Specialist II, Food Security Unit Specialist – Business Development

Description

Job Title: Specialist II, Food Security Unit Specialist – Business Development

Dept/Location: Overseas Support Department/Public Resource Group, Baltimore

Reports To: Food Security Unit Team Leader

Req. #: D300

Background:

The Business Development Team (BDT) supports HQ and field staff to identify and develop new public donor funding relationships and increase the agency’s capacity to respond to funding opportunities from various public donors. The team members are collectively responsible for managing information to support proposal development; carrying out research on, and building relationships with, new donors and other potential growth partners; providing assistance to field programs in proposal development; and monitoring progress towards the unit’s objectives and the agency’s public growth agenda.

Within the HQ BDT, the Food Security Unit (FSU) supports resource acquisition specifically in the area of food security, with an emphasis on high-value and strategic funding opportunities from USAID, USDA, the United Nations, and other major public donors. In so doing, the FSU collaborates closely with multiple units in CRS’ Overseas Operations division: country and regional staff (responsible for program development and implementation within CRS’ decentralized management structure); PQSD sectoral teams (responsible for supporting and promoting CRS technical excellence in core program areas); and PRG Strategic Issues Advisors (responsible for policy analysis and advocacy on key issues including global hunger). The FSU also supports the BDT’s broader relationships with other CRS divisions – HR, Finance, USOPS, and CGA – to guide and strengthen the agency’s resource acquisition efforts and maintain its position as a well-resourced, influential, and highly regarded actor in the fields of humanitarian aid and development.

Primary Function:

The FSU Business Development Specialist will support the development of public donor proposals in the food security sector, with an emphasis on competitive mechanisms. S/he will monitor the evolution of donor regulations, funding mechanisms, and application requirements to ensure the compliance and responsiveness of CRS proposals. S/he will assist in the collection, development, and information management of tools and resources for food security proposals, with an emphasis on cost applications. As a member of the HQ BDT and the agency’s broader business development community of practice, s/he will also provide field and HQ staff with information and informal training to improve their skills in proposal development, representation to donor and partner organizations, donor and partner intelligence-gathering, and marketing of CRS’ capacities to enhance our competitiveness.

Job Responsibilities:

1. Explore opportunities for non-traditional food security resource acquisition and support the BDT to develop new institutional relationships with international non-profit and for-profit organizations and other collaborators in the public funding arena.

2. Provide direct assistance to field and HQ staff in the preparation of food security proposals, in an on- the-job training capacity.

3. Provide specific support to proposed management and staffing plans, resource management plans, cost applications, and proposal appendices/annexes.

4. Coordinate processes and mentor staff to ensure timely submission of high quality proposals that are responsive to and compliant with donor requirements and with CRS technical application and cost application standards.

5. Monitor regulatory revisions, proposal guidelines, and application requirements for priority food security donors together with OSD and overseas compliance staff. Ensure HQ and field staff involved in food security proposals are aware of these requirements and that new proposals adhere to them.

6. In coordination with other BDT staff, support the development of agency-wide materials (training, distance learning, self-study) to build agency capacity in food security resource acquisition.

7. Support and guide the identification of international 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.

8. Develop and maintain tools, guidelines, templates and donor intelligence information related to food security resource acquisition on the BDT’s Public Proposal Toolbox. Coordinate closely with other HQ/BDT staff, PQSD, and regions to

9. Support country programs to develop appropriate and effective fundraising strategies involving donor research and intelligence, product development, marketing, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.

10. Work with appropriate staff to maintain data on past performance and corporate capacity for both publicly- and privately-funded food security awards, in order to provide timely information for proposal submission.

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.

· Serves with Integrity

· Models Stewardship

· Cultivates Constructive Relationships

· Promotes Learning

Key Working Relationships:

INTERNAL: Overseas Support Department; Program Quality and Support Department;

Country Representatives and Heads of Programming, Country and Regional technical and

business development staff.

EXTERNAL: Public donor representatives; business development officials of collaborating

partner organizations.

Qualifications:

1. Masters Degree in Development, International Relations, or relevant field preferred; equivalent experience acceptable.

2. Five plus years of international development experience, including at least 2 years in a developing country.

3. Experience developing USAID Title II proposals required. Experience with other USAID and other donor solicitations preferred.

4. Familiarity with funding policies, procedures and priorities of USAID/Food for Peace required. Familiarity with USDA and World Food Program desirable.

5. Project management experience in food aid highly desirable.

6. Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication and negotiation skills.

7. Demonstrated experience managing people and processes, leading teams to produce deliverables under tight deadlines and at exceptional quality.

8. Demonstrated cost application development skills; extensive experience with proposal budgets and budget notes.

9. Experience with consortium development and competitive partnership building

10. Exceptional English writing ability.

11. Strong analytical skills.

12. Knowledge of CRS programs, justice agenda and Catholic Social Teaching principles, a plus.

13. Knowledge of Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Outlook, and Internet) required, experience with Access or other data base programs is a plus.

14. Ability and willingness to travel overseas as needed, up to 40% of job time.

15. Fluency in English required; working ability in French preferred: working ability in Spanish acceptable.

This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, efforts, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

NOTE: All interested applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. at the time of application.

To apply, please visit www.crs.org/about/careers