business development associate
Kounkuey Design Initiative, Los Angeles, CA, United States
Business Development Associate Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) is a team of diverse urbanistslandscape architects, urban planners, community organizers, and engineersunited by our shared commitment to building equity, justice, and resilience in communities through design. A BIPOC- and woman-led organization that was founded in 2006, KDI comprises approximately 50 professionals working from four offices: Los Angeles, Eastern Coachella Valley, Nairobi, and Stockholm.
Position Summary
The Business Development Associate is a strategic leader responsible for securing public and private funding to advance KDI's mission. This role requires a highly experienced grant professional with a proven track record of success in obtaining government and institutional funding, including foundations and county, state, and federal agencies. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in urban planning and community infrastructure funding, including projects related to parks development, vacant land, affordable housing, community planning, and public transportation. This position manages the full lifecycle of grant developmentfrom opportunity identification through proposal submission, compliance, and reportingwhile serving as a key partner to leadership in aligning funding strategy with organizational priorities.
Key Responsibilities Grant Strategy & Leadership
Develop and implement a comprehensive grants strategy aligned with organizational goals and program priorities
Identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with funders, including foundations and government agencies
Monitor funding landscapes and proactively position the organization for upcoming opportunities
Maintain development database on Airtable, including proposal timelines, partner contacts, and long term leads
Produce quarterly and annual development reports
Proposal Development & Writing
Lead the development of high-quality, competitive grant proposals in response to invitations and Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
Write compelling narratives that clearly articulate project impact, need, and alignment with funder priorities
Collaborate with program, finance, and executive staff to gather data, budgets, and supporting documentation
Layout proposals in Adobe InDesign, using established KDI branding
Maintain and update a database of project sheets, staff CVs, and standard language
Government & Institutional Funding
Prepare and submit grant applications to city, county, state, and federal agencies
Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, guidelines, and submission protocols
Manage timelines and deliverables for complex, multi-part applications
Project Alignment & Subject Matter Expertise
Support funding efforts for initiatives related to:
Urban park development and green space creation
Reclamation and redevelopment of vacant or underutilized urban land
Housing rehabilitation and neighborhood revitalization
Community planning and infrastructure development
Public transportation and mobility solutions
Translate technical program concepts into clear, fundable proposals
Grant Management & Reporting
Oversee post-award grant management, including reporting, compliance, and documentation
Communicate with donors
Track grant outcomes and ensure timely submission of progress and final reports
Maintain accurate records of submissions, awards, and funder communications
Business Development & Capacity Building
Run weekly business development meetings and prepare weekly updates
Work closely with leadership and project teams to shape fundable initiatives
Provide guidance and mentorship to staff or consultants involved in business development
Contribute to organizational storytelling and impact measurement
Communications tasks that this role may lead or support as needed:
Support award submissions - writing, photo selection, process management
Photo management
Newsletters
Update website - job postings, writing project pages and staff bios
Manage the annual report creation process
Work with the graphic designers to create office portfolio, social media posts, and presentations
Qualifications
(a) Required
Minimum of 6 to 10 years of demonstrated success in grant writing and management
Extensive experience securing funding from Foundations and City, County, State, and Federal government sources
Proven ability to write and win competitive, large-scale ($500k-5m) grant proposals
Strong knowledge of urban planning, community development, and open space funding
Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills
Experience managing complex grant processes and compliance requirements
Ability to synthesize technical information into persuasive narratives
Proficiency with Adobe InDesign
(b) Preferred
Background in urban planning, public policy, community development, or a related field
Familiarity with California state funding landscape (CNRA, LCI, State Conservancies, etc.)
Experience working in or with nonprofit organizations focused on place-based initiatives
Familiarity with public RFP processes
Familiarity with Airtable or other database management systems
(c) Core Competencies
Strategic thinking and planning
Advanced written communication
Project management and deadline execution
Attention to detail and compliance rigor
Relationship management with funders and stakeholders
Analytical thinking and problem-solving
Location + Schedule:
This is an In-Person position (with flexible schedule options)
Salary Range:
$85,000 to $110,000 annually, commensurate with experience
Benefits include:
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Ins., 401k, Paid time off
How to Apply
Send an electronic copy of cover letter, resume, and writing sample to: LAJobs@kounkuey.org, with the following subject heading:
Business Development Associate: Your Name
Kounkuey Design Initiative is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age (40 and over), ancestry, association with a member of a protected class, bereavement leave, cannabis use, color, disability (physical, intellectual/developmental, or mental health/psychiatric.), Family Care and Medical Leave (CFRA) related to serious health condition of employee or family member, child bonding, or military exigencies, gender identity or expression, genetic information or characteristic, marital status, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristic), military and veteran status, national origin (includes language restrictions), participation in an EEO protected activity, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions, Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL), race (includes hairstyle and hair texture), religion or religious creed (includes dress and grooming practices), reproductive health decision making, reproductive loss leave, sex/gender, and sexual orientation. KDI will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
Position Summary
The Business Development Associate is a strategic leader responsible for securing public and private funding to advance KDI's mission. This role requires a highly experienced grant professional with a proven track record of success in obtaining government and institutional funding, including foundations and county, state, and federal agencies. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in urban planning and community infrastructure funding, including projects related to parks development, vacant land, affordable housing, community planning, and public transportation. This position manages the full lifecycle of grant developmentfrom opportunity identification through proposal submission, compliance, and reportingwhile serving as a key partner to leadership in aligning funding strategy with organizational priorities.
