Business Development Specialist II

Reports To: Head of Programming, Kenya
Length of Contract: 2 years
About CRS
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard 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 has worked in Kenya since 1965. Over the years, CRS’s focus shifted from direct relief and food distributions to a comprehensive development program that works with partners and enhances the local capacity. CRS Kenya programs now support care reforms, children affected by HIV, and community-based efforts to increase household incomes, improve family health and sanitatio n, and enhance agricultural livelihoods.
In Somalia, CRS currently focusses on supporting vulnerable communities emerging from crises through the provision of emergency relief and recovery in the sectors of protection, WASH, health and nutrition. Working through local implementing partners and civil society organizations, CRS is committed to building local capacity for transformational change.
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 in Kenya and Somalia. 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. Through both internal and external networking, you will keep up to date on the major trends i n donor funding, partnership opportunities and operating context of Kenya and Somalia. You will be tasked with facilitating broad engagement on BD processes from a variety of programming and operations-focused colleagues across the country program.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide BD expertise in positioning, capture planning and proposal preparation for specific opportunities with institutional donors (government and inter-governmental award issuing organizations, as well as foundations, corporations, other awarding non-governmental organizations, and CRS internal funding opportunities).
• Coordinate 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 show_content and integrating inputs from staff and partners into a responsive, coherent proposal with a compelling vision and clear win themes.
• Train and mentor CRS staff and partner 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, with a particular focus on enhancing local leadership and diversifying our donor base.
• Support senior management to cultivate and strengthen institutional relationships with institutional donors, partner organizations and other stakeholders.
• Work with appropriate staff to maintain data on past performance and corporate capacity, in order to provide timely information for proposal submissions.
• Serve as a member of CP’s Senior Management Team, contributing to strategic direction of the CP and modeling agency guiding principles
• Liaise closely with EARO and Global BD community of practice, linking up with additional support as needed
• Lead in the development of sector-specific positioning strategies for the CP, including allocation of strategic funding
• Lead the facilitation of the CP’s Growth Working Group, a cross-sectoral strategy group aimed at improving our positioning for new funding

Required Languages – Excellent spoken and written English. Kiswahili and Somali language skills a bonus.
Travel – up to 30 percent travel in Kenya and Somalia.
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

• MEAL skills and experience preferred.
• Experience in project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors
• Exceptional writer with expert command of English grammar and AP style.
• Comprehensive familiarity with a broad range of institutional donor technical and cost requirements.
• Experience with both USAID RFP and RFA funding mechanisms highly desirable.
• 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.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: CRS/Kenya Head of Programs, CRS/Kenya Country Representative, CRS/Somalia Head of Office, CRS/Kenya Deputy Head of Programs, Program Managers, Senior Management Team, regional East Africa Program Quality and Business Development Team and CRS headquarters’ IDEA team.
External: Leadership and BD counterparts at key partner organizations (INGOs, Caritas partners, other local implementing partners, prospective partners and private sector leaders). Points of contact at key donor and prospective donor organizations for Kenya and Somalia.
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.
• Demonstrated Workshop Facilitation Skills
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• Relationship building and teamwork abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• 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.
• Demonstrated experience leading and producing competitive proposals in programming contexts similar to CRS.
• Demonstrated experience utilizing diverse, proactive strategies to competitively position his/her organization for new funding and productive institutional relationships.
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.

Agency-wide 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.

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships

• Develops Talent

• Strategic Mindset

• Accountability & Stewardship

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
This position is only open to Kenyan Nationals
What we offer:
CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
**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. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.< /em>
CRS Kenya/Somalia strives to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and work, stay, and do their best.
CRS provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants for employment and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or handicap, medical condition and any other status protected by law. As an equal opportunity employer, CRS will recruit, hire, train and promote persons solely on their qualifications and abilities.
By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional reference s will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics. *

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

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