Business Development Associate

Business Development Associate

Village Capital's ability to back the next generation of entrepreneurs depends on its ability to build and sustain a strong funding pipeline. This role plays a central part in making that possible. The Business Development Associate is a critical execution role within the Development & Innovation team, responsible for independently driving prospect research, lead generation, proposal development, and pipeline administration. Reporting to the Business Development Director, this role serves as an operational backbone for the business development function, ensuring that qualified opportunities are identified, pursued, tracked, and moved forward with rigor and consistency.
Candidate Profile

You are someone who:
Writes proposals that win, and takes pride in getting the details right every time
Treats prospecting as a craft—going beyond the obvious to identify the right funders
Takes ownership of your work and moves things forward without waiting to be directed
Is as comfortable working in a CRM or spreadsheet as in a narrative, funder-facing document
Thrives in complexity—managing different funders, formats, and shifting priorities without losing rigor
Operates with precision, organization, and a strong sense of accountability across multiple concurrent workstreams
Collaborates effectively across teams, contributing without needing formal authority
Is motivated by Village Capital's mission and finds meaning in being the person who executes on strategy
Responsibilities

Lead Generation, Prospecting, and Outreach
Own prospecting as a primary, dedicated function—independently researching and identifying funding prospects across corporations, foundations, bilateral and multilateral organizations, high-net-worth individuals, and family offices. Build, maintain, and continuously grow a structured pipeline aligned with Village Capital's priorities.
Develop targeted prospect lists and briefs for conferences, campaigns, events, and priority funding windows
Execute sequenced outreach (cold emails, follow-ups, meeting requests, and preparation) to advance pipeline opportunities
Identify non-obvious, high-fit funders and escalate qualified leads for relationship advancement
Proposal and Concept Note Development
Own the full drafting cycle for standard proposals and concept notes—from initial RFP/CfP screening through final submission—with minimal oversight. Manage submission logistics end-to-end, including procurement registrations and deadline tracking.
Support complex proposals by owning sections and coordinating cross-functional inputs
Drive proposal processes to ensure high-quality, on-time submissions
Maintain and improve reusable proposal content and templates to increase speed and quality
Collateral Development and Communications Support
Develop and maintain funder-facing materials (one-pagers, decks, briefing materials, and reusable templates) to ensure high-quality, ready-to-use content.
Prepare briefing materials and background research ahead of funder calls
Produce pipeline summaries and funding digests to provide leadership visibility into BD activity
HubSpot CRM Management and Pipeline Administration
Own HubSpot data integrity, ensuring all prospect records, interaction logs, and pipeline stages are accurate and current.
Generate pipeline reports and activity summaries for leadership
Flag stale records, data gaps, and pipeline anomalies to maintain visibility and data reliability
Business Development Reporting and Team Support
Function as the operational backbone of the Business Development function, enabling focus on strategic prospecting, funder relationships, and complex proposals.
Liaise with cross-functional teams to coordinate proposal inputs, support funding renewals and keep submissions on track
Contribute execution-level insight and pipeline visibility in team meetings and internal discussions
Qualifications

4+ years of experience in proposal development, grant writing, lead generation, or business development, ideally within consulting, international development, or complex nonprofit environments
Demonstrated ability to independently draft, edit, and submit high-quality proposals, concept notes, or similar submissions in response to RFPs and Calls for Proposals
Strong secondary research skills, with the ability to identify non-obvious funding prospects through database navigation and desk research
Experience building and managing prospect pipelines, outreach lists, and structured databases
Proficiency in HubSpot (or ability to quickly learn), with strong discipline in CRM hygiene, real-time data entry, and record accuracy
Ability to generate clear pipeline reports and activity summaries for leadership
Strong document management, version control, and deadline management across multiple concurrent workstreams
Familiarity with funding landscapes across foundations, corporates, bilaterals, and multilaterals relevant to international development or innovation ecosystems
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in international development, communications, business, public policy, or a related field
Must be based in the United States, with a strong preference for candidates in the Eastern Time zone
Compensation & Benefits

This role offers a base salary of $68,000–$74,000, commensurate with skills and experience, and a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, and a 401(k) with 3% match. We offer a fully remote work environment, flexible PTO, and stipends to support your growth and well-being — including annual professional development and wellness allowances, a remote work stipend, and monthly reimbursement for cell phone and internet.
Resume & Cover Letter
Please include your resume along with a brief cover letter outlining your experience with proposal development and lead generation, and how your recent experience would add value to Village Capital.
Equal Opportunity Statement

Village Capital is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all employees. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences.