Business Development Specialist II, Nepal (Fixed-Term Contract)
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Business Development Specialist II, Nepal
Reports to: Head of Programming, Nepal
Type: Regional Remote
Salary Grade: 10
Note: Regional remote position, with preference for candidates residing in Nepal or near the time zones of East Asia and the Pacific.
About CRS:
CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries regardless to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.
CRS Nepal:
CRS started its operational presence in Nepal in response to the 2015 earthquake, providing immediate emergency response support to 23,000 disaster-affected families in multiple districts and earthquake recovery support to almost 30,000 households. In 2021, CRS expanded its earthquake recovery and resilience programming to respond to the Lamjung earthquake and also through its ReCoVER program to support 4,000 most vulnerable households yet to be reached with housing, livelihoods, and WASH assistance by humanitarian actors. In the seven years since the disaster, CRS has become a key stakeholder in the national-reconstruction effort, supporting the GoN in setting reconstruction standards through Housing Recovery and Reconstruction Platform (HRRP), recently renamed the National Housing and Settlements Resilience Platform (NHSRP). NHSRP was established to support the government authorities, and Partner Organizations (POs) with coordination of the post-earthquake housing reconstruction. The platform, led by CRS since 2017, has now evolved to support resilient housing coordination for any types of disaster including flooding, landslides, and fires.
CRS Nepal is also supporting the agriculture and livelihoods sector in Nepal with multiple research projects on cash crops and goats value chains and its ongoing USAID Farmer to Farmer program which provides technical assistance from US agriculture experts to organizations in Nepal, improving farmer’s productivity, access to markets, and technical knowledge. Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Safeguarding have been focus areas of all CRS programming in Nepal with advances made in HR systems, community participation, and organizational management. CRS currently has an emergency preparedness and response program in housing – focused on flood and earthquake resilient housing solutions – and will be looking to extend and scale this program throughout Lumbini Province.
Job Summary:
As Business Development (BD) Specialist II you will lead the production of high-quality applications for funding in support of CRS’ engagement with institutional donors and initiatives involved in international development to serve the poor and vulnerable. Your knowledge and skills will allow you to provide specialized assistance in all dimensions of the BD cycle to cross-disciplines and cross-functional teams. Position will be focused on Nepal and flexible to support Bangladesh and other CRS Country Programs in the region through 2025, possibility for extension.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
- Provide BD expertise in positioning, capture planning*, development of resource mobilization strategies, donor engagement planning* and proposal preparation for specific opportunities with institutional donors (government and inter-governmental award issuing organizations, as well as foundations, corporations and other awarding non-governmental organizations).
- Coordinate medium to large and multi-country proposal development processes to ensure timely submission of high-quality proposals that are responsive to donor requirements, applicable regulations, and CRS’ technical and cost standards. Lead and support proposal budget processes and propose recommendations to develop a competitive proposal.
- As appropriate, serve as proposal coordinator or other lead role in proposal team, and participate in bid analysis and proposal review panels. Serve as a lead or support writer on proposals, contributing both technical and non-technical content and integrating inputs from staff and partners into a responsive, coherent proposal with a compelling vision and clear win themes.
- Train and mentor staff, as needed, to improve their skills in proposal development, representation to donor and partner organizations, intelligence-gathering, and marketing within their country program or portfolio.
- Support and guide identification of partners and negotiation of CRS’ role on proposal consortia, ensuring a competitive position for CRS that adheres to the agency’s partnership principles and strategic directions. Research, track and analyze new opportunities and CRS’ competitive position within the marketplace.
- Support senior management to cultivate and strengthen institutional relationships with institutional donors, partner organizations, non-traditional donors and other stakeholders.
- Work with Business Development Specialist I to maintain data on past performance and corporate capacity, in order to provide timely information for proposal submissions.
Required Languages– Professional fluency in written and spoken English required. Nepali preferred.
Travel – Must be willing and able to be in Nepal up 40%, including travel to remote field sites.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Business Development I Specialist.
Key Working Relationships:
Internal – Country Representative, Head of Operations, Human Resources Manager, Finance Maanger, Deputy Head of Programs, MEAL Manager, Program Managers, Technical Advisors and HQ/Regional Business Development Staff
External – Donors, Partners, Private Sector and Relevant National, Provincial and Local Government bodies
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture.
- Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
- Excellent negotiation skills.
- Strong communications and presentation skills.
- Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated experience utilizing diverse, proactive strategies to competitively position his/her organization for new funding and productive institutional relationships.
- Exceptional writer with expert command of English grammar and AP style.
- Demonstrated experience leading and producing competitive proposals in programming contexts similar to CRS.
- Comprehensive familiarity with a broad range of institutional donor technical and cost requirements.
- Experience with both USAID RFP and RFA funding mechanisms highly desirable.
- Familiarity with relevant institutional donor regulations, policies, procedures and priorities.
- Demonstrated experience managing teams and processes, leading teams to produce deliverables under tight deadlines and at exceptional quality.
- Knowledge of CRS programs, justice agenda and Catholic Social Teaching principles a plus.
- Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.
- Candidates with GESI diversity is a plus, including gender (female); marginalized groups (ethnic/ religious minorities); and, persons with disability.
- Candidates with experience working in Nepal and the ASIA Region preferred.
- Residency in Nepal preferred.
QUALIFICATIONS
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in international development, international relations, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum five years of international development experience, with at least three years’ experience in a developing country.
- Based in ASIA region or in nearby time zone.
Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
- Personal Accountability
- Acts with Integrity
- Collaborates with Others
- Builds and Maintains Trust
- Open to Learn
- Strategic Mindset
- Develops and Recognizes Others
- Leads Change
***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
Note: All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.
CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.
CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer