Manager, Programme Development & Client Engagement

ABOUT EQUAL

EQUAL is an IPC-registered charity that delivers equine-assisted and animal-assisted services to support the mental and emotional wellbeing of children, youth, seniors, families, and communities. Our work sits at the intersection of human wellbeing, animal welfare, and experiential learning, and is delivered through a multidisciplinary team of programme professionals, equine specialists, operations staff, and volunteers. Fundraising is mission-critical to EQUAL’s ability to deliver safe, high-quality, and impactful programmes. As the organisation scales, EQUAL is strengthening its fundraising infrastructure, pipeline discipline, and stewardship capability to support sustainable growth.

ROLE SUMMARY

The Manager, Programme Growth & Client Engagement is responsible for growing and sustaining demand for EQUAL's programmes through new institutional engagements, stronger existing client relationships and repeat programme opportunities.

The role proactively develops programme opportunities across schools, social service agencies, healthcare institutions, corporations and community organisations. This includes both fee-paying programme engagements and partnerships that extend programme access and beneficiary reach.

The Manager owns the external client engagement process, from prospecting and enquiries through needs assessment, proposals, quotations, programme confirmation, contracting coordination and renewal.

Working closely with the Programmes & Services team, the Manager ensures that programme opportunities are appropriate, financially sound where applicable, and aligned with EQUAL's programme capabilities and delivery capacity.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Programme Business Growth & New Institutional Engagements

• Proactively identify and engage organisations that may benefit from EQUAL's programmes.
• Develop new opportunities across schools, social service agencies, healthcare institutions, corporations and community organisations.
• Qualify prospective engagements by understanding organisational needs, beneficiary groups, programme objectives, available budgets and potential engagement models.
• Convert qualified enquiries and opportunities into confirmed programme engagements.
• Respond promptly to assigned programme enquiries, establish clear next steps and follow through until each opportunity is confirmed, declined or closed.
• Develop targeted institutional outreach and re-engagement plans.
• Identify potential new markets, client segments and programme applications, working with Programme leadership to assess feasibility.
• Work with Programme Specialists to assess programme requirements, delivery feasibility and suitable engagement models before making external commitments.
• Maintain a clear and actively managed pipeline of programme opportunities.

1. Existing Programme Client Relationships & Retention

Client Relationships & Retention

• Manage assigned institutional programme clients and partners.
• Maintain regular engagement with existing clients to understand evolving programme needs.
• Secure repeat programme engagements and renewals.
• Proactively re-engage lapsed programme partners to explore renewed or expanded programme participation.
• Identify opportunities to expand programme participation through additional sessions, beneficiary groups or approved programme offerings.
• Maintain accurate engagement records, renewal schedules and client follow-up plans.
• Collect structured client feedback and coordinate improvements with the Programme team.

1. Programme Proposals, Quotations & Contracting

• Lead the preparation of programme proposals, concept notes, quotations and engagement documents, working with Programme Specialists on programme content and delivery requirements
• Coordinate programme pricing, budgets and delivery assumptions with the relevant internal teams.
• Assess fee-based opportunities using approved pricing, delivery cost and capacity information, escalating exceptions for the appropriate approval.
• Manage procurement and tender submissions, including GeBIZ where applicable.
• Coordinate service agreements, booking confirmations, contract renewals and amendments.
• Ensure programme requirements, commercial terms and delivery commitments receive the necessary internal approvals before confirmation.
• Work with Finance to ensure accurate billing information is submitted promptly and help resolve client-related commercial issues.

1. Programme Engagement & Client Coordination

• Serve as the primary client-facing contact for assigned programme engagements.
• Coordinate client needs and expectations with Programme Specialists and relevant operational colleagues.
• Ensure confirmed programme commitments are handed over clearly to the teams responsible for delivery.
• Monitor client-facing commitments, programme engagement milestones and renewal opportunities.
• Maintain visibility of confirmed programme bookings, client requirements and engagement status, coordinating client-facing issues with the Programme team.
• Coordinate the timely submission of agreed programme-client reports and deliverables, using content prepared and approved by the Programme team.
• Address client-related issues and escalate operational matters to the relevant functional leads.

1. Programme Pipeline, Performance & Process Improvement

• Maintain accurate records of prospective, confirmed and completed programme engagements.
• Prepare programme booking forecasts, including expected programme income where applicable.
• Track enquiry conversion, programme client retention, repeat engagements and engagement trends.
• Monitor commercial engagement performance using approved pricing and cost information.
• Identify gaps in enquiry management, proposal turnaround, contracting and client coordination.
• Research emerging institutional needs and potential referral channels to inform targeted programme outreach and future growth.
• Implement practical improvements to programme business processes.
• Provide regular management updates on programme demand, pipeline performance, client retention and growth opportunities.

1. Cross-Functional Opportunity Development

• Work with the Fundraising team where programme clients express interest in donations, sponsorships or broader philanthropic partnerships.
• Refer volunteering opportunities to the Volunteer Manager and coordinate where volunteering forms part of a programme engagement.
• Coordinate external communication with the designated relationship lead where a partner engages multiple EQUAL departments, while owning the programme workstream.
• Provide programme scope, costings, delivery assumptions and relevant approved information to support fundraising or grant submissions led by designated colleagues.
• Participate in integrated institutional partnership proposals when EQUAL's programmes form part of a broader collaboration.
• Maintain coordinated external communication when a partner engages multiple EQUAL departments.

SCOPE & ACCOUNTABILITY BOUNDRIES

This role is not responsible for:

• Fundraising solicitation, philanthropic funding negotiations or donor stewardship.
• Independently managing corporate sponsorships, charitable grants or donation renewals.
• Corporate volunteering programme design or volunteer management.
• Programme methodology, beneficiary assessments or direct programme delivery.
• Producing or approving technical programme outcome reports and research findings.
• Issuing invoices, accounting for income or managing formal debt collection.
• Making unauthorised commitments concerning programme pricing, expenditure, staffing, capacity or horse welfare.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated experience in institutional business development, service-based partnerships or account management, including converting new opportunities into confirmed engagements and maintaining client relationships.
• Experience managing external partnerships, client relationships or institutional accounts.
• Strong administrative, organisational and project coordination skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Core Competencies

• Strong relationship-building and consultative engagement skills.
• Proactive business development and follow-through.
• Sound commercial judgement and ability to balance growth with operational feasibility.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and CRM/pipeline discipline.
• Ability to work across teams while respecting functional expertise and responsibilities.

Key Attributes

• Proactive, resourceful and accountable for results.
• Comfortable developing new business rather than relying solely on incoming enquiries.
• Collaborative, practical and service-oriented.
• Able to manage multiple client engagements and deadlines.
• Motivated by EQUAL's mission and committed to quality, sustainable programme growth.

WHY JOIN US?

Make a tangible impact in a mission-driven team, grow across operations and systems, and work in a unique, nature-rich environment with meaningful outcomes.

HOW TO APPLY

Please email your updated CV and a short cover letter to pradeep.thevar@equal.org.sg with the subject line “Partnership & Development – Your Name”.