Strategic Business Development Specialist (II)

Job Description

Job Summary:

As Strategic Business Development Specialist II, aligned with the Vision 2030 Strategy, you will lead positioning, capture planning, country program visibility, marketing and communication, and leveraging results with institutional donors (government and inter-governmental, as well as foundation, corporations, and others) in support of CRS’ engagement with institutional donors, agency strategy, and initiatives in international development to serve the poor and vulnerable. You will also lead the production of high-quality applications for funding for large opportunities for the country program and, up to 30% for the EARO region. Your knowledge and skills will allow you to provide specialized leadership in all dimensions of the BD cycle to cross-disciplines and cross-functional teams.

Job Responsibilities:

• Conduct in depth research and analysis of existing sectoral strategies and portfolios for relevant governments and donors, including the development of mapping and strategic guidance documents to inform country program business development and growth strategies and improve CRS Uganda’s competitive position in prioritized sectors.
• Lead strategic intelligence gathering, analysis and support activities in line with identified business development strategies so as to position CRS to donors and other key stakeholders, in alignment with Vision 2030.
• Develop and implement capture plans to ensure CRS’ competitiveness for selected opportunities.
• Lead CRS business development marketing and communication activities to leverage results for increased positioning and funding in prioritized sectors.

1. Actively support senior management to cultivate and strengthen institutional relationships with institutional donors, partner organizations and other stakeholders.
2. Coordinate high value proposal development processes for the country program (70%) 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.
3. Coordinate high value proposal development processes for the EARO (30%) 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 representation to donor and partner organizations, intelligence-gathering, marketing within their country program or portfolio, and proposal development.
• 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.

1. Work with appropriate staff to maintain data on past performance and corporate capacity, in order to provide timely information for proposal submissions.
2. Represent CRS Uganda in the EARO BD community of practice.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• 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.
• Demonstrated experience utilizing diverse, proactive strategies to competitively position his/her organization for new funding and productive institutional relationships.
• Comprehensive familiarity with a broad range of institutional donor funding priorities, as well as technical and cost requirements.
• Proven experience in donor mapping, intelligence gathering, and knowledge of donor and government trends particularly in Uganda and East Africa.
• Proven experience in capture planning, leveraging results, and donor marketing and communication to improve market position and competitiveness.
• Exceptional writer with expert command of English grammar and AP style.
• Demonstrated experience leading and producing competitive proposals in programming contexts similar to CRS.
• Experience with both US Government RFP and RFA, EU, DfID and Global Fund 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.

Personal Skills

• 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 approaching and developing relationships with diverse institutions.
• Excellent communication, networking, and relationship building skills.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
• Enjoys fast-paced, dynamic environment and challenging environment, with a high capacity to deliver results.

Required/Desired Foreign Language: none

Travel Required: up to 30% regional travel

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory, not applicable

Internal, Uganda Country Representative, Uganda Head of Programs, Uganda finance manager, Uganda technical advisors

External: East Africa Regional Office BD Manager, East Africa Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality.

Agency-wide 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.

* Integrity

* Accountability and Stewardship

* Build Relationships

* Develops Talent

* Continuous Improvement and Innovation

* Strategic Mindset

NOTE: Applications will be accepted until this position is filled.

About the Organization

Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States. Our mission is to assist the poor and disadvantaged, leveraging the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to alleviate human suffering, promote development of all people, and to foster charity and justice throughout the world. Working through local offices and an extensive network of partners, CRS operates on five continents and in 98 countries. We aid the poor by first providing direct assistance where needed, then encouraging people to help with their own development. Together, these approaches foster secure, productive, just communities that enable people to realize their potential. As the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community, CRS is also committed to educating the people of the United States to fulfill their moral responsibilities toward our global brothers and sisters by helping the poor, working to remove the causes of poverty, and promoting social justice.