External Relations Officer

The External Relations Department drives DNDi’s visibility, influence, and financial sustainability. Its Communications, Private Sector Fundraising & Partnerships, and Institutional & Public Fundraising teams ensure that DNDi is visible, supported by committed stakeholders, and successful in securing the resources needed to deliver on its mission.   

DNDi established its Latin American office in Rio de Janeiro in 2004. Since then, DNDi Latin America has made extensive contributions to advancing R&D and access partnerships across the region’s diverse health ecosystems. Its work spanning neglected diseases such as Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, hepatitis C, and dengue plays a central role in delivering DNDi’s global strategy. The office also leads advocacy efforts and drives capacity-building initiatives through multi-country clinical research and drug discovery platforms. 

The External Relations Officer supports DNDi’s fundraising efforts by carrying out prospect research, developing grant proposals, managing donor reporting, and supporting daytoday grant management., including institutional, public and private funding. Working closely with the External Relations Manager (ERM) and the global External Relations team, the Officer plays an active role in helping secure and steward resources essential to DNDi’s mission.

Approximately 60% of the role is dedicated to Latin America, supporting institutional, public, and private sector fundraising activities in the region, and 40% to global priorities, including prospect research, donor engagement, acknowledgements, and cross‑team efficiency initiatives.

This position is suited for a professional with strong writing and analytical skills, a clear interest in fundraising and development cooperation, and a commitment to working in the non‑profit and public health sector.

General Responsibilities (for both LATAM and Global)

• Support grant writing and proposal development, including drafting narrative sections, compiling supporting documentation, and coordinating internal inputs.
• Contribute to donor reporting, ensuring clarity, consistency, and compliance with donor requirements.
• Conduct prospect research and analysis of calls for proposals from institutional, public, and private donors.
• Support grant and donor activities, including record-keeping, tracking deadlines, and updating Salesforce and internal systems.
• Provide administrative and coordination support to fundraising activities, including organizing meetings, preparing briefs and documentation, and following-up on action points.

Latin America-Specific Responsibilities (Minimum 60%)

• Monitor, map, and analyze existing and emerging donor opportunities relevant to DNDi’s work in Latin America.
• Support the preparation of regional funding proposals and concept notes.
• Assist in the coordination and management of local fundraising consultants, as required.

Global-Specific Responsibilities (up to 40%)

• Ad hoc support to global fundraising initiatives.

Additional /Project-Specific responsibilities

• Participate in internal and external regional and global meetings related to fundraising, partnerships, and external relations.
• Liaise with internal departments (R&D, Communications, Regional Offices) to support fundraising-related inputs and coordination.

• External Relations Officer reports to External Relations Manager,  
• Contributing manager - Associate Director
• Works closely with DNDi staff across the Latin America Regional Office and with global External Relations, Communications, R&D and Operations teams.
• Interacts with donors, funding agencies, and external partners, as well as consultants and service providers involved in fundrasing activities
• Collaborators, counterparts, and service providers are mainly in the functional area in and outside DNDi to get information, guidance, and feedback or to enlist cooperation. The incumbent has an external role focusing on exchanges on information and work with suppliers or officer level staff of partners and donors

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience with graduate degree, at least one year with post graduate degree
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment and matrix structure
• Experience of working in public and private sector is highly desirable • Graduate or post graduate degree

• Ability to use initiative, prioritize, multi-task, and work well under pressure to meet deadlines
• Clear and systematic thinking that demonstrates good judgment and problem solving competencies
• Very good communication skills in multicultural, multi-lingual environments
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multicultural team
• Well organized and structured
• Very good analytical skills
• Ability to contribute to the project delivery under minimum supervision
• Ability to manage small projects if delegated by upper levels with supervision
• Ability to supervise an Intern or Apprentice

• Fluency in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with CRM systems (e.g Salesforce) is an asset.
• Interest in the responsible use of digital tools and artificial intelligence to support fundraising and administrative work.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Suite

DNDi is committed to building a diverse, equitable and truly inclusive organisation. Our success and global reach are dependent upon our ability to encourage diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We particularly welcome applications from those who are underrepresented in at DNDi and across the sector, especially women, and including, but not limited to, black and minority ethnic candidates, and those with other protected characteristic.