Job Summary

The Regional Business Development Specialist II (BDS II) Pricer, in conjunction with regional and country program leadership will provide leadership for resource mobilization efforts to meet long-term goals and annual growth targets. S/he will also support the diversification of revenue from institutional donors and non-traditional funding sources to achieve CRS’ strategic objectives. S/he will operate as a member of CRS’ West Africa Regional Office (WARO) team providing direct support to strategic growth opportunities as well as helping to strengthen BD-related systems, processes, relationships and staff capacities across 11 countries.

As BDS II, Pricer you will lead the production of high-quality applications and proposals, with a specific focus on cost proposals, 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 provide specialized assistance in all dimensions of the BD cycle to cross-disciplines and cross-functional teams. This position requires strategic thinking on high-level pricing strategies, solid hands-on experience building proposal budgets, and the ability to transfer skills and knowledge via training and other capacity strengthening approaches.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• With a particular focus on pricing strategy and cost inputs, provide BD expertise in positioning, capture planning and proposal preparation for specific opportunities with institutional donors (government and inter-governmental award issuing organizations, as well as foundations, corporations and other awarding non-governmental organizations), with an emphasis on US government donor agencies (including USAID, USDA, CDC and the Department of State).

• Coordinate cost proposal development processes and serve as pricer/ budget lead or reviewer on proposal teams, working with technical, management local finance and partner staff to integrate inputs into a responsive, cost competitive detailed budgets and budget narratives. Collaborate with proposal teams to ensure understanding of proposal requirements and to establish competitive and reasonable cost and pricing data for the development of cost proposals in accordance and alignment with relevant proposal specifications. Ability to create/ modify budget spreadsheet templates in accordance with donor requirements.

• Support proposal budget processes, including compliance reviews, to ensure adherence to the solicitation, donor rules and regulations and internal CRS policies and cost standards.

• Manage partners as a part of the proposal process and perform activities including developing budget templates, providing budget assumptions, negotiating budgets, reviewing budgets and notes, and ensuring final submissions comply with donor requirements.

• Support senior management to cultivate and strengthen institutional relationships with institutional donors, partner organizations and other stakeholders.

• Lead proposal teams in collecting, preparing, and analyzing historical cost data for use in budgeting.

• As appropriate and time permitting, serve in other lead or supporting role on a proposal team, working with proposal teams to ensure the timely submission of high-quality proposals that are responsive to donor requirements, applicable regulations, and CRS’ technical and cost standards.

• Train and coach colleagues  to improve their skills in cost proposal, pricing strategy development and budget reviews across a variety of donors.

• Support and guide identification of 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.

• Support and/or lead in developing and/or updating of relevant cost proposal tools, resources and training modules, including CRS’ Cost Application Guidance. Develop templates and tools for efficient and effective cost proposal preparation according to donor and industry best practices (e.g., Excel budget templates and cost notes).

• Actively contribute to CRS’ and WARO’s Business Development Communities of Practice and advance CRS’ Business Development practices through contributions to strategic initiatives and annual summits. Cultivate collaborative relationships with other key stakeholders, including HQ and regional finance staff.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in statistics, finance, economics, or related field.
• Minimum five years of proposal development and/or budgeting experience.
• Three years’ experience working in multi-cultural and/or multilingual work contexts, with experience working in a developing country preferred.

Required Languages – Fluency in English required; working ability in French preferred.

Travel – Willingness to travel up to 30% a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and experience preparing complicated spreadsheets and budgets.
• Ability to manage multiple ongoing responsibilities and strong organization and prioritization skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, detail-oriented and results-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience utilizing diverse, proactive strategies to competitively position his/her organization for new funding and productive institutional relationships.

• Demonstrated experience leading and producing competitive cost applications and proposals in programming contexts similar to CRS. Strong preference for experience leading complex US government contract proposal processes.

• Proficient in the application of relevant cost principles, budgeting methodologies, and cost presentations of US government donor agencies (USAID, CDC, Department of State). Preference for similar knowledge with other non-US government donors (e.g., FCDO, EU, and World Bank).

• Possesses working knowledge of all US government contract types, including CPFF, CPAF, FFP, T&M, and IDIQ.

• Demonstrated experience developing complete cost proposals (including detailed budgets, budget narratives and other supporting cost information) for a variety of donors, including USAID, FCDO, World Bank, BHA, USDA; experience with both cooperative agreement/grant and contract mechanisms preferred.

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• Familiarity with relevant institutional donor regulations, policies, procedures and priorities. Must understand Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), AIDAR, USAID Standard Provisions, 2 CFR 200 and 700, and other relevant federal regulations.

• Demonstrated experience managing teams and processes, leading teams to produce deliverables under tight deadlines and at exceptional quality. Experience providing remote support to diverse teams strongly preferred.

• Experience in developing content for and facilitating trainings related to key business development practices. Knowledge of adult learning approaches desired.

• 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.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: WARO Business Development Manager and Regional Finance Officer.  IDEA and PIQA colleagues, regional office staff, country program staff, including management and finance teams.

External: Business development/finance staff of collaborating partner organizations; select donor representatives as appropriate.

Agency REDI 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 a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is 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 or global telecommuter, 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.