Business Development Specialist II

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, focusing on various sectors such as emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The organization is committed to serving the poor and vulnerable without regard to race, religion, or nationality. CRS has a collaborative, mission-driven culture and emphasizes safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. The agency's processes and policies reflect its commitment to these values, and it welcomes individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its mission.

Job Overview:
The Business Development Specialist II will lead the production of high-quality funding applications to support CRS' engagement with institutional donors and initiatives in international development. This role requires specialized assistance across all dimensions of the Business Development (BD) cycle, working closely with country leadership and programming teams. The specialist will provide surge support on strategic funding opportunities in East and Southern Africa, ensuring that proposals are responsive to donor requirements and adhere to CRS' technical and cost standards. The position involves managing pre-positioning, capture planning, and proposal development processes, as well as contributing to the design and competitiveness of projects by integrating evidence-based approaches and cross-cutting priorities. The specialist will also be responsible for cultivating relationships with institutional donors and stakeholders, conducting research on new opportunities, and developing BD tools and resources.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Business Development Specialist II include providing BD expertise to country leadership and programming teams, managing proposal development processes, serving as proposal coordinator, and advising on opportunity analysis. The specialist will deploy as a lead or support writer on proposals, contribute to budget development, and guide technical strategy. They will strengthen project design quality by ensuring evidence-based approaches and timely delivery of high-quality proposals. Additionally, the specialist will liaise with senior management to develop resource mobilization strategies, support donor mapping exercises, and train staff to improve their skills in the BD cycle. The role also involves maintaining data on past performance and corporate capacity, contributing to the Business Development and Donor Engagement Community of Practice, and advancing CRS' BD practices through strategic initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Bachelor's degree in international development, international relations, or a related field, along with a minimum of eight years of international development experience. Preferred qualifications include a Master's degree in a relevant field and at least three years of experience in a developing country. Candidates should demonstrate experience in utilizing diverse strategies for competitive positioning and have a proven track record in leading and producing competitive proposals. Familiarity with grants and contract funding mechanisms, as well as experience in leading project teams under tight deadlines, is essential. Knowledge of CRS programs and principles is a plus.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in international development, international relations, or a related field. A Master's degree is preferred and may enhance the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of eight years of experience in international development, with at least three years in a developing country context. Experience in leading and producing competitive proposals in similar programming contexts is crucial, as is the ability to provide remote support to diverse teams and develop training content related to business development practices.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required, while working ability in French, Arabic, and/or Portuguese is preferred. The ability to write proposals in additional languages is considered a plus.

Additional Notes:
The position may require travel up to 35%. Candidates should be located within 3 hours of East Africa time zone (GMT +3). The role does not have supervisory responsibilities. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, and benefits for candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment. The agency is committed to safeguarding program participants and ensuring the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults.