Business Development Writer
Job Description
Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to serve the poor and vulnerable, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, providing relief and development assistance without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization focuses on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and it welcomes individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values and commitment to serving those in need. The agency's work culture is collaborative and mission-driven, aiming to improve the lives of the poor globally. CRS has a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, and offers packages based on the country of employment for international staff. The organization emphasizes the importance of personal accountability, integrity, trust-building, collaboration, and a willingness to learn among its employees.
Job Overview:
The Business Development Writer plays a crucial role in contributing to CRS’s mission by developing compelling, donor-focused proposals that secure resources for impactful programs. This position is part of the global Business Development Support Team and involves providing surge support for strategic funding opportunities across the agency. The writer will partner with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and deliver competitive proposals, serving as a specialized resource with expertise in proposal writing, positioning, and messaging. The role requires exceptional writing skills, the ability to communicate complex technical concepts in an audience-focused manner, and a strong understanding of donor requirements and CRS standards. The writer will also be responsible for ensuring that local context and knowledge are fully reflected in proposal products, thereby enhancing the quality and competitiveness of submissions.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Business Development Writer will have a variety of responsibilities, including serving as the lead writer for concept notes, expressions of interest, and proposals. This involves developing technical narrative outlines and drafting proposal sections with input from the technical design lead and other proposal team members. The writer will collaborate with various stakeholders to create well-organized and cohesive proposals that align with donor requirements. Additionally, the writer will manage communications with the technical design lead and proposal coordinator throughout the proposal development process to ensure alignment on expectations and deadlines. Editing complex technical proposals in accordance with AP and CRS house style is also a key responsibility, focusing on improving readability and clarity. The writer will support other writing and editing tasks, including reports and donor-facing marketing materials, although this will constitute less than 10% of their time. Furthermore, the writer will develop key proposal writing tools and resources to support the wider CRS Business Development Community of Practice, lead the development of guidance and training materials, and actively participate in collaborative projects within the CRS Writer Community of Practice.
Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, international development, or a related field. A minimum of eight years of experience in international development is required, with at least three years dedicated to writing competitive funding proposals or other persuasive technical communications. The ideal candidate will have a strong command of English grammar and AP style, and familiarity with the Associated Press Stylebook is essential. The ability to write proposals in Spanish, French, or another common institutional donor language is considered a plus. Strong strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills are necessary, along with the ability to communicate complex concepts effectively and work collaboratively in diverse teams under tight deadlines.
Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, international development, or a related field. A Master’s degree in one of these areas is preferred, as it may enhance the candidate's qualifications and understanding of the complexities involved in international development and proposal writing.
Experience:
The position requires a minimum of eight years of experience in international development, with at least three years specifically focused on writing competitive funding proposals or other persuasive technical communications. Candidates with extensive experience in developing countries and those who have written proposals for a variety of bilateral and multilateral donors will be favored. Experience leading technical writing and possessing sectoral knowledge in areas such as agriculture, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, resilience, health, and emergency response is also highly desirable.
Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English is mandatory for this position. A working ability in French or Spanish is considered a plus, as it may enhance communication with diverse stakeholders and broaden the candidate's effectiveness in proposal writing.
Additional Notes:
This is a global remote position, and candidates based in countries where CRS has a presence are preferred. The successful candidate must be willing and able to travel internationally approximately 35% of the time. There are no supervisory responsibilities associated with this role. CRS emphasizes its commitment to safeguarding program participants and community members from exploitation and abuse, and the successful candidate will be expected to adhere to the organization's Code of Conduct. The agency's talent acquisition procedures reflect its commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to serve the poor and vulnerable, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, providing relief and development assistance without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization focuses on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and it welcomes individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values and commitment to serving those in need. The agency's work culture is collaborative and mission-driven, aiming to improve the lives of the poor globally. CRS has a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, and offers packages based on the country of employment for international staff. The organization emphasizes the importance of personal accountability, integrity, trust-building, collaboration, and a willingness to learn among its employees.
Job Overview:
The Business Development Writer plays a crucial role in contributing to CRS’s mission by developing compelling, donor-focused proposals that secure resources for impactful programs. This position is part of the global Business Development Support Team and involves providing surge support for strategic funding opportunities across the agency. The writer will partner with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and deliver competitive proposals, serving as a specialized resource with expertise in proposal writing, positioning, and messaging. The role requires exceptional writing skills, the ability to communicate complex technical concepts in an audience-focused manner, and a strong understanding of donor requirements and CRS standards. The writer will also be responsible for ensuring that local context and knowledge are fully reflected in proposal products, thereby enhancing the quality and competitiveness of submissions.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Business Development Writer will have a variety of responsibilities, including serving as the lead writer for concept notes, expressions of interest, and proposals. This involves developing technical narrative outlines and drafting proposal sections with input from the technical design lead and other proposal team members. The writer will collaborate with various stakeholders to create well-organized and cohesive proposals that align with donor requirements. Additionally, the writer will manage communications with the technical design lead and proposal coordinator throughout the proposal development process to ensure alignment on expectations and deadlines. Editing complex technical proposals in accordance with AP and CRS house style is also a key responsibility, focusing on improving readability and clarity. The writer will support other writing and editing tasks, including reports and donor-facing marketing materials, although this will constitute less than 10% of their time. Furthermore, the writer will develop key proposal writing tools and resources to support the wider CRS Business Development Community of Practice, lead the development of guidance and training materials, and actively participate in collaborative projects within the CRS Writer Community of Practice.
Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, international development, or a related field. A minimum of eight years of experience in international development is required, with at least three years dedicated to writing competitive funding proposals or other persuasive technical communications. The ideal candidate will have a strong command of English grammar and AP style, and familiarity with the Associated Press Stylebook is essential. The ability to write proposals in Spanish, French, or another common institutional donor language is considered a plus. Strong strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills are necessary, along with the ability to communicate complex concepts effectively and work collaboratively in diverse teams under tight deadlines.
Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, international development, or a related field. A Master’s degree in one of these areas is preferred, as it may enhance the candidate's qualifications and understanding of the complexities involved in international development and proposal writing.
Experience:
The position requires a minimum of eight years of experience in international development, with at least three years specifically focused on writing competitive funding proposals or other persuasive technical communications. Candidates with extensive experience in developing countries and those who have written proposals for a variety of bilateral and multilateral donors will be favored. Experience leading technical writing and possessing sectoral knowledge in areas such as agriculture, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, resilience, health, and emergency response is also highly desirable.
Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English is mandatory for this position. A working ability in French or Spanish is considered a plus, as it may enhance communication with diverse stakeholders and broaden the candidate's effectiveness in proposal writing.
Additional Notes:
This is a global remote position, and candidates based in countries where CRS has a presence are preferred. The successful candidate must be willing and able to travel internationally approximately 35% of the time. There are no supervisory responsibilities associated with this role. CRS emphasizes its commitment to safeguarding program participants and community members from exploitation and abuse, and the successful candidate will be expected to adhere to the organization's Code of Conduct. The agency's talent acquisition procedures reflect its commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults.
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We are not liable for any decisions or actions taken by applicants in response to this job listing. By applying, you agree that all application processes, interviews, and potential job offers are managed exclusively by the listed employer or organization.
Beware of fraudulent job offers. Do not provide sensitive personal information or make any payments to secure a job.