About YLabs

YLabs is a leading global design and research organization designing technologies that amplify youth power, agency, and opportunity. 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. Based in Rwanda and the USA, we’ve worked in 18 countries to date on projects spanning three focus areas: optimum health and wellness, improved economic opportunity, and increased climate resilience.

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

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Job Summary

Overview

We are seeking a Growth & Partnerships Consultant to support our Growth & Partnerships team and oversee diverse workstreams, leading comprehensive business development efforts, identifying partnerships, and driving project proposals focused on our core offerings of youth-driven research, design strategy, innovation and acceleration.

The ideal candidate will possess a strong institutional partnership and full-spectrum business development background, bring management experience to a talented and growing team, and have a passion for social impact. They should have a track record of leading successful multi-country proposals, thrive in a collaborative environment, and excel in building relationships across fundraising verticals.

This is a full-time, fully remote contractor position reporting to the CEO and requires the ability to work with our global team. Depending on the candidate's location and position, from time to time, it may be necessary to travel for in-person meetings, conferences, and/or other miscellaneous events. This travel is fully reimbursed by YLabs.

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Job Type

[Independent Contractor]

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

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You will:

Strategic Partnership Leadership

• Collaborate with the Growth and Partnerships Coordinator and Senior Leadership Team to understand key organizational processes, impact areas, and strategic priorities
• Review and assess existing fundraising resources including proposals, budgets, capability statements, and donor engagement materials
• Develop and finalize a comprehensive fundraising strategy that aligns with YLabs' brand, mission, and organizational goals
• Present strategic findings and recommendations directly to the CEO and Senior Leadership Team

Donor Engagement & Relationship Management

• Review and strategically develop YLabs' 100 Strategic Donor List to identify high-potential funding opportunities
• Initiate and manage outreach to potential funders, building relationships that support both unrestricted and project-specific funding needs
• Identify and cultivate at least 3 new strategic partnerships with organizations that can enhance fundraising efforts
• Engage with existing funders to discuss future opportunities, partnerships, and renewal commitments

Proposal Development & Grant Writing

• Write and submit high-value project proposals (minimum $1M per proposal ) that demonstrate clear alignment with organizational goals and measurable impact metrics
• Collaborate with the Impact team to incorporate SMART goals and robust impact measurement frameworks into all funding proposals
• Develop compelling case statements and funding requests that articulate YLabs' unique value proposition in addressing youth-driven  solutions
• Work closely with program leadership across research, innovation, design, and implementation teams to ensure proposal accuracy and feasibility

Campaign Management & Execution

• Design and launch targeted fundraising campaigns aimed at high-net-worth individuals, incorporating personalized outreach and engagement strategies
• Optimize YLabs' presence on funding platforms including the GlobalGiving network
• Implement and maintain comprehensive tracking systems for all funding opportunities, proposals submitted, and donor interactions
• Coordinate with Marketing and Communications teams to align annual communication priorities with fundraising objectives

Documentation & Knowledge Transfer

• Contribute to and enhance the existing Growth & Partnerships Playbook, ensuring team members have access to current best practices, key data, boilerplates, and fact sheets
• Document lessons learned, successful strategies, and sector-wide best practices for organizational knowledge retention
• Provide Board talking points and briefings to support leadership in donor meetings and strategic discussions

Performance Targets

Over the 9-month engagement, you will be expected to:

• Secure $750,000 in unrestricted funding commitments to support YLabs' operational flexibility
• Generate $7,500,000 in project-related grants to fund specific program initiatives
• Submit a minimum of 7 high-value proposals (each requesting $1M)
• Establish relationships with at least 8 new potential funders through targeted outreach
• Create sustainable fundraising systems and processes that support long-term organizational growth

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You are:

• A natural connector, energized by building new working relationships and partnerships
• Willing to dive into proposal writing teams, and at times acting independently when drafting proposals
• Committed to operationalizing equity in our work and decolonizing global health
• A thoughtful leader who makes decisions with trust and transparency; you are collaborative and consultative in your work style.
• Data-driven with a high degree of integrity, valor, and care in your decision-making
• Entrepreneurial, flexible, and excited to help grow a dynamic, creative organization
• Enthusiastic about building and supporting a talented multi-disciplinary team to learn, grow, and deliver high-quality, impactful work
• Committed to building trusting, convivial working relationships that support wellness, psychological safety, creativity, and collective joy
• Willing to work flexible hours to accommodate morning/evening calls with staff in other timezones
• Adaptable and optimistic when faced with changing circumstances and challenges
  
  

You have:

• At least 8-10 years of professional experience, including a track record of success leading business development opportunities; you have successfully developed and launched large-scale projects and multi-partner initiatives
• Experience supporting or leading the thoughtful growth of early-stage, fast-growing organizations
• A mix of experience working across business development verticals, including demonstrated experience leading complex bids for USG and other institutional funders, experience stewarding relationships with foundations/corporate partners
• Experience developing and sustaining business development processes, including pipeline management systems
• Experience in work planning, proposal development, proposal management, and managing proposal teams consisting of Growth & Partnerships team members, members of other teams, and consultants
• Experience in hiring, mentoring, and collaborating with, and managing Growth & Partnerships professionals and consultants
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong collaboration skills with attention to addressing power differentials, and ensuring equity in our work and in our organization
• Robust network of partners and collaborators

Desirable:

• Specialized expertise in a relevant field to our work (public health, adolescent health, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, economic inclusion, and/or climate resilience)
• Language skills in French, Spanish, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, and/or Portuguese

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About YLabs’ Compensation

YLabs adheres to Project Fair’s principles and standards  to establish equity in pay 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 to regional and national salary benchmarks, based on the respective office location.

Pay Rate

The pay range for this position is $2,000 - $4,320 per month, commensurate with experience and regional location of the selected candidate.

This is an independent contractor position; no benefits will be provided, however remuneration may be negotiable to accommodate potential self-administration of benefits and tax withholdings.

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Location

[For RW based Candidates] This role is based out of YLabs’ office in Kigali, Rwanda and requires the ability to legally work in Rwanda. Our Rwanda office has a remote working environment, due to the global nature of our organization.

[For US, Remote Candidates] This role requires the ability to legally work in the US.

[For Location-Agnostic Remote Candidates] This is a remote role, ideally based in the Global South.

Depending on the candidates’ location and position, from time to time, it may be necessary to travel for in-person meetings, our annual retreat, and/or other miscellaneous events. This travel is fully reimbursed by YLabs.

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Application Process

This posting will be open from August 8 to August 31, 2025.  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 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.

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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.

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