Search for Common Ground

Search for Common Ground

For more than forty years, Search for Common Ground has worked to prove that even the deepest divides can be transformed into cooperation. Today, we are the largest peacebuilding organization in the world, active in thirty-five countries across six continents. We partner with local communities to break cycles of violence, build trust, and create opportunities for collaboration that last. Our principle of multipartiality means we engage with all sides in a conflict, ensuring that every voice is heard and every perspective matters. From empowering young people and elevating women in peace processes to advancing digital peacebuilding, climate resilience, and security sector reform, we bring people together to imagine and build a world of safe, healthy, and just societies, free from the threat of violent conflict.

Team Summary

Search for Common Ground’s Fundraising team generates new and repeat business to align with the organisation's new Global Strategy. This specific role focuses on securing funds from European institutional donors (like the EU and European governments). The Fundraising team collaborates with Country teams, Regional Directors and fundraising colleagues across the organisation to ensure funding for programming that directly responds to the needs in Search’s conflict regions. Key functions include: scoping early-stage opportunities, gathering donor intelligence, strategic positioning, and leading or supporting proposal development (including competitive tenders and unsolicited proposals). It also involves strengthening Search’s relationships with European institutional partners and contributing to strategic engagement approaches to deepen donor understanding and access. This involves building donor intel and engagement strategies for conflict geographies, capturing opportunities with European institutional donors and partners, and creating new funding and partnership opportunities for Search. The Fundraising Team also leads the development of global opportunities, from engagement to submission. This Europe role will focus more specifically on European donors, including proactive analysis of donor priorities, emerging funding trends, and peer organisation activities in the peacebuilding field.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research and analysis on programme development, institutional funding and partnership opportunities, with a focus on European institutional donors and emerging peacebuilding priorities;
• Support and occasionally lead country and regional teams engagement with European institutional donors, coordinate programme development processes with regional teams;
• Contribute to global proposals for European institutional donors through support, coordination, or writing as needed, depending on the context, team capacity and donor knowledge and language;
• Support and accompany donor engagement efforts, including preparation for and participation in meetings, and contribute to cultivating and maintaining long-term relationships with institutional partners;
• Monitor funding trends, peer organisations, and policy developments relevant to peacebuilding and governance to inform business development strategies and supports knowledge management and sharing on European donors and partners;
• The above to be carried out in close collaboration with other departments, including Finance, the Strategy Alignment Team, Communications, and People & Culture.

Contributions

Strategy development

• Carries out background research, record-keeping. Supports strategy processes.
• Business intelligence: Researches and monitors donors. Analyses funding opportunities. Ensures internal record-keeping.
• Positioning and donor relations: Represents Search at relevant events and external meetings in line with positioning efforts. Produces marketing materials.
• Partnerships: Supports partnership discussions. Conducts partner analysis. Ensures knowledge management.
• Go/No-Go decisions: Conducts background research, including competitor analysis.
• Capture planning: Conducts desk reviews. Assembles pre-proposal material. Supports delivery of capture strategy.
• Programme design: Provides input and support. Develops background material.
• Proposal development: Drafts specific sections of proposals or concepts. Lead-writes supporting material development.
• Proposal reviews: Participates on review teams.
• Knowledge management and training: Ensures proper record-keeping, including in the Grants Management System. Tracks key program development data and prepares reports as requested.

Other administrative tasks relevant to the position.

Other duties that are broadly in line with the above key contributions as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum BS/BA in peace and conflict studies, international relations, international development, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of professional experience if holding a BA/BS or 1 year if holding a Master degree, preferably in international or cross-cultural environments.
• Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills in English.
• Full professional Proficiency Working proficiency in French or German is required. Knowledge of additional other common European languages is an asset.
• Interest and knowledge in the field of peacebuilding and conflict transformation. Familiarity with program design, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Ability to maintain professionalism, creativity, and enthusiasm while working in a fast-paced, multi-cultural environment is key.
• Self-starter, able to work independently, and willing to take on tasks small and large.
• Well organized, resourceful with time management and technology to prioritize tasks.

Type and Nature of Contacts

Interacts with others and handles problem situations with tact. Periodic external engagement as requested.

Education and Experience

Typically BS/BA with minimum 3 years’ experience.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

Usual office environment conditions; ability to travel internationally up to 20%.

Supervisory and Budget Responsibility

None

Application process

The deadline for applications is 30th November 2025. Submit your CV and motivation letter through our Application System Lever. Please note that we are unfortunately only able to consider applicants who hold the right to live and work in Belgium. Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

Search is an equal employment employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other status or characteristic protected under applicable law.