Consultant (Business Development and Project Management), Zambia, National Position At NIRAS

The work relates mainly but not exclusively to the provision of services relating to international development. The Consultant will provide advanced research, analysis, and high-quality written inputs to projects; manage low-risk projects; contribute to or lead tender development; and provide other support to projects and company initiatives as required. The Consultant will consult and advise clients and other project stakeholders, primarily in their area of expertise relating to one NICs’ technical fields. The Consultant will report functionally to a single line manager and technically to the various managers of the projects in which they are involved, or the project director when managing a project.

Key Responsibilities:

Business Development:

• Develop in-depth knowledge of sector/thematic priority areas for NIRAS Zambia.
• Coordinate tender development and pursue opportunities in collaboration with offices globally.
• Collate information on lessons learned from EOI and Bid processes, ensuring post-bid analyses take place.
• Identify and build relationships with new clients, donors, aid agencies, government entities, and private businesses.
• Expand NIRAS Zambia’s network of strategic partners, experts, and consultants.

Bids and Tendering:

• Coordinate the preparation of Expressions of Interest and business proposals.
• Lead responses to Request for Proposals, Expressions of Interest, and other bid-related processes.
• Apply NIC routines, templates, and tools for uniform and consistent results.
• Manage bid preparation activities, including teaming, bid strategy, technical design, and proposal drafting.

Project Management and Administration:

• Support the management of operational systems for NIRAS Zambia projects.
• Assist with project management tasks, including finance, risk management, and quality assurance.
• Provide support to internal and external events, meetings, workshops, and administrative tasks.

Key Accountabilities

• Technical input: Undertakes advanced research, data collection and analysis, and consults with clients and stakeholders, under the direction of senior NIRAS Zambia staff.
• Project management and leadership: With the support of the Project Director, manages all aspects of low-risk projects, including personnel, finance, technical content, outputs; manages own workload on multiple projects effectively, to deliver, or enable the team to deliver, inputs by agreed project deadlines.
• Business development: Contributes to or manages tender preparation when requested by the Bid Manager/ Director, through research, analysis and provision of technical content based on own expertise. Contributes to or manages identification of suitable personnel, partners, and production of project budgets. Understands NIC markets and key clients. Supports company-related marketing activities.
• Non-technical input: Provides support to internal and external events, including meetings and workshops; initiatives defined in the business plan and long-term strategic plan; administrative tasks; and other activities as required.
• People management: Manages teams of external consultants; guides and supports analysts in teams.
• Building professional expertise: Develops areas of interest and expertise in depth and/or breadth. Through work assignments and own research, builds own knowledge within identified areas of interest/expertise.
• Relationship management: Expands personal business networks for NIRAS Zambia, around identified areas of interest/expertise. Identifies and wins assignments by utilising personal business networks.

Knowledge, Education, Qualifications, Experience (Person Specification for a fully competent job holder)

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject area (e.g. development, climate change, forestry, Land or equivalent), plus up to 3 years post masters work experience or significant work experience in their field as a consultant, such as more than 5 years. A master’s degree will be an added advantage.
• Over 3 years’ experience in a relevant subject area, ideally experience in successful bid development, in a similar role, preferably in a consulting firm.
• Advanced research, data collection and analysis skills.
• Ability to deliver high quality, consultancy.
• Theoretical, practical, and procedural and policy knowledge across a technical or specialist area.
• Proposal writing experience for major donors including WB (World Bank), EU (European Union), USAID, DANIDA, SIDA, GIZ, KfW, FCDO, etc
• Good understanding of the business.
• Ability to form working relationships with people at all levels.
• Ability to plan, prioritize and work under pressure in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to effectively plan and project manage, contribute to proposals.
• Ability to be adaptable and flexible to respond to changes or challenges.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to convey ideas, information and engage effectively.
• Ability to use initiative, work independently and as part of a team.
• Effective organization skills
• Open to traveling within and outside the country.
• Strong attention to detail and interpersonal skills
• Good IT skills including working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, business information systems, SharePoint.