Swisscontact is an independent non-profit development organisation established in 1959 by representatives of the Swiss private sector and civil society. Our development work focuses on private sector-led, sustainable economic development with improved quality of life for all in developing and emerging countries. A key focus is to strengthen the skills of individuals and foster the competitiveness of businesses.
The organisation is currently active in over 138 projects in 39 countries with around 1100 employees. It is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.
To strengthen our Philanthropic Engagement Team, we are looking for a Philanthropy & Partnership Manager in Zurich, starting 1 September 2026 or by agreement. In this role, you will acquire new donors – primarily foundations – for our global projects.
Key Responsibilities
The role combines strategic, analytical and opera-tional responsibilities, including:
- Identification and outreach to new funding partners to support ongoing and planned projects and to generate unrestricted funding, with a focus on foundations, corporates, family offices and asset managers
- Management and strategic development of partnerships with foundations, corporates and
institutional donors - Support of a multi-year, multinational programme portfolio, including annual planning, budget planning and impact measurement
- Development of tailored project proposals and budgets in close collaboration with regional teams
- Preparation of high-quality reports and presentations for donors
- Participation in conferences and networking events
Requirements
- Results-oriented personality with a proven track record in fundraising, primarily with institutional donors
- At least 8 years of professional experience in institutional fundraising (foundations, corporates) or in project management within development cooperation
- Existing networks within the Swiss foundation landscape are considered a strong asset
- Service-oriented mindset with a strong understanding of working with foundations and private sector stakeholders, combined with a proactive and entrepreneurial approach
- Strong communication, negotiation and networking skills
- Excellent writing skills
- Ability to understand complex topics and communicate them in a clear and accessible way
- Proficiency in budgeting and financial analysis, as well as advanced Excel skills
- High level of engagement, efficiency, independence and organisational skills
- Experience in vocational education and training, ideally in programmes focused on labour market-oriented skills development and private sector collaboration, is an advantage
- Excellent written and spoken German and English; knowledge of French or Spanish is an asset
- Digital affinity, including AI knowledge, and strong ability to work with IT and database systems
Swisscontact offers attractive working conditions in an international and multicultural context. We see our work as a joint effort in an agile organizational culture: mutual respect, trust and teamwork.
We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents: letter of motivation, curriculum vitae, diplomas and references. Please apply exclusively via the online application portal.
We particularly encourage women to apply. For further information please visit www.swisscontact.org