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 areas 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 welcomes individuals from all faiths and secular traditions who share its values. The agency emphasizes safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, reflecting its commitment to the dignity and rights of all people. CRS has a diverse workforce and prioritizes candidates from the regions where it operates, ensuring that its processes and policies align with its mission and values.

Job Overview:
The Business Development Specialist II position is part of the Institutional Funding Department within CRS’ Global Resource Engagement and Mobilization Division. This role is crucial for leading the production of high-quality funding applications aimed at engaging institutional donors involved in international development. The specialist will provide specialized assistance throughout the Business Development (BD) cycle, collaborating with teams across various CRS regions and program areas. The position is designed to support CRS’ engagement with institutional donors, particularly focusing on the USDA applications for FY2

• The specialist will utilize their knowledge and skills to enhance the organization's funding strategies and ensure that proposals meet donor requirements and CRS standards.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Business Development Specialist II will be responsible for providing BD expertise to country leadership and proposal teams, managing pre-positioning, capture, and proposal development processes. Key responsibilities include:

• Advising on opportunity analysis and leading go/no-go decisions for proposals.
• Coordinating partner inputs and proposal review panels to ensure high-quality submissions.
• Contributing as a lead or support writer on proposals, integrating technical and non-technical content.
• Developing competitive proposal budgets and providing recommendations.
• Guiding partner identification and negotiating CRS’ role in proposal consortia.
• Liaising with senior management to develop resource mobilization strategies.
• Researching and analyzing new funding opportunities and CRS’ competitive position.
• Leading the development of BD tools and resources, and training staff to improve their skills in proposal development and donor engagement.
• Maintaining data on past performance and corporate capacity for timely proposal submissions. 1
• Actively contributing to CRS' Business Development Community of Practice and advancing best practices across the BD cycle.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess 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 proactive strategies for securing funding and building institutional relationships, as well as leading and producing competitive proposals in similar programming contexts. Familiarity with grants and contract funding mechanisms is essential, along with experience in leading project teams to deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines. Candidates should also have experience providing remote support to diverse teams and developing training content related to business development practices.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor's degree in international development, international relations, or a related field is required for this position. A Master's degree in a similar field is preferred, indicating a higher level of expertise and understanding of the complexities involved in international development and funding processes.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of eight years of experience in international development, with a preference for candidates who have at least three years of experience working in a developing country. Candidates should have a proven track record of leading and producing competitive proposals, as well as experience in managing project teams and processes to meet deadlines and quality standards. Experience in remote support for diverse teams is also highly valued.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, with a working ability in Spanish and/or French considered a plus. This language proficiency is essential for effective communication with diverse stakeholders and for writing proposals that may need to be submitted in multiple languages.

Additional Notes:
This is a short-term position lasting 6.5 months, and it is a remote-global role. The successful candidate must be willing to travel up to 35% as required. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a retirement savings plan. For candidates employed outside the U.S., benefits packages will be based on the country of employment. The agency is committed to safeguarding program participants and staff from exploitation and abuse, and the successful candidate will be expected to adhere to CRS' Code of Conduct. CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prioritizes candidates who can legally work in the location of the position.