Key Responsibilities Grant Strategy & Leadership
Develop and implement a comprehensive grants strategy aligned with organizational goals and program priorities
Identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with funders, including foundations and government agencies
Monitor funding landscapes and proactively position the organization for upcoming opportunities
Maintain development database on Airtable, including proposal timelines, partner contacts, and long term leads
Produce quarterly and annual development reports
Proposal Development & Writing
Lead the development of high-quality, competitive grant proposals in response to invitations and Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
Write compelling narratives that clearly articulate project impact, need, and alignment with funder priorities
Collaborate with program, finance, and executive staff to gather data, budgets, and supporting documentation
Layout proposals in Adobe InDesign, using established KDI branding
Maintain and update a database of project sheets, staff CVs, and standard language
Government & Institutional Funding
Prepare and submit grant applications to city, county, state, and federal agencies
Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, guidelines, and submission protocols
Manage timelines and deliverables for complex, multi-part applications
Project Alignment & Subject Matter Expertise
Support funding efforts for initiatives related to:
Urban park development and green space creation
Reclamation and redevelopment of vacant or underutilized urban land
Housing rehabilitation and neighborhood revitalization
Community planning and infrastructure development
Public transportation and mobility solutions
Translate technical program concepts into clear, fundable proposals
Grant Management & Reporting
Oversee post-award grant management, including reporting, compliance, and documentation
Communicate with donors
Track grant outcomes and ensure timely submission of progress and final reports
Maintain accurate records of submissions, awards, and funder communications
Business Development & Capacity Building
Run weekly business development meetings and prepare weekly updates
Work closely with leadership and project teams to shape fundable initiatives
Provide guidance and mentorship to staff or consultants involved in business development
Contribute to organizational storytelling and impact measurement
Communications tasks that this role may lead or support as needed:
Support award submissions - writing, photo selection, process management
Photo management
Newsletters
Update website - job postings, writing project pages and staff bios
Manage the annual report creation process
Work with the graphic designers to create office portfolio, social media posts, and presentations
Qualifications
(a) Required
Minimum of 6 to 10 years of demonstrated success in grant writing and management
Extensive experience securing funding from Foundations and City, County, State, and Federal government sources
Proven ability to write and win competitive, large-scale ($500k-5m) grant proposals
Strong knowledge of urban planning, community development, and open space funding
Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills
Experience managing complex grant processes and compliance requirements
Ability to synthesize technical information into persuasive narratives
Proficiency with Adobe InDesign
(b) Preferred
Background in urban planning, public policy, community development, or a related field
Familiarity with California state funding landscape (CNRA, LCI, State Conservancies, etc.)
Experience working in or with nonprofit organizations focused on place-based initiatives
Familiarity with public RFP processes
Familiarity with Airtable or other database management systems
(c) Core Competencies
Strategic thinking and planning
Advanced written communication
Project management and deadline execution
Attention to detail and compliance rigor
Relationship management with funders and stakeholders
Analytical thinking and problem-solving
Location + Schedule:
This is an In-Person position (with flexible schedule options)
Salary Range:
$85,000 to $110,000 annually, commensurate with experience
Benefits include:
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Ins., 401k, Paid time off
How to Apply
Send an electronic copy of cover letter, resume, and writing sample to: LAJobs@kounkuey.org, with the following subject heading:
Business Development Associate: Your Name
Kounkuey Design Initiative is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age (40 and over), ancestry, association with a member of a protected class, bereavement leave, cannabis use, color, disability (physical, intellectual/developmental, or mental health/psychiatric.), Family Care and Medical Leave (CFRA) related to serious health condition of employee or family member, child bonding, or military exigencies, gender identity or expression, genetic information or characteristic, marital status, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristic), military and veteran status, national origin (includes language restrictions), participation in an EEO protected activity, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions, Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL), race (includes hairstyle and hair texture), religion or religious creed (includes dress and grooming practices), reproductive health decision making, reproductive loss leave, sex/gender, and sexual orientation. KDI will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.