Head of Partnerships

Homerun; Utrecht; Hybrid; EUR 56,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contribution

Health insurance allowance

Annual learning & development budget

Hybrid working model

Flexible / partly remote working

Job summary

ATNi (Access to Nutrition Initiative) is seeking a Head of Partnerships to lead strategy and engagement with partners worldwide. This senior role collaborates with the Executive Director and the Extended Management Team to accelerate action for improved nutrition through strategic alliances across Europe, Africa and Asia.

The role requires strong leadership, fundraising experience and a track record of building impactful partnerships in international development.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field are required.
• At least 12 years of relevant professional experience in partnership development, stakeholder engagement, business development or programme management.
• Experience building and managing complex partnerships across sectors and geographies.
• Experience in international development, public health, nutrition or food systems.
• Fundraising, donor engagement and grant development experience is an advantage.
• Experience leading and managing international teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement ATNi's Partnership Strategy in alignment with its mission, Theory of Change and priorities.
• Identify and pursue strategic partnership opportunities that advance ATNi's impact and influence.
• Build and nurture relationships with government agencies, international organisations, private sector actors, investors and civil society.
• Monitor effectiveness of partnerships and identify opportunities to increase collaboration and impact.
• Represent ATNi in high-level meetings, conferences, webinars and industry events, advocating for strategic partnerships.
• Provide regular updates and strategic recommendations to the Management Team on opportunities and risks.
• As a member of the Extended Management Team, help develop ATNi’s next strategy (from 2028 onwards).
• Lead the Partnerships team and allocate resources effectively.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture and provide professional development for team members.
• Strengthen partnership capabilities across the organisation.
• Liaise with project leads to align strategies with impact goals.
• Collaborate with other heads to embed partnership insights across workstreams.
• Support planning processes and ensure partnerships contribute to strategic objectives.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration across teams.

Skills

Strategic relationship building

Negotiation & influence

Strategic thinking & problem solving

Public engagement & representation

Flexibility & adaptability

Cross-functional leadership

People leadership

Commitment to mission

Education

Master's degree in International Development, Public Policy, Political Science, Business Administration, International Relations, Public Health, Nutrition or related field

Job description

At ATNi (Acess to Nutrition initiative) we're looking for a Head of Partnershipsto join our team.

Full-time · Utrecht, the Netherlands; Brussels, Belgium; Nairobi, Kenya; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

A note to prospective applicants:

We have been fortunate to receive a very strong response to this opportunity. Due to the high volume of applications, we encourage you to carefully review the role description and essential requirements before applying.

If you do not meet the essential requirements, we kindly encourage you to consider whether this particular opportunity is the right fit for your profile before submitting an application.

About ATNi

ATNi (Access to Nutrition Initiative) is a global nonprofit actively challenging the food industry, investors and policymakers to shape healthier food systems. We analyse and translate data into actionable insights, driving partnerships, finance and innovations for market transformation so that all people have access to nutritious and sustainable food. ATNi is registered in the Netherlands and two dozen staff as well as over a dozen advisors and consultants. For more information on ATNi, please visit our website. https://accesstonutrition.org/

About the role

Partnerships are a critical component of ATNi's Strategy and Theory of Change (2023-2027) and a key lever for achieving systemic impact. This role ensures that ATNi effectively engages partners across the continuum of change, building strategic relationships that amplify the organisation's influence, impact and reach.

Working closely with the Executive Director, the Head of Partnerships will lead ATNi's Partnership Strategy, ensuring that ATNi collaborates with like-minded and complementary organisations that serve as change agents and strategic allies to accelerate action for improved access to nutrition. Geographically, ATNi works with global partners as well as regional and national partners in Europe, East Africa, West Africa, South and Southeast Asia.

ATNI’s Partnerships broadly fall into five categories: Research; Policy; Food Business and Innovation; Investments; and Funding. The postholder will oversee the first three. S/he will support Investment Partnerships working with the ATNi’s Capital4Nutrition Team, and will support Funding Partnerships which is led by ATNi’s Head of Business Development.

The Head of Partnerships reports to the Executive Director and is a member of ATNi's Extended Management Team. The Head of Partnerships contributes to strategic discussions, represents ATNi externally, and drives collaboration across the organisation to advance ATNi's mission. S/he will represent ATNi externally, contributing to its reputation through thought leadership, partnership development and strategic engagement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement ATNi's Partnership Strategy in alignment with its mission, Theory of Change and strategic priorities.
• Identify and pursue strategic partnership opportunities that advance ATNi's impact and influence.
• Build and nurture relationships with government agencies, international organisations, private sector actors, investors, civil society organisations and other key stakeholders.
• Monitor the effectiveness of partnerships and identify opportunities to increase collaboration and impact.
• Represent ATNi in high-level meetings, conferences, webinars and industry events, advocating for strategic partnerships and collaboration opportunities.
• Provide regular updates and strategic recommendations to the Management Team regarding partnership opportunities and risks.
• As a member of the Extended Management Team, help develop ATNi’s next strategy (from 2028 onwards).

