Business Development Manager – Asia Pacific

JOB TITLE: Business Development Manager – Asia Pacific
TEAM: Asia Pacific
REPORTS TO: Senior Manager, Business Development, Asia-Pacific
LOCATION: Based in Sydney, with flexibility for remote work anywhere within Australia

JOB CONTEXT & PURPOSE

Adam Smith International (ASI) is a global advisory company that works locally to transform lives by making economies stronger, societies more stable, and governments more effective. ASI is headquartered in London, and our Asia Pacific regional office in Sydney was established in 2012 to lead multi-donor business growth and project delivery across the region. In 2026 we are currently operating in 15 Asia-Pacific countries.

The Business Development (BD) Manager will deliver impactful, high-quality proposals and tenders within our Asia Pacific portfolio across a range of sectors, including economic management, climate change, private sector development, governance, public financial management, sustainable infrastructure, agriculture and agribusiness, human development and criminal justice reform.

The BD Manager will primarily focus on programs funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and other major bilateral and multilateral donors operating in the region. They will monitor and track emerging opportunities, support and eventually lead BD efforts, take ownership of management information, oversee core processes and coordinate across our Asia Pacific team and ASI’s wider global business. Working closely with Asia-Pacific’s Senior and Principal Managers, the BD Manager will strive for continuous improvement; seek new partnerships and develop strong relationships with clients and consultants across the region.

The BD Manager will be primarily based in existing country of residence but could be expected to undertake some regional travel to program locations or to position ASI for emerging opportunities.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal
• Senior Manager for BD
• Head of Strategic Engagement and Partnerships
• Director of Asia Pacific
• Asia-Pacific team at the Sydney office and throughout the region
• BD Teams based in India, London HQ and elsewhere
• HQ Central Support Teams including Finance, Legal and Commercial

External
• DFAT and other donor staff
• Prime and subcontracting partners
• Key consultants and associates

KEY TASKS

Business Development

Drive business growth across the Asia-Pacific region. Support and eventually manage the end-to-end business development process — from opportunity identification to bid submission — delivering high-quality, innovative tenders aligned with client priorities and ASI’s strategic positioning.

Primarily focused on DFAT, FCDO, EU, ADB, MDBs and other major donors operating in the region.

Key responsibilities include:

• Pipeline Development: Identify and track strategic opportunities across the region, leveraging networks and donor pipelines, maintaining a forward-looking BD pipeline aligned with ASI’s priorities.

• Bid Development & Management: Support and eventually lead preparation of technical and financial proposals, including EOIs, RFTs and RFQs under DFAT’s DEV Panel and the Australian Government’s MAS Panel.

• Strategic Partnerships: Strengthen partnerships to form effective consortia combining technical expertise, geographic experience and operational capacity.

• Talent Acquisition & Adviser Management: Maintain and grow a high-quality APAC Associate Database for rapid access to experts.

• Cross-Business Collaboration: Coordinate across ASI regional offices and technical practices to maximise global collaboration.

• Thought Leadership & Engagement: Support knowledge management and outward engagement with clients, partners and stakeholders.

• BD Process Improvement: Contribute to refinement of internal BD tools and systems in APAC.

Other

• Manage implementation of DFAT-funded assignments and programs on an ad hoc basis to ensure delivery on time, within budget and to client satisfaction.
• Prepare Terms of Reference and recruit long- and short-term associates.
• Support technical delivery where possible.
• Ensure monthly financial submissions (timesheets, credit card returns, invoices, expenses) are completed correctly.
• Consistently meet deadlines.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Lead and support acquisition of new business in Asia Pacific.

2. Track and monitor business growth.

3. Represent ASI externally and build positive client relationships.

4. Take responsibility for financial and day-to-day management of programs including associate billing and client invoicing.

5. Successfully manage small to medium projects with limited oversight.

6. Contribute to ASI growth in Asia Pacific through collaboration and high-quality delivery.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Knowledge & Qualification:
• Undergraduate degree in a relevant subject.
• Master’s degree preferred, particularly in international development or related fields.

Experience:
• Proven bid/proposal writing and bid management experience.
• Understanding of donor procurement cycles (FCDO, DFAT, EU).
• Experience in international development or government agency preferred.

Values, Skills and Competencies

• Nuanced understanding of DFAT’s international development policy.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Confidence using Microsoft products.
• Ability to build credible client relationships across multicultural stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to work under pressure with accuracy.
• Willingness to travel and tackle unfamiliar challenges.
• Pragmatic, resourceful and confident in decision-making.

What We Offer You

We offer a dynamic career and the opportunity to contribute to a successful portfolio of award-winning international programs. Attracting talented people and supporting their performance, development and wellbeing is central to ASI’s success and the impact we deliver.

Our culture is guided by our values and committed to diversity and inclusion. We provide a competitive benefits package and flexible working arrangements to support our people.

ASI is dedicated to strengthening the diversity of our workforce through the attraction, retention and development of talented individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. We encourage everyone to bring their whole self to work, recognising that inclusion drives innovation and better outcomes.

Heard enough? Ready to apply?

We’d love to hear from you. Please submit your CV (maximum two pages) along with a separate cover letter addressing the “About You” selection criteria above by Tuesday, 31 March 2026.

Applicants must have the right to live and work in Australia.

Adam Smith International is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and strongly encourages applications from people of all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.