Business Development Coordinator

International Rescue Committee

With a representation office in Kinshasa and field offices in the provinces of North Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika, the IRC has been responding to humanitarian and developmental needs in the DRC since 1996. Today, the IRC in the DRC concentrates its efforts on providing crucial and lifesaving assistance to conflict affected populations in the eastern provinces of the country, notably North Kivu, Ituri and Tanganyika. Through carefully designed programs, the IRC aims to save lives, to strengthen Congolese institutions and to reinforce social cohesion. Guided by core principles of capacity-building, partnership, protection and the promotion of human rights, as the IRC focuses today on the following areas of need: health (including reproductive health and nutrition), governance and conflict management, women’s empowerment and the prevention and mitigation of gender-based violence, child protection, education and emergency preparedness and response.

Scope of work

The Business Development (BD) Coordinator will coordinate business development efforts to donors for the DRC program. Key functions will include regular review and update donor mapping to facilitate identification of potential new donors, liaise with existing donors of grants, providing them regular updates on project progress, coordination and tracking of donor engagement efforts and coordinate development of donor pitches, concept notes, and proposals.

The BD Coordinator will report to the Senior Grants and Business Development Coordinator. The position will be based in Goma, with regular travel (40% time) to Kinshasa in DRC.

Responsibilities

Business development strategy and positioning

• Coordinate regular updates to IRC DRC’s Resource Mobilization Strategy in line with Strategy Action Plan (SAP).

• Track and coordinate in-country donor engagement efforts, including liaising with donor contacts, scheduling meetings between IRC DRC senior leadership and donor representatives, attending donor meetings, preparing pre-meeting briefings, and sharing meeting notes with internal partners.

• Support production of donor engagement communications materials, including factsheets and draft project concepts for pitching to donors.

• Coordinate identification, tracking, and updating of new business development opportunities.

• Coordinate the go/no-go decision-making process.

• Coordinate the pre-positioning (capture) process on major opportunities, including facilitating technical brainstorming, competitor landscape mapping, partner mapping, teaming discussions, and design sessions.

• Regularly research and disseminate information on new funding opportunities from bilateral, multi-lateral, and other institutional donors. Use creative approaches to link program aspirations to donor priorities, while also effectively influencing the strategies of donors.

• Maintain an on-going and regularly updated information bank on community mapping and research findings for future proposal development (assessments, studies, census data, field research on community needs, etc.).

• In liaison with the CD, DDP, and Senior Grants and Business Development Coordinator, participate in key donor meetings, initiate donor contacts, when necessary, to foster long-term collaboration and engagement.

• Proactively seek donor intelligence on prospective new opportunities or partnership.

• In agreement with the CD, DDP, and Senior Grants and Business Development Coordinator, cultivate business relationships with external stakeholders and potential partners for large scale or strategic funding opportunities, either as a prime or sub-recipient in joint ventures.

• Ensure key contacts, required formats and donor strategies are kept up to date at the country program level.

Proposal development

• Coordinate proposal development work on priority opportunities, including: preparing timelines, ensuring the proposal team adheres to deadlines, advising and supporting on teaming, supporting recruitment (if needed), assisting in budget development, ensuring document completion, organizing meetings and compiling notes, compiling inputs from internal and external proposal team members, drafting non-technical proposal sections and annexes, translating proposal sections as needed (English/French), and proofreading proposal documents.

• Coordinate producing, writing and harmonizing all proposal development including the development of proposals or bids, building on global, regional and national expertise, and ensuring the highest quality product.

• Verify the quality and goal of each proposal, paying attention to the coordination and complementary between budget and operations, budget and program activities, methodology and donor requirement, accurate analysis of budget distribution, Gender approach, Safeguarding components in all activities, and adequate accountability system in coordination with MEAL.

• Coordinate Value for Money calculations in proposal development, as required by donors.

• Coordinate after action reviews of proposal development and ensure lessons learnt are valued in new proposals.

• Proactively work with Technical Coordinators and MEAL staff to produce capacity statements, needs assessments, unsolicited concept notes.

• In close collaboration with the Partnership Coordinator, ensure our partnership ambition is embedded in our proposal development process in alignment with our Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results (PEER) System.

• Ensure all proposal documents are stored in IRC’s internal storage system (Box).

• Ensure proposal documents are stored in IRC’s grant management system (OTIS) and workflows are on track and in line with the proposal stages.

• In close collaboration with Technical Coordinators, MEAL, Finance and Operations, ensure bill of quantities of our approaches is in place and regularly updated as well as a proposal costing tool.