Team Management

• Lead and supervise the Partnerships team, fostering professional growth and collaboration within ATNi while ensuring alignment with the organisation's broader mission.
• Plan and allocate resources effectively, including team capacity, project time allocation and support for business development activities.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture.
• Provide professional development opportunities for team members.
• Strengthen partnership capabilities and practices across the organisation.

Cross-functional Collaboration & Integration

• Liaise with Project Leads to ensure partnership strategies align with ATNi's broader impact goals.
• Work closely with other Heads and Directors (Research, Policy & Communications, MEL & Data and Business Development) to ensure partnership insights and opportunities are embedded across workstreams.
• Support organisational planning processes by ensuring partnerships contribute meaningfully to ATNi's strategic objectives.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration across teams to maximise partnership value and impact.
• Provide oversight of project budgets and delivery.
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities in collaboration with colleagues across the organisation.
• Develop proposals and grant applications together with the fundraising team.
• Support donor engagement, reporting and compliance requirements.
• Cultivate relationships with existing and prospective funders and strategic partners.

Education & Experience

• Master's degree in International Development, Public Policy, Political Science, Business Administration, International Relations, Public Health, Nutrition or a related field.
• At least 12 years of relevant professional experience in partnership development, stakeholder engagement, business development, resource mobilisation or programme management.
• Demonstrated experience building and managing complex partnerships across sectors and geographies.
• Experience working within international development, public health, nutrition, food systems or a related field.
• Proven experience in fundraising, donor engagement and grant development is an advantage.
• Experience leading and managing teams in an international environment.
• Experience working in multicultural and international contexts, including field experience and/or extensive travel across Africa and Asia.
• Highly desirable: experience in establishing, building and managing fundable partnerships in initiatives in East Africa or Europe; strong project management and budget experience.
• Strategic Relationship Building: Develops and maintains high-value partnerships that advance ATNi's mission and objectives.
• Negotiation & Influence: Builds consensus, manages stakeholder relationships and secures strategic commitments.
• Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving: Navigates complex stakeholder environments and identifies opportunities for impact.
• Public Engagement & Representation: Represents ATNi effectively in external forums and high-level discussions.
• Flexibility & Adaptability: Demonstrates resilience and effectiveness in diverse cultural, organisational and stakeholder contexts, adapting communication and engagement approaches to changing circumstances and emerging opportunities.
• Cross-functional Leadership: Collaborates effectively across workstreams and projects to align partnerships with organisational strategy.
• People Leadership: Leads, mentors and develops high-performing teams.
• Commitment to Mission: Strong commitment to advancing healthier and more sustainable food systems.

Offer

We offer a meaningful leadership role within an agile, mission-driven international organisation working to transform global food systems and improve access to nutrition worldwide.

This post is only open to individuals based in the Netherlands, Belgium, Kenya (Nairobi) or Tanzania (Dar es Salaam). (Hiring outside of the Netherlands will be undertaken by an employer of record or host organization.) Relocation support is not available. If already based in the Netherlands, HSM visa sponsorship may be possible.

• A full-time position (32-40 hours per week)
• For Netherlands-based: Gross monthly salary of €5,000-€6,600 (full time). A cost of labor and cost of living adjustment will be made for successful applicants from outside of the Netherlands.
• 26 days of annual leave (Netherlands; full-time basis), plus public holidays
• A maximum of 20% travel, as required to support key meetings, events, and stakeholder engagement activities
• Pension contribution and monthly health insurance allowance
• Annual learning and development budget to support your professional growth
• An initial one-year contract, with the intention to extend based on performance
• Flexible and partly remote working arrangements that support work-life balance
• A hybrid working model (50% office-based in Utrecht), with flexibility to support work–life balance

This postholder would ideally be based the Netherlands. S/he reports to the Executive Director and is part of ATNi’s Extended Management Team.

Diversity & Inclusion

ATNi is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the organisation's policy to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. We recognise that diversity and inclusion are driving forces in the success of our organisation.

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, in person where possible and otherwise via Microsoft Teams. The deadline for applications is 6 October.

If you have questions about the role or the application process, you are welcome to get in touch with us (Jane van der Plas, [e-mail]) . However, please do not email us to express your interest, share additional information about your profile, or highlight your application outside of the formal application process.