • All personal information collected is processed lawfully in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). • Shortlisted candidates will be requested to submit certified copies of all qualifications and identity documents. • Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. • Correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates. • All shortlisted candidates will be subjected to reference and credential checks. • If you have not been contacted within 30 days of the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application has been unsuccessful. • HST reserves the right to not fill this position. CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 26 February 2026, at 16h30 Health Systems Trust subscribes to diversity and inclusivity, which is informed by the Company’s Employment Equity Plan. Based on this, African males and people with disabilities who meet the job specifications (including but not limited to the required skills, knowledge and education), are encouraged to apply.