Business Development Specialist II - Short Term

NOTE: The Pay Range referenced in this job announcement only applies to applicants who perform the job within the US and to applicants classified by CRS as International Assignees.  Staff hired on local payroll would follow the respective Country pay range.  Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your anticipated work location during the candidate selection process.

Job Summary

The Institutional Funding Department within CRS’ Global Resource Engagement and Mobilization Division works with teams across all CRS regions and program areas to strategically position and pursue funding with institutional donors. The Business Development Specialist II position sits within the global Business Development (BD) Service Team and leads the production of high-quality funding applications in support of CRS’ engagement with those institutional donors and initiatives involved in international development to serve the poor and vulnerable. The position utilizes knowledge and skills to provide specialized assistance in all dimensions of the BD cycle across disciplines and functional teams. 

Note: This is a short-term position for an initial period of 3 months, with the possibility of an extension. The position will provide support across all CRS regions and donors.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Provide BD expertise to country leadership and proposal teams in positioning, capture planning and proposal preparation for specific opportunities with institutional donors (government, multilateral, foundations, corporations and other awarding non-governmental organizations).
• Manage pre-positioning, capture and proposal development processes to ensure timely execution and submission of high-quality proposals that are responsive to donor requirements, applicable regulations, and CRS’ technical and cost standards. 
• Deploy as proposal coordinator, and advise on opportunity analysis, lead go/no-go decisions, capture planning, and coordinate partner inputs and proposal review panels.
• Deploy 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.
• Deploy as budget lead or to support the lead in developing proposal budgets. Provide recommendations to develop a competitive proposal, as required.
• Deploy as Project Design Lead or support to facilitate co-creation and lead the development of the technical approach, theory of change, and project design as required.
• Guide and advise on partner identification and negotiating CRS’ role in proposal consortia. Ensure a competitive position for CRS that adheres to the agency’s partnership principles and strategic directions. 
• Liaise with senior management and donor engagement focal points to develop a resource mobilization strategy for a specific region, country, sector, or donor. Support senior management in cultivating and strengthening relationships with institutional donors, partner organizations and other stakeholders.
• Research, track and analyze new opportunities and CRS’ competitive position within the marketplace.
• Lead and/or support development of CRS BD tools, resources and guidance on BD best practices and CRS approaches across the BD cycle.
• Train and mentor staff, as needed, to improve their skills across the CRS BD Cycle, including in proposal development, representation to donor and partner organizations, intelligence-gathering, and marketing within their country program or portfolio.
• Work with appropriate staff to maintain data on past performance and corporate capacity, to provide timely information for proposal submissions.
• Actively contribute to CRS' Business Development Community of Practice and advance CRS' Business Development practices through contributions to strategic initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture.
• Familiarity with relevant institutional donor regulations, policies, procedures and priorities.
• Comprehensive familiarity with a broad range of institutional donor technical and cost requirements.  Experience with pursuing funding with donors including World Bank, FDCO, EU, USG, foundations and corporations preferred.
• Strong relationship management skills. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Ability to strategically approach each relationship.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Exceptional writing skills with expert command of English grammar and AP style. Ability to write proposals in Spanish, French, or another common institutional donor language a plus.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented mindset.
• Knowledge of CRS programs, justice agenda and Catholic Social Teaching principles a plus. 
• Knowledge of MS Windows and MS Office packages, information management systems, and artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

Required Languages: Fluency in English required; working ability in Spanish and/or French preferred.

Travel: Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% strongly preferred.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in international development, international relations, or related field. 
• Minimum eight years of international development experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in international development, international relations, or related field. 
• At least three years' experience in a developing country.
• Demonstrated experience utilizing diverse, proactive strategies to competitively position an organization for new funding and productive institutional relationships.
• Demonstrated experience leading and producing competitive proposals in programming contexts similar to CRS. 
• Experience with both grants and contract funding mechanisms.
• Demonstrated experience leading project teams and processes to produce deliverables under tight deadlines and at exceptional quality.
• Experience providing remote support to diverse teams.
• Experience in developing content for and facilitating trainings related to key business development practices. Knowledge of adult learning approaches.

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• 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.

What we offer

CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.  Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.  CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.  Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.  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 safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse.  The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. 

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements.  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.