Regional Business Development Lead

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 focuses on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS is committed to serving those in need without regard to race, religion, or nationality, and welcomes individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values. The agency emphasizes safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, reflecting its commitment to ethical practices in humanitarian work. CRS has a collaborative, mission-driven culture and offers a comprehensive benefits package for its staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and retirement savings plans.

Job Overview:
The Regional Business Development Lead will spearhead the expansion and diversification of revenue from institutional donors, foundations, the private sector, and other funding sources to achieve the strategic objectives of CRS. This role is integral to the global Institutional Funding Team, requiring close coordination with regional leadership and country staff to ensure effective resource mobilization for programming in the region. The position demands innovative approaches to strategic growth and positioning, advising colleagues on adapting to a competitive funding environment. The lead will support all phases of the CRS Business Development (BD) Cycle, including donor engagement strategy, positioning, capture planning, proposal preparation, and leveraging results. The role also involves utilizing BD expertise, leadership skills, strategic thinking, data analysis, and continuous improvement to enhance CRS' BD-related systems and capacities, while closely supporting regional leadership in donor engagement activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
As the Regional BD Focal Point, the lead will develop and ensure that regional strategies for resource mobilization align with the agency's overall strategy, focusing on expanding revenue from institutional donors and non-traditional funding sources. This includes collaborating with countries, regional leadership, and donor engagement focal points to create resource mobilization plans tailored to specific regions, countries, sectors, or donors. The lead will advise leadership on cultivating donor relationships through strategic networking and engagement strategies. Responsibilities also encompass working with regional and country staff on BD and project design to pursue strategic funding opportunities, including positioning, capture planning, proposal coordination, writing, budgeting, and compliance with donor requirements. The lead will research and analyze funding trends and new business opportunities, managing regional business pipeline and performance data to inform senior management decisions. Participation in global or regional industry conferences to represent CRS is also expected. In terms of BD strategy development, the lead will manage opportunity pipelines and provide opportunity-specific support, acting as proposal coordinator, lead writer, or budget lead for priority bids. The role includes guiding partner identification, negotiating consortia roles, and reviewing teaming agreements, as well as leading proposal review panels and ensuring alignment with donor strategies.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess strong budgeting skills and experience in developing strategic and competitive cost proposals. Exceptional writing skills and a proven track record of writing successful proposals are essential. The role requires strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to see the big picture and manage relationships effectively at all levels. Familiarity with institutional donors, including US Government agencies and non-USG entities, is crucial, along with comprehensive knowledge of donor technical and cost requirements. Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills are necessary, as is a proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-driven approach. Knowledge of CRS programs, justice agenda, and Catholic Social Teaching principles is also important, along with proficiency in MS Windows, MS Office, information management systems, and AI tools.

Educational Background:
A Bachelor’s Degree in International Development, International Relations, or a related field is required. A Master’s Degree in a similar field is preferred, enhancing the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
A minimum of 10 years of international development experience is required, with at least three years of experience in a developing country preferred. Candidates should have demonstrated experience in developing resource mobilization strategies, cultivating donors and partners, and managing a multi-year opportunity pipeline. Experience in leading and producing competitive proposals in programming contexts similar to CRS is essential, as is familiarity with grants, contracts, and co-creation funding mechanisms.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, while a working ability in French and/or Spanish is highly desirable. This linguistic capability will enhance communication with diverse stakeholders and funding sources.

Additional Notes:
This position is remote, with a preference for candidates located in Europe or the Middle East. The successful candidate must be able to work approximately GMT+3 work hours. Travel is required, with a willingness to travel up to 35%. The role does not have supervisory responsibilities. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, while benefits for candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment. The anticipated duration of the assignment for expatriates is informed by a term limit based on job type and agency needs. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants and staff from exploitation and abuse, and candidates are expected to adhere to the agency's Code of Conduct.