Proposal Technical Advisor II

JOB SUMMARY

Champion of the proposal effort and primary decision maker responsible for leading priority bids for the organization. Responsible and accountable for high quality and fully compliant bids, from capture to submission. Responsible for supporting and implementing proposal capture plans, including analyzing opportunities, customers, and competition.  Support the development of a win strategy, technical solution, management and staffing, and partner and key personnel selection with support and collaboration from other key proposal team members. May facilitate or support design sessions, contribute written inputs to proposal drafts, provide quality assurance of the bid, oversee key personnel selection and partnerships, support the finalization of proposal monitoring and evaluation plans, and support the work to ensure budgets are aligned with the technical design and are costed appropriately.

RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES

Complexity & Problem Solving:

• Demonstrates ability to determine unique client problems and key stakeholders who will inform outcomes. Identifying technical specialists and reviewers with appropriate expertise
• Works with teams to design the technical solution, create specific bid strategy, prepare competitor analysis, and lead decisions on partnering, personnel, and past performance references
• Responsible for decisions on proposal content, including conceptual framework and other key graphics,
• Responsible for overall quality and content, and for control of costs of bid spend.

Expertise & Influence:

• Business development subject matter expert who has expertise and ability to influence.
• Ability to sell organizational technical expertise, country capacity, and institutional capacity.
• Skilled at project management, staff management, and/or business development management with a vision to understand and present the best FHI has to offer.
• Ability to indirectly influence  people and operate within the bidding process, lead teams in securing wins, and influence to ensure timely decisions and enforcement of timelines.

Collaboration & Interaction:

• Collaborate closely with a variety of staff profiles across the organization
• Must be able to liaise with technical specialists, proposal writers and editors, proposal managers, finance experts, contractual specialists, security specialists, and various business teams to effectively coordinate proposal needs to drive the win strategy
• Support bids deemed priority by department director, partner on level and needs of capacity strengthening activities for the organization.
• Involves interaction with technical, regional, and country office staff to gather actionable business intelligence to apply to bid strategy.
• Effectively negotiate matters with management and stakeholders, ensuring that all collaborative efforts are aligned with organizational goals.

Task Management & Efficiency:

• Responsible and accountable for bid; primary decision maker.
• Support the development and implementation of proposal capture plans, including conducting desk research; planning and facilitating proposal strategy workshops; conducting capture trips; and engaging with funders, potential partners, and other stakeholders
• Ensure that the proposal is high quality and fully compliant with solicitation documents.
• Provide design, technical, and cost leadership.
• Support development of technical solution, including identification of win themes and risk mitigation plan
• Identify necessary technical specialists and reviewers with appropriate expertise.
• Facilitate development of conceptual framework and other key graphics.
• May lead or co-lead the development of the management and staffing components.
• Identify partners that fill gaps in technical capacity or otherwise strengthen bid.
• Develop/negotiate partner scopes of work.
• Coordinate with other technical writers, country office staff and partners to ensure that their inputs are linked in the overall technical approach.
• Participate in reviews, get clarity from reviewers on proposed revisions, and ensure that the writer is given clear feedback for revisions needed for next draft.
• Select projects for past performance references; provide input into capability statement.
• With Cost and Pricing (C&P) Lead, COBL and TBL, assist in determining appropriate levels of funding for technical interventions for both FHI 360 and partners.
• Review drafts and final version of FHI 360 and partners’ cost Proposals.
• Identify staffing needs, draft position descriptions and submit requisition forms (or delegate).
• Select candidates to interview, attend interviews, and select final candidates.
• Conduct final flip through of proposal and approve for submission.
• Escalate decisions to their leadership that falls outside their purview
• Design and facilitate trainings for staff on business development topics

Embraces other duties as assigned, contributing to the team’s multifaceted and evolving responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge & Skills:

• Must leverage their understanding of the business development life cycle and the international development funding system to drive proposal strategy to success.
• Working knowledge of industry capture and proposal process, craft winning proposals in response to the organization’s mission and programmatic priorities.
• Proficiency in US government (domestic and international) desired, with foundation, corporate, multilateral, and other government funding systems also preferred.
• Previous experience in an NGO or international organization is crucial, along with a comprehensive understanding of organizational structures, policies, practices, and their impact.
• Requires a track record of (Familiarity and ability for) budget, schedule, and performance requirements.
• Strong leadership abilities. (Ability to lead indirect teams)
• Effective critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or its international equivalent in Business Administration, International Management, Public Policy, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 7 years related experience in business development related to international development
• Solid understanding of the federal procurement process
• Success in qualifying and nurturing new or ongoing business opportunities
• Record of successful capture, proposal strategy, and execution
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including verbal and presentation skills to individuals and groups, internally and externally
• Strong writing skills to include development of content incorporating key win themes in a clear and concise manner
• Experience serving in leadership roles on proposal teams
• Experience leading complex USAID and other donor-funded proposals preferred

TRAVEL

• Up to 25% travel, including international travel. Depending on the location, travel to or between Washington DC and Durham may be needed.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Typical office environment. Constantly uses a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer. Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.

TECHNOLOGY

• Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.

The expected US Based hiring salary range for this role is listed below. Candidate FHI 360 pay ranges represent national averages that vary by geographic location. When determining an offer amount, FHI 360 factors in multiple considerations, including but not limited to: relevant years of experience and education possessed by the applicant, internal equity, business sector, and budget. 

Base salary is only one component of our offer. FHI 360 contributes 12% of monthly base pay to a money purchase pension plan account. Additionally, all US based staff working full-time, which is calculated at 40 hours/week, receive 18 days of paid vacation per year, 12 sick days per year, and 11 holidays per year. Paid time off is reduced pro rata for employees working less than a full-time schedule.

US Based Hiring Salary Range: $130,000 - $160,000

International hiring ranges will differ based on location.

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Our values and commitments to safeguarding: FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.

FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

FHI 360 will never ask you for your career site username or password, and we will never request money, goods or services during the application, recruitment or employment  process. If you have questions or concerns about correspondence from us, please email CareerCenterSupport@fhi360.org.

FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support a healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself.

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