Job Description
World Learning’s International Development and Exchange Programs has an immediate opening for a Program Development Specialist. World Learning is an 80-year-old global non-profit with active programming in over 60 countries. Our programs use creative and participatory approaches to address critical development issues such as poverty and exclusion, youth participation, educational access and quality, the marginalization of women and children, and government accountability. Working with local partners to identify specific needs, resources, and challenges, our program designs are closely linked with the local context, ensuring that our partners invest deeply in projects and provide the local leadership required to secure long-term success. For more information visit www.worldlearning.org.
Position Title: Program Development Specialist (Exchanges and Training Unit)
Position Grade: G-10
Reports To: Director, Program Development Unit
Location: Washington, D.C.
Job Purpose: To position World Learning as a leader in innovative programmatic responses by facilitating and leading new business development efforts including the technical design and writing process, as well as guiding and participating in strategic planning for technical units. The position will primarily support new program development for IDEP’s Exchange and Training Unit, but may support other IDEP technical teams on an as needed basis.
Position Overview: We are seeking a dynamic mid-level career professional experienced in international development. Program Development Specialists collaborate with technical staff to coordinate and lead complex or strategically critical proposals on behalf of World Learning. S/he leads a proposal team and facilitates the entire proposal process including the bid/no-bid decision phase, capture efforts, developing and implementing proposal schedules, and oversees the development of both technical and cost proposals, ensuring a proposal’s successful on-time submission. Successful candidates will have experience leading the proposal process, excellent writing skills, enjoy working in a team environment, be solution-oriented, and possess a great sense of humor.
Key Responsibilities:
- Serve as a liaison between the Program Development Unit and assigned technical team(s).
- Facilitate and oversee the bid/no bid evaluation process for RFAs, RFPs, and as appropriate APS, guiding technical teams and leadership through a decision making process that ensures opportunities align with World Learning strategic priorities.
- Participate in pre-RFP capture efforts, including collecting and organizing capture plan documentation, facilitating and participating in capture strategy sessions, and participating in in-country capture as requested.
- Lead proposal teams in the development, production, and delivery of compliant and responsive proposals and any follow up submissions.
- Lead the proposal team in the brainstorming of responsive yet innovative programmatic design concepts, and ensure they are meaningfully translated into written content.
- Develop and/or oversee the development of proposal schedules, compliance matrixes, and other proposal tools as needed.
- Closely collaborate with Pricer/Cost Analyst and finance team to ensure cost proposals are responsive and in compliance to the RFP/RFA/APS. This may include helping to create budget templates, leading budget meetings, reviewing the budgets to make sure all technical components are captured.
- Provide oversight in the compilation of partner materials, including negotiating and managing relationships with local and international program partners for submission of technical and cost proposals, resulting in accurate, complete, and on time partner submissions.
- Oversee proposal team to ensure all aspects of the proposal are drafted and presented in compliance with RFP/RFA/APS specifications.
- Facilitate proposal meetings.
- Lead recruitment efforts for key personnel as well as local and international consultants.
- Perform other roles in proposal development as assigned, including writing sections, reviewing budgets, performing research, and other contributions.
- Assist World Learning in developing new alliances with partners and stakeholders.
- Travel, as needed, to conduct field assessments, develop technical content, recruit staff, identify partners, and collect cost data for proposals.
Additional Responsibilities:
- Represent World Learning at meetings, conferences, etc., relevant to the subject matter and themes of the assigned portfolio and disseminate information regarding World Learning’s overall capabilities.
- Contribute to the development of key World Learning planning documents including strategy statements, budget reviews, work plans, and reports to the Board of Directors.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in international development, international politics, organizational development, communications, or another relevant field (Master’s degree preferred).
- Outstanding writing skills (in English), analytical capacity, and attention to detail.
- Past experience developing complex proposals for international development projects.
- Exceptional project management ability including strong skills in 1) communication, both written and verbal, 2) leadership 3) team management, 4) negotiation, both within and outside the organization, and 5) time-management skills (especially when facing tight deadlines).
- Possess high emotional intelligence.
- Ability to anticipate challenges and proactively identify solutions.
- Experience with U.S. Government procurement policies, procedures and mechanisms (such as Indefinite Quantity Contracts, Cooperative Agreements, etc.).
- Experience with European bilateral donors or other multilateral donors, e.g. World Bank, EU, DFID, etc.
- Familiarity with leading organizations in the international community including donors, NGOs, and for-profit contractors.
- Minimum of five years of relevant professional experience supporting exchange and training programs.
Desired Qualifications:
- Foreign language (particularly Spanish, Portuguese, French, or Arabic)
To apply: A resume and cover letter are required when applying to this position.
World Learning is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.
