Corporate Partnerships & Business Development Lead

World Disaster Center (WDC)

About World Disaster Center

The World Disaster Center (WDC) is developing a next-generation global disaster intelligence and response organization focused on strengthening disaster preparedness, early warning, emergency response, and community resilience.

WDC works across technology, humanitarian response, disaster preparedness, community initiatives, and strategic partnerships to help communities and institutions become better prepared for and more resilient to disasters.

We are seeking a CSR & Corporate Partnerships Lead / Community Engagement Lead to help build the relationships, partnerships, and community networks needed to expand WDC's programs and impact.

About the Role

The CSR & Corporate Partnerships Lead / Community Engagement Lead will be responsible for developing and managing WDC's corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate partnerships, sponsorship, community engagement, and volunteer engagement activities.

The role will focus on identifying companies and institutions whose CSR, ESG, sustainability, philanthropic, or community-investment priorities align with WDC's mission and developing opportunities for meaningful collaboration.

The successful candidate will be expected to build relationships, identify opportunities, develop partnership proposals, secure support, and maintain long-term relationships with corporate and community partners.

This is a highly relationship-driven role and is suited to someone who is proactive, confident in external engagement, comfortable with outreach and networking, and capable of turning relationships into tangible partnerships and resources.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Partnerships & CSR

• Build and manage WDC's corporate partnership and CSR portfolio.
• Research and identify companies, foundations, and institutions whose priorities align with WDC's programs and mission.
• Develop relationships with corporate decision-makers, CSR/ESG teams, foundations, corporate affairs departments, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for companies to support WDC through CSR, ESG, philanthropy, sustainability, employee engagement, and community-investment programs.
• Develop mutually beneficial partnership concepts and opportunities.
• Maintain a structured pipeline of prospective and existing corporate partners.
• Conduct outreach, arrange meetings, present WDC's programs, and follow up with prospective partners.

Sponsorship & Resource Mobilization

• Develop sponsorship opportunities for WDC programs, Disaster Centers, emergency kits, technology initiatives, and community projects.
• Identify and pursue corporate grants, donations, sponsorships, and in-kind contributions.
• Develop sponsorship and partnership proposals in coordination with WDC's fundraising and communications teams.
• Explore opportunities for companies to provide equipment, technology, professional services, logistics, or other forms of in-kind support.
• Work toward converting one-time support into recurring and long-term corporate partnerships.
• Track prospects, proposals, commitments, and partnership outcomes.

Community Engagement & Volunteer Development

• Lead WDC's community outreach and engagement activities.
• Develop relationships with community organizations, local institutions, humanitarian organizations, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
• Build and maintain a network of community partners and volunteers.
• Identify opportunities for communities to participate in WDC's disaster preparedness, resilience, education, and response initiatives.
• Develop meaningful volunteer engagement opportunities.
• Support the growth of WDC's community presence and stakeholder network.

CSR Campaigns & Employee Volunteering

• Design and coordinate CSR campaigns in collaboration with corporate partners.
• Develop employee-volunteering and skills-based volunteering opportunities.
• Coordinate corporate employee participation in WDC community and humanitarian initiatives.
• Create opportunities for corporate employees to support disaster preparedness, community outreach, fundraising, and other WDC activities.
• Track participation and communicate the impact of corporate engagement.

Events & External Representation

• Represent WDC at relevant corporate, community, humanitarian, development, and networking events.
• Identify events and platforms that can create opportunities for partnerships, funding, visibility, and community engagement.
• Build relationships with potential partners and stakeholders through events and professional networks.
• Support WDC-hosted events, workshops, campaigns, and stakeholder engagements.

Impact Reporting & Partnership Management

• Track corporate contributions, volunteer participation, community engagement, and program outcomes.
• Develop impact updates and reports for corporate partners.
• Document partnership activities, outcomes, success stories, and community impact.
• Maintain accurate records of corporate and community relationships.
• Support partner recognition and ongoing communication.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen, expand, and renew existing partnerships.

Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with WDC's Fundraising, Strategic Partnerships, Communications, Programme, Operations, Technology, and Disaster Center teams.
• Coordinate corporate and community opportunities with the teams responsible for delivering WDC programs.
• Ensure partnership commitments are clearly communicated internally and followed through.
• Contribute to systems and processes for managing corporate relationships, partnerships, volunteers, and community engagement.

Qualifications & Experience

We are looking for candidates with demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• ESG or sustainability
• Corporate partnerships
• Business development
• Fundraising or resource mobilization
• Sponsorship development
• Community engagement
• Nonprofit or humanitarian partnerships
• Corporate affairs
• Stakeholder engagement
• Volunteer management

A Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, International Development, Development Studies, Nonprofit Management, Social Sciences, or a related field is preferred.

However, WDC also values demonstrated experience, professional networks, relationship-building ability, and a proven record of securing or developing partnerships.

Key Skills & Competencies

The ideal candidate should have:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong networking and relationship-building abilities.
• Strong proposal writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to identify and pursue partnership opportunities independently.
• Understanding of corporate CSR, ESG, philanthropy, or social-impact programs.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder-management skills.
• Excellent organization, follow-up, and relationship-management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple prospects, partners, and initiatives.
• Confidence representing WDC externally.
• Strong interest in humanitarian work, disaster resilience, and community impact.

What We Are Looking For

We are particularly interested in someone who is proactive, entrepreneurial, well-connected, and results-oriented.

The ideal candidate will not simply manage existing relationships. They should be comfortable researching potential partners, initiating conversations, opening new networks, developing partnership opportunities, following up consistently, and moving relationships toward tangible outcomes.

Candidates with existing relationships or networks within corporations, foundations, NGOs, development organizations, government institutions, humanitarian organizations, or community organizations are especially encouraged to apply.

Experience in disaster management is not required, provided the candidate has strong and relevant experience in CSR, partnerships, fundraising, business development, community engagement, or stakeholder relations.

Success in This Role

Success will be demonstrated through:

• Growth of WDC's corporate partnership pipeline.
• New corporate partnerships and sponsorships.
• Increased corporate grants, donations, and in-kind support.
• Development of recurring corporate partnerships.
• Successful CSR campaigns and employee-volunteering initiatives.
• Growth of WDC's community and volunteer network.
• Strong relationships with existing partners.
• Measurable community and social impact.
• Effective reporting and documentation of partnership outcomes.

Application

Interested candidates should submit:

• An updated CV/resume.
• A brief cover letter explaining their relevant experience and interest in WDC.
• Examples of relevant corporate partnerships, CSR initiatives, sponsorships, fundraising, or community-engagement work, where applicable.

Candidates who can demonstrate measurable results in corporate partnerships, CSR, fundraising, sponsorship, or community engagement are particularly encouraged to apply.

Join WDC in building partnerships that mobilize resources, strengthen communities, and contribute to a more prepared and resilient world.