Business Development Writer, Global Remote

Note: This is a Global Remote position. Candidates who are based in countries where CRS has a presence are preferred.

Job Summary

Contribute to CRS’s mission of serving poor and vulnerable communities by developing compelling, donor-focused proposals that secure resources for high-impact programs. As a member of the global Business Development (BD) Support Team, provide surge support for strategic funding opportunities across the agency, partnering with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and deliver competitive proposals. Serve as a specialized BD resource, with expertise in proposal writing, positioning, and messaging.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

Providing BD Surge Support:

• Serve as lead writer for concept notes, expression of interests, and proposals. Develop technical narrative outlines and draft proposal sections with input from the technical design lead and other proposal team members. Ensure local context and knowledge is fully reflected in proposal products. 
• Collaborate with the proposal coordinator, technical design lead and sector leads, other proposal team members and stakeholders, including partners, to develop well-written, well-organized and cohesive concept notes, expressions of interest and proposals aligned with donor requirements and CRS standards.
• Participate in design workshops and other proposal strategies, support the explanations and review of activities and synthesize inputs from various data sources and stakeholders.
• Manage communications with the technical design lead and proposal coordinator throughout the proposal development process to ensure expectations are aligned and deadlines are met.
• Serve as editor for complex 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. 
• Support other writing/editing tasks (including reports, donor facing marketing material, executive communication, etc.), less than 10% of the time.

Supporting Relevant CRS Communities of Practice: 

• Develop key proposal writing tools and resources, including guidance, training materials and internal and external capacity statements, to support the wider CRS BD Community of Practice.
• In collaboration with other writers in the BD and Donor Engagement and Support Team, lead the development and updating of CRS’ Write to Win guidance and associated trainings. 
• Serve as an active member of the CRS Writer Community of Practice, collaborating on joint projects and deliverables, supporting other members with guidance and attending relevant meetings.
• Support BD KML initiatives and updating as related to proposal writing.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Exceptional writer with expert command of English grammar and AP style. Familiarity with Associated Press Stylebook. Ability to write proposals in Spanish, French, or another common institutional donor language a plus.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts and ideas in compelling, audience-focused prose. Ability to learn and write about a broad range of technical sectors.
• Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking and problem-solving skills, with a capacity to both see the big picture and give attention to detail.
• Strong communication and relationship management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute as part of a team to produce high-quality deliverables under tight deadlines. 

Required Languages: Fluency in oral and written English required. Working ability in French or Spanish a plus.

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel internationally approximately 35% of the time

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, international development or related field.
• Minimum eight years of experience in international development, with at least three of those years writing competitive funding proposals or other persuasive, audience-focused technical communication.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in English, communications, international development or related field.
• At least three years' experience in a developing country.
• Extensive experience writing competitive proposals for a variety of bilateral and multilateral donors and across technical areas, including agriculture, food security, resilience, health and emergency response.
• Demonstrated experience, particularly as a lead writer, contributing to competitive applications and proposals in programming contexts similar to those in which CRS operates.
• Experience leading technical writing and sectoral knowledge in one or more of the following sectors: agriculture, food security, resilience, health and emergency response. 
• Familiarity with key funding agencies (World Bank, EU, FCDO, USG, foundations and corporations).
• Familiarity with BD standards, terminology and best practice, such as win themes and discriminators.
• Experience providing remote support to diverse teams.
• Knowledge of CRS programs, justice agenda and Catholic Social Teaching principles.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages, information management systems and artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

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.