Job Description
Job Title: Business Development Specialist I Reports to: Business Development Manager **
Department: Regional Business Development, EMECA Salary Grade: 9 _
CRS will only consider candidates who are based in countries where we have existing offices. CRS does not sponsor visas for telecommuting employees.
_ 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**
As a Business Development (BD) Specialist I, you will contribute to the production of high-quality applications for funding in support of CRS’ engagement with institutional donors and initiatives involved in international development to serve the poor and vulnerable. Your knowledge and skills will allow you to contribute to improving aspects of the BD cycle for the country program. **
Roles And Key Responsibilities**
- Contribute to proposal development processes to ensure timely submission of high-quality proposals that are responsive to donor requirements, applicable regulations, and CRS’ technical and cost standards.
- Contribute to non-technical writing on proposals and proposal review panels. Integrate inputs from staff and partners into a responsive, coherent proposal.
- Research new opportunities and CRS’ competitive position within the marketplace.
- Help develop and maintain tools, guidelines, templates and donor intelligence information.
- Track and report on proposal submissions; assist with analysis of successes and failures and dissemination of lessons learned. Assist in developing analytical reports for internal and external use, including portfolio trends and growth.
- With the business development team and others, refine or create appropriate staff development materials (training, distance learning, self-study) to support building of capacity in resource acquisition, such as assessment and proposal development skills, basic elements of donor compliance, intelligence-gathering, etc.
- Work with appropriate staff to maintain data on past performance and corporate capacity, in order to provide timely information for proposal submissions.
Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 35 %. **
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities**
- Good strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture.
- Good relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally.
- Good negotiation skills.
- Very good communications and presentation skills.
- Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Key Working Relationships
Internal: EMECA BD Manager; EMECA Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality; EMECA Regional Technical Advisors; the Business Development Community; EMECA country program staff; management quality and finance staff. **
Qualifications**
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in international development, international relations, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum three years of international development experience, with at least two years experience in a developing country.
Preferred Qualifications
- Very strong writer with expert command of English grammar and AP style.
- Demonstrated experience with competitive proposals in programming contexts similar to CRS.
- Familiarity with USG funding mechanisms and proposal requirements. Specific experience with food aid programming and with non-USG public donors highly desirable.
- 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.
- 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 skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
_ 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.
CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.