General management

• Actively participate in key relevant internal meetings such as grants meetings, program meeting or relevant Project Cycle Meeting (PCM)

• Participate in any donor visit to project(s) within Program portfolio as required.

• Contribute to a conducive and productive work environment typified by teamwork and collaboration.

• Contribute to the wider country program agenda.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree + 3 years of relevant work experience in International Development, Social Studies or equivalent is required.

Skills required

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills in English and French.

• At least five years’ experience working in humanitarian or development programs; experience in DRC or similar contexts strongly preferred.

• Significant experience and strong track record in writing grants and developing funding proposals.

• Familiarity with major institutional donors, such as AFD, BHA (formerly OFDA/FFP), ECHO, EU/INTPA, FCDO/DFID, GFFO, Sida, UN agencies, USAID, and the World Bank.

• Strong proposal writing skills; strong proposal budgeting skills a plus.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively manage a variety of relationships in a multicultural environment.

• Demonstrated ability to work productively and manage multiple priorities.

• Demonstrated experience in donor liaison.

• Good communicator with strong organizational, time management and analytical skills; attention to detail

• Technical expertise in one of the following areas would be advantageous: health, protection/ GBV, education, WASH, governance or emergency response.

• Prior professional experience, preferably in Africa in a post-conflict and/or conflict setting.

• Strong digital literacy: must be competent in the use of Windows MS office programs (Word, Excel), email programs, etc.

Standards of Professional Conduct: IRC workers are expected to uphold the values and principles outlined in the IRC WAY – Standards of Business Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality.

Safeguarding: Strictly adhere to the IRC Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy and all other policies, including those relating to security and fraud prevention. In accordance with the safeguarding, IRC maintains policies on protecting beneficiaries/clients from exploitation and abuse, child protection, Anti-Harassment in the Workplace, fiscal integrity and anti-retaliation.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an equal opportunity employer. IRC considers all job applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, gender, color, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law.

Diversity, Inclusion and Gender Equality: IRC recognizes and honors the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status or disability. IRC is also committed to closing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce, including parental leave, gender-sensitive safety protocols and other supportive benefits.

With a representation office in Kinshasa and field offices in the provinces of North Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika, the IRC has been responding to humanitarian and developmental needs in the DRC since 1996. Today, the IRC in the DRC concentrates its efforts on providing crucial and lifesaving assistance to conflict affected populations in the eastern provinces of the country, notably North Kivu, Ituri and Tanganyika. Through carefully designed programs, the IRC aims to save lives, to strengthen Congolese institutions and to reinforce social cohesion. Guided by core principles of capacity-building, partnership, protection and the promotion of human rights, as the IRC focuses today on the following areas of need: health (including reproductive health and nutrition), governance and conflict management, women’s empowerment and the prevention and mitigation of gender-based violence, child protection, education and emergency preparedness and response.

Scope of work

The Business Development (BD) Coordinator will coordinate business development efforts to donors for the DRC program. Key functions will include regular review and update donor mapping to facilitate identification of potential new donors, liaise with existing donors of grants, providing them regular updates on project progress, coordination and tracking of donor engagement efforts and coordinate development of donor pitches, concept notes, and proposals.

The BD Coordinator will report to the Senior Grants and Business Development Coordinator. The position will be based in Goma, with regular travel (40% time) to Kinshasa in DRC.

Responsibilities

Business development strategy and positioning

• Coordinate regular updates to IRC DRC’s Resource Mobilization Strategy in line with Strategy Action Plan (SAP).

• Track and coordinate in-country donor engagement efforts, including liaising with donor contacts, scheduling meetings between IRC DRC senior leadership and donor representatives, attending donor meetings, preparing pre-meeting briefings, and sharing meeting notes with internal partners.

• Support production of donor engagement communications materials, including factsheets and draft project concepts for pitching to donors.

• Coordinate identification, tracking, and updating of new business development opportunities.

• Coordinate the go/no-go decision-making process.

• Coordinate the pre-positioning (capture) process on major opportunities, including facilitating technical brainstorming, competitor landscape mapping, partner mapping, teaming discussions, and design sessions.

• Regularly research and disseminate information on new funding opportunities from bilateral, multi-lateral, and other institutional donors. Use creative approaches to link program aspirations to donor priorities, while also effectively influencing the strategies of donors.

