About YLabs

YLabs is a global nonprofit organization that works with young people to create innovative solutions in health, economic opportunity, and climate resilience. Founded in 2014 at the Harvard Innovation Lab, YLabs partners with young people to co-create inclusive digital products and services that improve their lives. Our design process opens spaces where young people’s ideas can become a reality – where they are the architects of the solutions to their most pressing challenges.

YLabs’ multidisciplinary team delivers youth-driven innovation and impact at scale. Our team combines expertise in youth-driven design with adolescent health, climate, livelihoods, digital product design, behavioral science, and epidemiology. With headquarters in Rwanda and the USA, we’ve worked in 18 countries to date.e.

Find out more about our projects here: https://www.ylabsglobal.org/work

Job Summary

YLabs is seeking a Senior Growth & Partnerships Consultant to join our strategic business development function. This is an engagement for an experienced business development and partnerships practitioner who will support organizational growth priorities, originate and close high-value partnerships, and build the systems that sustain YLabs’ pipeline. The ideal candidate brings a track record of leading 6-7 figure proposals with full autonomy, a proactive approach to lead generation, opportunity creation, and the credibility to represent YLabs in competitive settings. They will mentor junior team members and lead departmental OKR achievement.

This is a full- or part-time role (at greater than 50% capacity), fully remote, contractor position reporting to the CEO. Travel for in-person meetings and conferences is fully reimbursed by YLabs.

Job Type

This is an independent remote contractor (Consultancy) position. The initial contract term for this role is 9 months, to be reviewed quarterly in line with specified deliverables.

You Will:

Set and drive organizational growth priorities and Growth & Partnerships OKRs, ensuring alignment between business development efforts and YLabs' strategic objectives.
Proactively scope and advance strategic funding opportunities and partnerships, and lead the end-to-end development of high-priority proposals and RFPs, including scoping, budgeting, funder engagement, negotiation, and cross-functional coordination.
Expertly manage a diverse portfolio of high-value stakeholder relationships and represent YLabs in public forums; champion and train others in integrating YLabs’ strategic goals into all partnership work.
Develop and manage a fundraising pipeline targeting unrestricted funding and project-related grants, including targeted campaigns for high-net-worth individuals and institutional funders.
Work closely with MarComms to align external messaging and donor engagement strategies, ensuring proposals, pitches, and partnership materials reflect a coherent organizational narrative across the funding pipeline.

You Are:

An expert connector and dealmaker — you create opportunities rather than wait for them, and build lasting institutional relationships from scratch
A high-quality writer who takes personal ownership of proposals, at ease working independently at full speed
A systems thinker and generous mentor who builds durable processes and invests in developing others
Entrepreneurial, transparent, and collaborative in your decision-making and leadership style
Adaptable and optimistic when faced with changing circumstances; willing to work flexible hours across time zones

You Have:

8+ years of professional experience, including a demonstrable track record of leading and closing high-value business development opportunities at the $1M+ level
Expert-level experience leading complex, multi-country proposals for institutional funders, foundations, foundation collectives, and government partners with minimal/no supervision required.
Deep experience across the full business development cycle: opportunity origination, partner cultivation, scope and budget negotiation, proposal development, and post-award partnership management
Demonstrated success in developing and leading BD teams, building pipeline management systems, and owning departmental-level playbooks and tools
Experience working with funders and institutional partners in global health, adolescent development, economic empowerment, or adjacent funding sectors
Expert written and verbal communication skills
Strong commitment to equity, power-sharing, and decolonizing international development

About YLab's Compensation

YLabs adheres to Project Fair’s principles and standards to establish pay equity, with the overriding principle of “equal pay for work of equal value” outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals. All salary ranges are based on level within the organization and are competitive with regional and national salary benchmarks for the respective office location.

Pay Rate

The pay range for this position is $3,000 - $5,000 per month, commensurate with experience and the selected candidate's regional location. This is an independent contractor position.

Location

This is a remote role with some in-person meetings and travel to global conferences expected.

Application Process

This posting will be open until July 20, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis by our Hiring Committee. YLabs recognizes the effort that goes into submitting an application; all applications received during the posting period will be reviewed, and only selected candidates will be notified of their application status once the hiring process begins.

All YLabs offers of employment are conditional on satisfactory background and professional reference checks, and criminal record clearances.

Equal Employment Opportunity

YLabs is committed to building teams and policies that promote equity, justice, and belonging at work. We strongly encourage people from all cultures, races, educational backgrounds, socio-economic classes, sexual orientations, age, gender, and physical abilities to apply. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, familial status, marital status, caregiver status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

YLabs

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