Strategic Partnerships Intern

The Business Development (BD) Intern will engage closely with the business development and technical program teams to research and identify new funding opportunities and assist with proposal development processes. The intern will inform impact study methodologies at Opportunity. This is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in learning about and engaging with business development processes in a fast-paced, dynamic environment at a large international development organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Conduct desk research for business development efforts, including identifying sector-specific and cross-cutting funding opportunities from foundations and corporations.
• Assist proposal development efforts, including conducting background research to inform proposal design, formatting and packaging proposals, and coordinating team inputs.
• Help prepare marketing materials, including capability statements, project summaries, and past performance references.
• Inform impact study methodologies Opportunity can undertake to verify our theory of change.
• Assist with identifying potential indicators and hypotheses to demonstrate the effectiveness of our programs.
• Collaborate with other departments and field offices to gather relevant information and data.
• Support internal business development activities, including updating databases and other information platforms as necessary.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be enrolled in a credited college graduate or undergraduate program.
• Must be seeking a degree in international relations, finance, business, economics, or related field.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to use various sources and tools.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, with attention to detail and deadlines.
• Experience in developing and delivering proposals and presentations to clients or stakeholders a plus.
• An understanding of and a commitment to advancing the mission and core values of Opportunity International.

CAPSTONE PROJECT

The final capstone project will be identified and finalized in the first three weeks of the internship based on your interests, goals, and learning objectives, as well as the needs and expectations of the organization. You will work closely with your supervisor to define the scope, objectives, and deliverables.

Examples of potential capstone projects include: 1) analyzing a client survey and developing actionable insights for proposing an intervention to a corporate funder in our next funding request; 2) developing a research plan for our proposal to a prospective funder on market entry into for a specific Opportunity program area; 3) researching and developing a plan for approaching corporate funders in a new market.

You will be expected to: conduct a literature review and data collection using various sources and tools; perform data analysis and interpretation using appropriate methods and techniques; develop and deliver a proposal and a presentation that summarizes your findings and recommendations; follow the ethical and professional standards of business development practice and research; demonstrate your communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills throughout the capstone project. You will receive feedback and guidance from your supervisor and mentor and peer review from other interns. You will also present your capstone project to the senior management.

ABOUT OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL

Opportunity International is a global non-profit that has been empowering people to work their way out of poverty since 1971. Opportunity provides 18.7 million people with innovative financial resources, training, and support to grow their small businesses and send their children to school. In 2022, Opportunity International and its partners helped fund 5,600 schools that reached 1.6 million children, and they released more than $2.6 billion in capital across 30 countries. Discover more atopportunity.orgor join the conversation onFacebook,LinkedIn,Instagram, andTwitter.