• Maintain an on-going and regularly updated information bank on community mapping and research findings for future proposal development (assessments, studies, census data, field research on community needs, etc.).

• In liaison with the CD, DDP, and Senior Grants and Business Development Coordinator, participate in key donor meetings, initiate donor contacts, when necessary, to foster long-term collaboration and engagement.

• Proactively seek donor intelligence on prospective new opportunities or partnership.

• In agreement with the CD, DDP, and Senior Grants and Business Development Coordinator, cultivate business relationships with external stakeholders and potential partners for large scale or strategic funding opportunities, either as a prime or sub-recipient in joint ventures.

• Ensure key contacts, required formats and donor strategies are kept up to date at the country program level.

Proposal development

• Coordinate proposal development work on priority opportunities, including: preparing timelines, ensuring the proposal team adheres to deadlines, advising and supporting on teaming, supporting recruitment (if needed), assisting in budget development, ensuring document completion, organizing meetings and compiling notes, compiling inputs from internal and external proposal team members, drafting non-technical proposal sections and annexes, translating proposal sections as needed (English/French), and proofreading proposal documents.

• Coordinate producing, writing and harmonizing all proposal development including the development of proposals or bids, building on global, regional and national expertise, and ensuring the highest quality product.

• Verify the quality and goal of each proposal, paying attention to the coordination and complementary between budget and operations, budget and program activities, methodology and donor requirement, accurate analysis of budget distribution, Gender approach, Safeguarding components in all activities, and adequate accountability system in coordination with MEAL.

• Coordinate Value for Money calculations in proposal development, as required by donors.

• Coordinate after action reviews of proposal development and ensure lessons learnt are valued in new proposals.

• Proactively work with Technical Coordinators and MEAL staff to produce capacity statements, needs assessments, unsolicited concept notes.

• In close collaboration with the Partnership Coordinator, ensure our partnership ambition is embedded in our proposal development process in alignment with our Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results (PEER) System.

• Ensure all proposal documents are stored in IRC’s internal storage system (Box).

• Ensure proposal documents are stored in IRC’s grant management system (OTIS) and workflows are on track and in line with the proposal stages.

• In close collaboration with Technical Coordinators, MEAL, Finance and Operations, ensure bill of quantities of our approaches is in place and regularly updated as well as a proposal costing tool.

General management

• Actively participate in key relevant internal meetings such as grants meetings, program meeting or relevant Project Cycle Meeting (PCM)

• Participate in any donor visit to project(s) within Program portfolio as required.

• Contribute to a conducive and productive work environment typified by teamwork and collaboration.

• Contribute to the wider country program agenda.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree + 3 years of relevant work experience in International Development, Social Studies or equivalent is required.

Skills required

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills in English and French.

• At least five years’ experience working in humanitarian or development programs; experience in DRC or similar contexts strongly preferred.

• Significant experience and strong track record in writing grants and developing funding proposals.

• Familiarity with major institutional donors, such as AFD, BHA (formerly OFDA/FFP), ECHO, EU/INTPA, FCDO/DFID, GFFO, Sida, UN agencies, USAID, and the World Bank.

• Strong proposal writing skills; strong proposal budgeting skills a plus.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively manage a variety of relationships in a multicultural environment.

• Demonstrated ability to work productively and manage multiple priorities.

• Demonstrated experience in donor liaison.

• Good communicator with strong organizational, time management and analytical skills; attention to detail

• Technical expertise in one of the following areas would be advantageous: health, protection/ GBV, education, WASH, governance or emergency response.

• Prior professional experience, preferably in Africa in a post-conflict and/or conflict setting.

• Strong digital literacy: must be competent in the use of Windows MS office programs (Word, Excel), email programs, etc.

Standards of Professional Conduct: IRC workers are expected to uphold the values and principles outlined in the IRC WAY – Standards of Business Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality.

Safeguarding: Strictly adhere to the IRC Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy and all other policies, including those relating to security and fraud prevention. In accordance with the safeguarding, IRC maintains policies on protecting beneficiaries/clients from exploitation and abuse, child protection, Anti-Harassment in the Workplace, fiscal integrity and anti-retaliation.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an equal opportunity employer. IRC considers all job applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, gender, color, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law.

Diversity, Inclusion and Gender Equality: IRC recognizes and honors the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status or disability. IRC is also committed to closing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce, including parental leave, gender-sensitive safety protocols and other supportive benefits.

How to apply

https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/41856?c=rescue


Job Notifications
Subscribe to receive notifications for the latest job vacancies.