MBA Associate 2026 - Corporate Development (BD & Global Program Management)

CrossBoundary; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An investment advisory firm is seeking an MBA Associate to support business development and global program management. The ideal candidate will work on strategic projects, conduct market analysis, and support internal growth strategies during a 12-week commitment. Applicants should be current MBA or graduate students with a passion for creating change in frontier markets. The position offers the opportunity to work in London or Washington DC, requiring strong analytical skills and attention to detail.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of challenges in frontier markets.
• Experience in consulting and business development preferred.
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to work under time constraints.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support strategic business development efforts.
• Conduct market and competitor analysis.
• Assist in implementing global frameworks.

Skills

Business Development

Analytical Skills

Presentation Skills

Market Analysis

Project Management

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Education

Current MBA or graduate student in relevant field

Job description

MBA Associate 2026 – CrossBoundary Advisory

About CrossBoundary Advisory

CrossBoundary Advisory, part of CrossBoundary Group, is a leading investment advisor focused on unlocking private capital in underserved markets. We have advised on US$12+ billion of closed transactions across agriculture, health, education, manufacturing, ICT, infrastructure, and clean power. Our clients include governments, development finance institutions, foundations, private equity firms, corporates, and research institutions. With 180+ professionals in 20+ offices across Sub‑Saharan Africa, the Middle East & North Africa, Asia‑Pacific, Eastern Europe, and Latin America & the Caribbean, we combine local presence with global expertise to structure bankable transactions and scalable programs. Learn more at www.crossboundary.com/advisory

Who We Are

The CrossBoundary team is a unique group made up of people who are genuinely excited by the opportunity to make a difference in some of the most challenging yet exciting markets in the world. Team members come from diverse backgrounds but share curiosity, humility, integrity, a drive for excellence, and a bias for action.

What You’ll do

CrossBoundary Advisory’s Corporate Development team is hiring an MBA associate to support business development (BD) and global program management (GPM) strategy based in Washington DC or London. Experience in management consulting, blended finance, and/or international development is preferred.

The Corporate Development BD and GPM team supports CrossBoundary Advisory’s internal strategic growth, which includes workstreams covering the firm’s internal strategy, global business development, and program management. As an MBA Associate you will own projects that include designing, developing, and presenting in-depth and thoughtful analysis, new processes, and resources for senior leadership and across the firm. In the past, these projects have included analyzing our pricing strategy, supporting BD on projects across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, identifying trends in our opportunity sourcing strategy, and conducting market research on the development finance industry funding activity and indicators. These projects aim to grow the business and create strategic opportunities in our markets.

You will be expected to conduct internal and external quantitative and qualitative analysis resulting in synthesized recommendations and support on business development pursuits and proactive growth strategy. You will work alongside other team members to deeply understand our business model and industry, bringing your own ideas and recommendations to the table.

MBA Associate positions begin in early June and continue until early August, with some flexibility. This is a 12‑week commitment.

Primary Responsibilities

• Business Development & Global Expansion
  • Lead and support strategic BD efforts, including global bids, task orders, and high‑value opportunities aligned with corporate mandates
  • Conduct market and competitor analysis, leveraging internal data and external intelligence to inform positioning strategies
  • Participate in industry events and networking forums, representing CrossBoundary and building relationships with donors, primes, and strategic partners
  • Build internal capacity on donor market dynamics and competitive strategies to win new clients
• Global Program Management Support
  • Assist in implementing global frameworks and mandates, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy
  • Coordinate cross‑functional projects that require collaboration across regions and service lines

Who You Are

• A current MBA or graduate student in a relevant field
• Self‑starter who is passionate about creating lasting change in frontier markets
• Deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities businesses face in frontier markets, as well as the macro‑economic trends that impact them
• Past exposure to Development Finance Institutions and/or development agencies is particularly relevant
• Comfortable with ambiguity; able to operate effectively in a changing context
• Prior experience in consulting, growth strategy, business development in international development is preferred
• Willing to work in Washington DC or London for the summer
• Strong presentation skills, quantitative skills and analytical abilities: can think clearly, structure problems logically, and then design and implement solutions that focus on the core issues
• Willing to take on new types of work, even without prior experience or direct supervision
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to deliver high‑quality output within time constraints
• Familiarity and comfort with Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel

Equal Opportunity Employer

Think you have what it takes but not sure you check every box? Research shows that while men apply to roles when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women often only apply when they meet every requirement. If you’re passionate about what we’re building, we want to hear from you!

CrossBoundary is an equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [e-mail]

Application Process

• Please submit only one application. In your application, you will have the opportunity to indicate your top 2nd and 3rd region or team preferences.
• Applicants who are shortlisted for interviews will be notified by mid‑January 2026.