Values in their day to day operations. The Core Values, which are IRI’s foundational building blocks include:
Excellence – We believe in quality results delivered by investing in people. Freedom – We believe in exploration and experimentation to be agile and responsive. Respect – We believe in trust, empathy and empowering people. Teamwork – We believe in diversity, inclusion and the power of global collaboration. Transparency – We believe in open communication and clear decision-making. Accountability – We believe in personal responsibility as the foundation of success.
Position Description:
The Business Development Manager is responsible for assisting IRI in achieving its revenue goals through the winning of competitive grants from U.S. and foreign donors. To do this, the Manager is responsible for collaborating with the Director of Business Development and the Vice President for Strategy and Development to establish a robust pipeline to secure new revenue each year. Facilitating discussions with regional divisions and field-based program staff, s/he designs and implements a regional opportunity pipeline strategy, including pre-positioning (intelligence gathering, partnership development, and networking), and management of the proposal teams across the Institute to submit winning proposals. S/he will drive country and regional teams to meet metric based targets for interactions with donors and partners to build relationships and new business opportunities. Representing IRI’s long-term business interests through coordination with Finance and Grants staff, the Manager leads and facilitates the responsive, feasible, compliant and innovative design and writing of winning, implementable projects by working closely with the Director of Business Development to manage a systematic proposal development process/workflow for all proposals across the Institute.
Responsibilities:
Management:
o Works closely with the Director of Business Development to develop and oversee internal Office processes to ensure the smooth and efficient team performance internally and vis-à-vis other divisions
o Anticipates potential problems and troubleshoots project problems and offers solutions and actively takes part to lead resolution of them with creative and immediate solutions
o Manages and supervises assigned BD team members, including portfolio and task assignments, development of job descriptions and performance plans, monitor and provide feedback to employees on work performance throughout the year
o Ensures adequate training of staff and identify potential new training needs and opportunities to enrich staff performance and professional development.
o Recruits and trains new BD team staff
o Supervises subcontractors and consultants to ensure their adequate and timely performance
Capture:
o In coordination with the Director of Business Development, VP for Strategy and Development, and Regional Division leadership, support development of country and regional-level business strategies and capture tools
o Collaborate with regional “Capture Caption” to be accountable to regional capture plans/business strategies
o Contribute to longer-term market research and trends analysis, including funder feedback, and disseminate amongst IRI staff
o As necessary, travel to country offices or new priority countries to collaborate with country staff on intelligence gathering, partnership development or networking
o Network with business development professionals in peer organizations to enhance partnership development
o Attend partner and/or funder meetings to generate new business or strengthen existing partnerships
o Oversee the tracking and identification of new business and bid opportunities on a daily basis.
o Coordinate with proposal teams on external relations outreach and communications strategy before, during and after bid development
Proposal Development:
o Work closely with the Director of Business Development to develop, refine, and manage IRI’s proposal development process for all non-CEPPS proposals
§ Lead early discussions with appropriate staff to ensure timely go/no go decisions to pursue a new funding opportunity
§ Interpret and provide expertise on solicitation requirements, and ensure the development of the proposal package adheres to RFA/RFP requirements
§ Enforce the identification and utilization of the three-person proposal team members; guide and coach proposal team through the process
§ Advise on the creation of a sound proposal development timeline
§ Enforce and manage the required color reviews, the selection of reviewers
§ Ensure accurate and timely communications regarding proposal package status, proposal team meetings, and formal reviews
§ Lead the submission of the final proposal package to donor
o Provide, as needed, assistance to any aspects of preparing a proposal package, including serving, if need arises, as a proposal manager, writer for non-technical components and supporting development of proposal budgets
o Negotiate with partners on teaming agreement, finalize agreements with Agreements team for signature
o Track compliance with IRI controls and proposal processes and procedures, trouble shooting issues as needed
o Regularly identify and coordinate the development of proposal package templates, graphics, and tools
o Coordinate funder debrief sessions
o Lead internal-IRI after-action review of proposals and/or donor feedback
General:
o Analyze proposal feedback from funders; assist with identifying changes to proposal development process or proposal approach based on the feedback; and assist with incorporating the feedback into IRI’s proposal development process
o Identify, organize, and lead in-house staff trainings and provide mentorship to IRI staff on the proposal development process and related new business and proposal development skills and tools
o Provide senior leadership analysis of proposal data and overhead investment on business development efforts
o Assist in the development of and adherence to the business development overhead budget for each fiscal year relative to the Institute’s revenue goal
Required Qualifications:
· Undergraduate degree in relevant field in political science, international relations or related field.
· Minimum five years professional experience in related field
· Experience designing and/or implementing democracy and governance projects
· Experience and knowledge preparing competitive bids for U.S. foreign assistance funding (USAID particularly), including knowledge of key regulatory requirements
· Documented track record of writing, designing, and winning multi-million dollar USAID grants and contracts in one or more of IRI’s key technical areas
· Demonstrated knowledge and application of new business generation (strategy and pre-positioning) methodologies
· Demonstrated knowledge and application of proposal development and management methodologies
· Superb organizational and facilitation skills
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills
· Demonstrated experience anticipating and solving problems
· Experience with editing, formatting, and budget development skills
· Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines
· Computer skills, especially advanced use of MS Word, Excel and other Office products
How to apply
Please submit both resume and cover letter to the company website: Business Development Manager | Job Opportunities (ultipro.com)