Associate, Program Development MENA/Asia At Search for Common Ground

Job Description

The Program Development team creates new and repeat business for the organization in line with the Program Development Strategy. The Program Development team works closely with in-country Directors and Managers to ensure funding for programming that directly responds to the needs in Search’s conflict geographies. This function commences with scoping and pre-positioning for opportunities and completes with the signing of an award. This involves building program development strategies for conflict geographies, capturing opportunities, and leading Search’s engagement with institutional donors and partners. To develop successful bids the team works in close collaboration with other departments, including Finance, the Institutional Learning Team, Communications, and Human Resources. The Program Development team will build and strengthen the program development capacity within the organization.

Responsibilities

• Supports the creation and implementation of program development strategies.
• Supports the capture process (developing partnerships, capture planning).
• Supports the development of bids, drafts sections of proposals or concepts.
• Supports the team’s knowledge management.

Contributions

• Strategy development: Carries out background research, record-keeping. Supports strategy processes.
• Business intelligence: Researches and monitors donors. Analyzes funding opportunities. Ensures internal record-keeping.
• Positioning and donor relations: Represents Search in line with positioning efforts. Produces marketing materials.
• Partnerships: Supports partnership discussions. Conducts partner analysis. Ensures knowledge management.
• Go/No-Go decisions: Conducts background research, including competitor analysis.
• Capture planning: Conducts desk reviews. Assembles pre-proposal material. Supports delivery of capture strategy.
• Program design: Provides input and support. Develops background material.
• Proposal development: Drafts specific sections of proposals or concepts. Lead-writes supporting material development.
• Proposal reviews: Participates on review teams.
• Knowledge management and training: Ensures proper record-keeping, including in the Grants Management System. Tracks key program development data and prepares reports as requested.
• Other duties that are broadly in line with the above key contributions as assigned.

Competency Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Engages and communicates effectively across functions and across teams.
• Participates in external meetings.
• Builds relationships and engages effectively with collaborators.
• Uses resiliency and exhibits flexibility and adaptability to changing tasks and team priorities.
• With oversight by the supervisor, writes technical sections for team documents, briefing materials, and presentations.
• Works across functions from a multicultural perspective that reflects consideration of other cultures, other viewpoints, and other ways of doing things.
• Sensitively recognizes ethical situations.
• Focuses on the key objectives of a task or project.
• Creates accurate, organized, and timely work.
• Is resourceful with time management and technology to prioritize tasks with limited supervision.

Qualifications

• Minimum BA or BS in peace and conflict studies, international relations, Middle East Politics, Asia studies, international development, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience (preferably in international or cross-cultural environments)
• Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills in English.
• Interest and knowledge in the field of peacebuilding and conflict transformation.
• Familiarity with the MENA and/or Asia region.
• Practical experience with program design, monitoring, and evaluation.
• High level of analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to maintain professionalism, creativity, and enthusiasm while working in a fast-paced, multi-cultural environment with minimal supervision is key.
• Self-starter, able to work independently, and willing to take on tasks small and large.
• Well organized, resourceful with time management and technology to prioritize tasks.