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 worldwide. The organization is committed to serving the poor and vulnerable without regard to 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, mission-oriented culture that emphasizes the importance of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. With a workforce that reflects diverse faiths and secular traditions, CRS aims to build a team that shares its values and commitment to humanitarian service. The organization has a strong focus on improving the lives of those in need and adheres to strict policies that ensure the rights and dignity of all individuals are respected.

Job Overview:
The Business Development Specialist II position is situated within the Institutional Funding Department of CRS’ Global Resource Engagement and Mobilization Division. This role is pivotal in leading the production of high-quality funding applications aimed at institutional donors involved in international development. The specialist will work closely with teams across various CRS regions and program areas to strategically position the organization for funding opportunities. The position requires a deep understanding of the Business Development (BD) cycle and the ability to provide specialized assistance across different disciplines and functional teams. The successful candidate will be expected to manage pre-positioning, capture planning, and proposal development processes, ensuring that proposals are timely, high-quality, and compliant with donor requirements and CRS standards. The role also involves liaising with senior management to develop resource mobilization strategies and cultivating relationships with institutional donors and stakeholders. The position is designed to support various regions and sectors, with placement depending on the candidate's home base time zone, which must fall within UTC-10 to UTC+3.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Business Development Specialist II will be responsible for providing expertise in business development to country leadership and proposal teams. Key responsibilities include managing the proposal development process, ensuring timely execution and submission of proposals, and advising on opportunity analysis and capture planning. The specialist will coordinate partner inputs and proposal review panels, and may serve as a lead or support writer on proposals, integrating technical and non-technical content. Additionally, the role involves developing proposal budgets, guiding partner identification, and negotiating CRS’ role in consortia. The specialist will also support senior management in cultivating relationships with institutional donors and will be responsible for researching and analyzing new funding opportunities. The position requires active participation in the CRS Business Development Community of Practice and contributions to strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing CRS' business development practices. Training and mentoring staff in proposal development and business development best practices will also be part of the role.

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 working in a developing country. Demonstrated experience in utilizing proactive strategies for securing funding and managing institutional relationships is essential. Candidates should have a proven track record of leading and producing competitive proposals in similar programming contexts, as well as experience with grants and contract funding mechanisms. Strong project management skills and the ability to deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines are critical for this role.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Bachelor's degree in international development, international relations, or a related field as a minimum educational qualification. 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 work.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of eight years of experience in international development, with at least three years spent in a developing country context. This experience should include leading project teams and processes to produce deliverables under tight deadlines, as well as providing remote support to diverse teams. Candidates should also have experience in developing content for training related to business development practices, showcasing their ability to mentor and enhance the skills of others.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, with a working ability in Spanish and/or French considered a plus. This linguistic capability is essential for effective communication with diverse stakeholders and for the preparation of proposals targeting various institutional donors.

Additional Notes:
The position may require travel up to 35%. 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., salary and benefits packages will be based on the country of employment. The organization emphasizes a commitment to safeguarding program participants and staff from exploitation and abuse, and the successful candidate will be expected to adhere to CRS' Code of Conduct. The job description is not exhaustive and may evolve as needed. CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prioritizes candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of the countries where CRS operates.