Business Development Manager - 54 reasons | Save The Children Australia

February 26, 2026

  • Develop high value tenders for Australia's leading child rights organisation
  • Would suit candidates with children and family sector experience or similar
  • Hybrid preferred | Melbourne and Queensland head offices

The Organisation

54 reasons is Australia's leading child rights organisation and is part of the Save the Children global movement. With the child’s voice at the centre, 54 reasons provide quality services to children, young people and their caregivers, advocating alongside them so that they develop, learn and stay connected, safe and confident.


54 reasons’ high quality, contemporary and inspiring services are grounded in child rights and participation, and span the early years, youth justice, and domestic and family violence. We work to make impact where children’s rights are not being consistently upheld, embed child and client experience into the delivery of services, and partner with like-minded organisations to lift a conversation on child rights and why they matter.


The Role

You will be responsible for leading 54 reasons’ central business development function, accountable for securing and retaining key business in Australia. You will initiate, coordinate and develop strategic and high value funding proposals targeted mainly at Commonwealth, State and Territory governments. As a leader within our central strategy and partnerships team, you will manage bid writer(s), and work closely with colleagues within 54 reasons and the wider Save the Children Australia Group. Overall, you will:


  • Drive strategic planning and revenue generation, and support partnership development
  • Facilitate robust decision-making, including with senior leaders, executive and board
  • Pay attention to the full business development lifecycle from capture and retention planning, to monitoring win rates and evaluating return on investment
  • Support and coach the 54 reasons bid writers

Skills & experience

You are experienced in high value funding acquisition with government, ideally in the Australian children and family services sector or similar. You demonstrate the ability to support strategic planning and positioning as well as partnership development, in line with strategic objectives. You will have the skills and experience to:


  • Coordinate and draft high-quality tenders and proposals that meet funder requirements
  • Manage multi-disciplinary bid teams including technical, financial and operational experts
  • Monitor ROI, revenue targets and financial ratios with finance and operational leaders
  • Actively lead and develop the capability and effectiveness of bid writers
  • Present complex ideas clearly and tailored to audiences including executive and board
  • Negotiate effectively, problem-solve, manage change and competing interests


You will be tertiary qualified in a relevant field, and a foundation or practitioner certification to the Association of Proposal Management Professionals would be beneficial. Importantly, you have a can-do attitude and share 54 reasons commitment to positively impact the lives of children and young people.

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