Donor Engagement Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to save, protect, and transform lives in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries worldwide. The organization is committed to improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. CRS engages in various programs, including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The agency's mission is driven by a collaborative and mission-oriented culture, welcoming individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values. CRS is dedicated to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, reflecting its commitment to ethical practices and community welfare. The organization employs a significant number of staff across various countries, focusing on humanitarian efforts and development work.

Job Overview:
The Donor Engagement Specialist will play a crucial role in supporting Catholic Relief Services (CRS) teams in securing strategic funding from the World Bank and other entities financed by the World Bank, including national governments, UN agencies, and NGOs. This position involves close collaboration with the World Bank Support Unit (WBSU) team lead and various colleagues within the organization, including those in Global Awards and Project Support and the global Business Development (BD) community. The Specialist will contribute to critical functions such as positioning, capture planning, proposal development, and donor knowledge management. The role requires a proactive approach to aggregate and analyze institutional knowledge and past experiences with World Bank-financed operations, conducting regular assessments of CRS's value proposition and competitiveness to inform strategic efforts. The Specialist will also engage with institutional donor representatives, facilitate donor visits, and ensure effective communication of achievements and challenges to donors, thereby enhancing CRS's visibility and relationships with prioritized donors.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Donor Engagement Specialist will be responsible for identifying and tracking new business opportunities with the World Bank and other World Bank-financed entities. This includes collaborating with colleagues across the BD community to maintain accurate business pipeline and performance data through CRS's online systems. The Specialist will work with country teams, Marketing and Communications colleagues, and senior leadership to advise on actions that enhance CRS's positioning with prioritized donors. Researching and advising on World Bank regulations and requirements will be essential, as will maintaining donor intelligence and funding requirements for dissemination within CRS. The Specialist will provide BD expertise in positioning, capture planning, and proposal preparation, potentially serving as a proposal coordinator or writer. Engaging with CRS's BD team and senior leaders in donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of awards is also a key responsibility. The Specialist will build relationships with institutional donor representatives, advise on marketing and communications strategies, and facilitate knowledge management to improve CRS's performance and competitiveness. Additionally, the Specialist will support the development of World Bank-focused guidance and tools and ensure that high-level achievements and challenges are communicated to donors in a timely manner. The role also involves active participation in the global BD community of practice, sharing learning and donor intelligence.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a strong knowledge of World Bank priorities, funding instruments, and business processes, along with an entrepreneurial and service-oriented mindset. Candidates should possess knowledge of funding mechanisms, regulations, and programming priorities of relevant government and multi-lateral institutional donors. The ability to work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders across various geographic and cultural contexts is essential. Strong presentation and communication skills are necessary to gather and distill new information and effectively communicate it to diverse audiences. A proactive, resourceful, and solutions-oriented mindset is required, along with the ability to cultivate new relationships and instill confidence through a customer service orientation. Candidates should demonstrate adaptability in approaches based on evolving contexts and client needs, as well as the ability to ask probing questions and learn about a range of projects and programs. Excellent writing and analytical skills, attention to detail, and the capacity to translate complex concepts for internal and external audiences are critical. Proficiency in Microsoft Office software is required, and familiarity with Salesforce, Oracle, Web Conferencing Applications, and AI tools to support BD is a plus.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in international relations, development, or a related field. A Master’s degree in the same or a related field is preferred. The educational background should provide a solid foundation for understanding international development issues and the complexities of donor engagement.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of eight years of international development experience, with significant experience in supporting and navigating high-level engagement and complex partnership issues. Candidates should have demonstrated experience working with government and multi-lateral funding agencies, including familiarity with the technical and cost requirements of organizations such as the Global Fund, UN agencies, and development banks. Experience in leading resource mobilization efforts in organizations similar to CRS is highly desirable, as is a minimum of two years of experience working in a developing country. Candidates should also have experience in negotiation and representation.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, while a working ability in French and/or Spanish is highly desirable. Proficiency in these languages will enhance communication with diverse stakeholders and facilitate engagement with international partners.

Additional Notes:
The position does not specify a deadline for applications. The role is full-time and may involve travel up to 35%. There are no supervisory responsibilities associated with this position. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. For candidates employed outside the U.S., benefits packages are based on the country of employment. 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 adhere to CRS's Code of Conduct and participate in safeguarding practices. The organization prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS has offices.