Program Development Associate

Job Description

Program Description:

The Program Development (PD) team provides centralized support and guidance to TechnoServe’s divisions and country offices in the identification, design, and development of new business initiatives that support our mission and help us achieve our targets. We work closely with program development managers in each geographic region and country field offices to develop winning proposals with a range of public funders.

Position Description:

The Program Development Associate is a central part of the PD team and will play a key role in helping to expand the organization’s businesses solutions to poverty. The Associate will work closely with new business managers in each geographic region and country field offices. S/he will be a dynamic participant in all aspects of program development, gaining exposure to innovative interventions focused on strengthening value chains, developing small and growing businesses, and mobilizing access to finance. Specifically, the position:

• Supports all aspects of proposal development, including coordinating complex efforts with dispersed proposal team members, customizing past performance references, editing and formatting technical proposals, drafting staffing and management sections, strengthening candidate CVs, and supporting recon efforts
• Supports new business recruitment efforts, including sourcing and vetting expatriate and local candidates; conducting preliminary interviews; networking within TechnoServe to identify professional development opportunities for current staff; liaising with TechnoServe’s HR division with respect to attracting, retaining, and managing talent; and recording interest from individuals with expertise in TechnoServe’s core technical areas and experience with TechnoServe’s core donors within TechnoServe’s CRM
• Researches core funders and partners in support of the capture process and conducts desk and field research as required to support program development. Records updates within TechnoServe’s CRM
• Tracks, identifies, and distributes new funding opportunities to key decision-makers
• Supports knowledge management by synthesizing TechnoServe’s work in qualification statements for core sectors and regions
• Updates and expands Program Development resources available on intranet
• Takes and distributes notes on outcomes of global PD meetings
• Attends and reports on donor and practitioner meetings to stay ahead of latest donor trends
• Leads recruitment of consultants to support program development and key personnel for proposals
• Provides other administrative support as needed

Required Skills & Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree in international relations, economics, business, or other related field, with a minimum two years of work experience, preferably with a new business development team in a high performing international development organization
• Passionate interest in helping the poor improve their livelihoods
• Proven team player with strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills
• The candidate will not be successful without showing a high level of attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• Proven ability to successfully execute complex tasks working independently
• Strong focus on results
• Self-starter with strong time-management skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Must possess strong editing/proof-reading skills and ability to ensure production of documents that are clear, concise, and grammatically correct; prior proposal experience a plus
• Excellent skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint; desktop publishing skills a plus
• Proven ability to anticipate demand, manage multiple tasks/projects, and meet tight deadlines
• Ability to speak Spanish, French, or Portuguese a plus
• Quantitative analysis skills a plus
• Good sense of humor

Physical Requirements:

The person in this position must be able to:

• Remain in a stationary position for an extended number of hours throughout the day using a computer, frequently communicating by telephone or Skype, and meeting with others;
• Occasionally move items weighing up to 20 lbs. and able to transport and position their luggage when traveling;
• Occasionally ascend/descend stairs; and
• Frequently move about inside the office to access files, cabinets, office machinery, and meeting rooms.

About the Organization

TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. We are a nonprofit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs and wealth for their families and communities. With five decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.