Business Development – Proposal Writer

Purpose of the Position:

The Proposal Writer will contribute to the research, development and writing of project proposals. You will support the Programme Management and Business Development Team to submit high quality, winning project proposals. You will also provide support across the company particularly editorial support with communications and reviewing project documents. You will represent Montrose, support the company’s delivery of high-quality international development programmes and nurture the growth of the company’s portfolio within the sector. You will champion the Montrose Vision, Mission and Values, have a willingness to learn, great attention to detail, communicate well with all stakeholders and be responsive and eager to grow with the company, demonstrating flexibility, creativity and initiative.

Background:

Montrose is an international development project management and consultancy company providing support to clients operating in the developing world. Specialised in the sectors of health, education, rural livelihoods and private sector development, our clients include bilateral and multilateral development agencies, the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other development stakeholders.

Location: UK, but other locations may be considered. Willingness to travel is an advantage.

Montrose Vision:

Creating pragmatic solutions which make lives better.

Montrose Mission:

Montrose creates bespoke solutions which make lives better in Africa and Asia. We strive to add value to international development and corporate sustainability. Through our commitment to quality, responsiveness, and pragmatism, we aim to exceed expectations. We work with talented and passionate people who share our enthusiasm for our vision and style.

Montrose Values:

Montrose has four company values which guides our work and company culture. These are quality, responsiveness, people and innovation which are defined below.

• Quality – We strive to ensure not only the quality of what we deliver, but the certainty that we will consistently deliver high quality with respect to both our products and the way in which we operate.
• Responsiveness – Our responsiveness and flexibility reflect the value of working with a small and agile company. This goes beyond the minimum standard of a rapid response, but also considers how we respond to needs, contexts and challenges through the design of bespoke solutions delivered for, and with, our beneficiaries, partners and clients.
• People – From finding and effectively deploying the best consultants, to developing and growing with our teams, we reflect and value how the organisation can learn and improve by engaging and listening to our people whether they are beneficiaries, our personnel or our clients.
• Being innovative and forward-thinking in our approach to designing and implementing programmed helps us to understand potential initiatives which will ensure additional impact or improved delivery.

Montrose is a UK company with an Africa Regional Office in Kampala, Uganda and an Asia-Pacific Regional Office in Yangon, Myanmar. Montrose implements projects in over 20 countries globally.

The purpose of the role is:

• To support the business development team by writing high quality winning proposals.
• To research new opportunities and represent Montrose with partners and clients in the positioning for new opportunities.
• Quality assurance of writing, editing and formatting of materials and documents produced and published across Montrose.
• Providing support to ensure our key messages are reflected in all materials and documents produced and published across Montrose.

Core responsibilities of the role

The Proposal Writer will contribute to the development and writing of project proposals and bids as well as providing quality assurance of Montrose documentation and communications across the company. They will also represent Montrose to our partners and clients particularly articulating our key messages and supporting the development of new business. This includes:

A. Technical Areas Specific to the Role

Proposal writing

• Work with the Programme Management and Business Development Team to understand the technical aspects of a proposal/terms of reference for a new project and articulate this into a winning proposal. This may be across a number of sectors including education, health, climate, agriculture, and geographies including Africa, Asia and Europe.
• Contribute to the technical and contextual quality of Montrose programme designs as part of technical proposals and edit proposals prior to submission.
• Support the development of commercial proposals.
• Edit compliance and financial documentation required for tenders.
• Provide quality assurance on proposals to ensure they are edited and coherent documents.
• Upload all required tender documents to client portals.

Research new opportunities and represent Montrose with partners and clients

• Regularly monitor and review portals and places of advertisement for new business opportunities and share these with the Programme Management and Business Development Team.
• Contribute to Montrose business development meetings to share ideas and learning from existing business and proposals to strengthen Montrose’s position and grow the business.
• When required, participate in partner and client meetings to further the growth of Montrose business ensuring accurate records are kept and shared off all meetings and forums.
• Attend events and forums to represent Montrose and our projects with the aim of developing new business relationships and raising the profile and Montrose brand awareness.

Quality assurance of writing, editing and formatting

• Advocate and support everyone within Montrose (internal and external consultants) to use the Montrose Style Guide and our clients’ style guides as relevant.
• Review documents produced by the Programme Management and Business Development Teams as well as other departments across the company providing copyediting and formatting support.
• Copyediting and quality assurance of communications materials and publications aligned with the Montrose Style Guide and our clients’ style guides as relevant.
• Oversee implementation and an annual review and roll-out of Montrose Style Guide.
• Support everyone across the company to access and use appropriately company template documents.

Support to ensure our key messages are reflected in all materials and documents

• Review communications materials and publications for quality assurance against Montrose Communications Strategy including key message and appropriate use of images and content.
• Support Montrose to ensure they are GDPR compliant in all documents, materials and publications which are produced and published including informed consent and privacy.

Qualifications, skills and experience

Essential

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline
• Excellent spoken and written English
• Demonstrated track record in professional writing
• Attention to detail
• Highly organised and methodical in approach to tasks
• Excellent time management skills and ability to work to tight schedules and deadlines
• Excellent communications skills and ability to work across geographies and cultures
• Proactive and take initiative
• Willingness to travel within the UK
• Proficient in use of MS programmes including Word, PowerPoint, Teams and SharePoint

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of the international development sector particularly in education, health, climate and environment, agriculture and livelihoods
• Demonstrated track record in writing winning proposals and project design
• Experience of working with a range of clients across the development sector including governments, NGOs, UN agencies and the private sector
• Experience of working with client tendering portals such as FCDO’s Bravo Portal.
• Ability to create infographics and communication tools/materials
• Proficient in use of MS programmes including Excel, Publisher, Yammer, Stream, Sway