Senior Proposal Writer (USAID proposal experience required)

Job Description

Position Title: Senior Proposal Writer

Location: US Remote, VA Office or Hybrid

Department: New Business Services Unit

Winrock International (Winrock) is a non-profit organization that works around the world to increase economic opportunity, sustain natural resources, and protect the environment. Winrock strengthens the capacity of women, children, youth, civil society organizations, and businesses to actively participate in sustainable development and to positively impact society.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Our New Business Services Unit is looking to add a dynamic, organized Senior Proposal Writer who is passionate about being a part of a global team of individuals committed to improving lives and livelihoods worldwide. The successful candidate is:

• An excellent communicator who has a flare for clear and compelling writing

• An energetic proposal specialist with leadership, writing, and editing skills

• Passionate about the new business side of international development

• Able to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

Position Overview: This position is an international business development professional who is effective in crafting clear and compelling proposal narrative content. As an experienced lead writer on USAID proposals and applications, this position must be an excellent communicator with strong analytical, research, and persuasive writing skills. This position must be a team leader and team player who thrives in a fast-paced and deadline-driven environment.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Major Responsibilities

• Serve as lead writer for proposals and applications to USAID and other priority donors.
• Participate in technical design, including identifying and analyzing potential solutions in response to development challenges through desk research, stakeholder interviews, and ideation with specialists across the organization.
• Collaborate with specialists across the organization to build the evidence, local context, and analysis to inform and justify technical solutions.
• Write compelling technical sections that are compliant with bid requirements and tell a differentiating story of how the proposed approach will result in systemic change.
• Participate in quality control milestones and revise iterative drafts in response to feedback from reviewers.
• Ensure seamless integration of all inputs to the technical narrative, to achieve one voice.
• Contribute to continuous learning and strengthening business development systems, procedures, and capacities around proposal writing.
• Collaborate with Winrock staff and partners in the U.S. and across the world

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience: Minimum of 7 years’ experience writing and developing proposals in response to solicitations from USAID. Experience with other funders preferred.

Computer/Technical Skills: Expertise in Microsoft Office Suite and other documentation creation and publishing creation software.

Communication Skills: Ability to elicit and synthesize technically complex ideas from a range of stakeholder’s viewpoints, transforming concepts into clear, compelling, and persuasive written language.

Language: English fluency required. Working knowledge of French or Spanish preferred.

Required Travel: Occasional international travel as needed

Position-Specific Skills:

• Proven record with writing technical content on successful proposals.
• Demonstrated understanding of results-oriented approaches for integrating CLA approaches into project and proposal design.
• Familiarity with competitive proposal development processes and components.
• Knowledge of and experience with USAID business development priorities, trends, and policies.
• Flexibility and a demonstrated ability to troubleshoot problems while under pressure.
• Strong time management and prioritization skills with the ability to consistently meet multiple deadlines and to work quickly to produce time sensitive deliverables.
• Ability to work effectively with multi-disciplinary teams across countries and time zones.

Physical Demands: Must be authorized to work in the United States.

As a condition of employment at Winrock, all US-based Winrock staff, regardless of location or project, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or must obtain a disability or religious accommodation from Winrock.

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people and value diversity and inclusiveness. Winrock recruits, employs, trains, promotes, and compensates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, or any other basis protected by law.

At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity, and transformation.

Winrock knows that its success comes from the hard work and steadfast dedication of its diverse workforce. Winrock remains committed to maintaining diversity, inclusion, and equity across the entire organization.

About the Organization

Winrock International (WI) is a non-profit organization that works with people around the world to increase economic opportunity, sustain natural resources, and protect the environment. Winrock strengthens the capacity of women, children, youth, and civil society organizations to actively participate in local and national development and to transform their societies.