Job Description
Job Title: Business Development Specialist II, Proposal Writer
Reports to: Business Development Manager, BDM
Department: WARO- BD Team
Salary Grade: 10
Job Type: Full-time
Location: Remote
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.
Job Summary
The Regional Business Development Specialist - Lead Writer, in close collaboration with regional and country program colleagues, will support the diversification of revenue from institutional donors and non-traditional funding sources to achieve CRS’ strategic objectives. As BDS II - Proposal Writer, you will contribute to the production of persuasive, audience-focused proposals. The position will provide specialized assistance to cross-disciplinary and cross-functional teams, particularly in proposal writing. Operating as a member of CRS’ West Africa Regional Office (WARO) team, you will provide direct support to strategic country programme growth opportunities and help to strengthen BD-related systems, processes, relationships and staff capacities. Your excellent writing skills will allow you to contribute to more efficient BD processes in the WARO covering 11 countries.
Responsibilities
Roles and Key Responsibilities
Providing Writing/Editing Surge Support (70%):
- Serve as lead writer for high-value, complex or strategic opportunities. Develop technical narrative outlines and draft proposal sections with technical input, as agreed with the technical design leads.
- Synthesize inputs from multiple authors, with attention to clarity, readability, sentence structure, style and voice.
- Contribute to non-technical content, developing technical narrative outlines and integrating diverse inputs into a coherent whole.
- Serve as editor for technical proposals, editing in accordance with AP and CRS house style, focusing on improving readability by shortening sentences, eliminating redundancies, rearranging sentences to improve transitions and clarifying exhibits and references.
- Work closely with the proposal development team to develop well-written, well-organized and cohesive concept notes, expressions of interest and proposals aligned with donor requirements and CRS standards.
- Support other writing/editing tasks (including reports, marketing material, executive communication, past performance references, CP fact sheets, BD Strategies, Capability Statements, etc.)
Support Business Development activities (10%):
- Close collaboration with Communication, BD, Comms and MEAL colleagues to compile country level documents that communicate CRS’ areas of expertise, such as past performance references and capability statements.
- Serve as proposal coordinator when needed.
- Lead/Facilitate After Action Reviews and support design and reflection workshops, with the ability to synthesize inputs from various data sources and stakeholders.
Support internal and external BD capacity building (20%):
- Support CPs with BD capacity building of local partners.
- Contribute to CRS' Business Development Community of Practice.
- Train and mentor CP staff to enhance writing skills across the region.
- Provide coverage for the Business Development Manager and BDS II.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in related field.
- Minimum five years of experience in international development, with at least three of those years writing competitive funding proposals or other persuasive, audience-focused technical communication.
- Three years' experience in a developing country preferred.
Languages
Fluency in English and French
Travel
30% Travel
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities
- Excellent knowledge of English grammar, punctuation, spelling and usage and familiarity with Associated Press Stylebook.
- Reliable team player.
- Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking and problem-solving skills, with a capacity to both see the big picture and give attention to detail.
- Extensive experience writing competitive proposals for a variety of bilateral and multilateral donors and across technical areas, including education, food security, resilience, health and emergency response.
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts and ideas in compelling, audience-focused prose.
- Proven ability and experience in proposal coordination; experience with competitive applications and proposals for grants and/or commercial contracting (a plus).
- Strong communication and relationship management skills; ability to relate to, inspire and convene the right people at all levels.
- Proactive, resourceful, solutions and results-oriented.
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience, as a lead writer, contributing to competitive applications and proposals.
- Demonstrated ability to learn and write about a broad range of technical sectors.
- Familiarity with key funding agencies (USAID, Mastercard, World Bank, USDA, BHA, EU, FCDO) a plus.
- Familiarity with business development standards, terminology and best practice.
- Demonstrated ability to contribute as part of a team to produce high-quality deliverables under tight deadlines.
- Experience providing remote support to diverse teams preferred.
- 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.
Agency REDI Competencies (for All CRS Staff)
Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. 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 – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
- Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
- Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
- Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
- Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.
Agency Leadership Competencies
- Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
- Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
- Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Key Working Relationships
Internal: WARO Regional Technical Advisors - BD; Business Development Manager (BDM); WARO Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality; the Business Development Community; WARO country program staff; IDEA and GSSU colleagues; Management & Finance staff; Program Quality and Technical staff.
External: Staff of partner organizations
- 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. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, efforts, duties and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 
