Business Development Specialist II, Bangladesh

Job Description

Job Title: Business Development Specialist II, Bangladesh

Reports to: Head of Programs

Salary Grade: 10

Type: Global Remote

Note: Global remote position, with preference for candidates residing in Bangladesh or near the time zones of East Asia and the Pacific.

About CRS:

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS Bangladesh:
CRS has worked in Bangladesh through our local partner Caritas Bangladesh for more than 2 decades, supporting partner capacity strengthening, DRR programming and emergency response. Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and is also one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to natural disasters and climate change impact. CRS is currently working directly with Caritas Bangladesh to support emergency response activities in Cox’s Bazar to address the needs of more than 1 million Rohingya Refugees with shelter and protection activities and to support Caritas Bangladesh’s wide range of emergency response activities. CRS and Caritas Bangladesh are also actively responding to other emergencies across the country with funding from START Fund, IOM and others. CRS in Bangladesh has a large portfolio of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) work including; USAID-BHA funded DRR activities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and MAC Philanthropies funded work in Monpura. CRS Bangladesh is a pilot country for the Homes and Communities strategic platform for CRS Vision 2030 and is actively engaged in forwarding CRS ambitious targets to promote reach of activities and CRS influence in shelter and settlement.

Job Summary:

As Business Development (BD) Specialist II you will lead the production of high-quality applications for funding in support of CRS’ engagement with institutional donors and initiatives involved in international development to serve the poor and vulnerable. Your knowledge and skills will allow you to provide specialized assistance in all dimensions of the BD cycle to cross-disciplines and cross-functional teams. Position will be focused on Bangladesh and flexible to support Nepal and other CRS Country Programs in the region.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide BD expertise in positioning, capture planning and proposal preparation for specific opportunities with institutional donors (government and inter-governmental award issuing organizations, as well as foundations, corporations and other awarding non-governmental organizations).
• Coordinate proposal development processes to ensure timely submission of high-quality proposals that are responsive to donor requirements, applicable regulations, and CRS’ technical and cost standards. Lead and support proposal budget processes and propose recommendations to develop a competitive proposal.
• As appropriate, serve as proposal coordinator or other lead role in proposal team, and participate in bid analysis and proposal review panels. Serve as a lead or support writer on proposals, contributing both technical and non-technical content and integrating inputs from staff and partners into a responsive, coherent proposal with a compelling vision and clear win themes.
• Train and mentor staff, as needed, to improve their skills in proposal development, representation to donor and partner organizations, intelligence-gathering, and marketing within their country program or portfolio.
• Support and guide identification of partners and negotiation of CRS’ role on proposal consortia, ensuring a competitive position for CRS that adheres to the agency’s partnership principles and strategic directions. Research, track and analyze new opportunities and CRS’ competitive position within the marketplace.
• Support senior management to cultivate and strengthen institutional relationships with institutional donors, partner organizations and other stakeholders.
• Work with appropriate staff to maintain data on past performance and corporate capacity, in order to provide timely information for proposal submissions.

Required Languages - Professional fluency in written and spoken English required. Bengali preferred.

Travel – Must be willing and able to be in Bangladesh up 40%, including travel to remote field sites.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships:

Internal – Country Manager, Finance Manager, Operations Manager, MEAL Manager, Program Managers, Technical Advisors and HQ/Regional Business Development Staff

External – Donors, Caritas Bangladesh, Private Sector and Partners

Position location: Global remote position, with preference for candidates residing in Bangladesh or near the time zones of East Asia and the Pacific.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Strong communications and presentation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience utilizing diverse, proactive strategies to competitively position his/her organization for new funding and productive institutional relationships.
• Exceptional writer with expert command of English grammar and AP style.
• Demonstrated experience leading and producing competitive proposals in programming contexts similar to CRS.
• Comprehensive familiarity with a broad range of institutional donor technical and cost requirements.
• Experience with both USAID RFP and RFA funding mechanisms highly desirable.
• Familiarity with relevant institutional donor regulations, policies, procedures and priorities.
• Demonstrated experience managing teams and processes, leading teams to produce deliverables under tight deadlines and at exceptional quality.
• Knowledge of CRS programs, justice agenda and Catholic Social Teaching principles a plus.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.
• Candidates with GESI diversity is a plus, including gender (female); marginalized groups (ethnic/ religious minorities); and, persons with disability.
• Candidates with experience working in Bangladesh and the ASIA Region preferred.
• Residency in Bangladesh preferred.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, international relations, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum five years of international development experience, with at least three years’ experience in a developing country.
• Based in ASIA region or in nearby time zone.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability
• Acts with Integrity
• Collaborates with Others
• Builds and Maintains Trust
• Open to Learn
• Strategic Mindset
• Develops and Recognizes Others
• Leads Change

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Note: All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

About the Organization

About CRS:

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.