Specialist, Business Development / Senior Specialist, Business Development

Job Title Specialist / Senior Specialist, Business Development

Grade: P5 / P6

Department: Business Development

Reports to: Director, Business Development

Function of the Position:

The Specialist is a mid-level professional member of the Embedded Business Development Team in the Governance Sector supporting the achievement of annual new business targets, DAI competitiveness and business development efficiency. They are an integral member of the overall BD unit - providing managerial support to the full proposal lifecycle. They are expected to work closely with all proposal team members, including contributing to development and key decision making around teaming, staffing, and technical design of proposals. The primary responsibilities of the BD Specialist are to support capture strategy planning and implementation, manage proposal development, oversee contributions from a diverse set of proposal team members, and to provide key proposal contributions including writing pieces of USAID proposal back chapters (e.g., management and staffing) and annexes. The Specialist will also work closely with the Embedded Business Development Director to support various pipeline management tasks for the Governance Sector. The Specialist is expected to provide coaching and mentorship support to relevant BD team members. This position is most appropriate for someone who likes a fast-paced, entrepreneurial-style work environment, teamwork, and managing diverse responsibilities.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Live Proposal Development

• According to the ebb and flow of the proposal process, is engaged in a portfolio of new business opportunities at various stages of the proposal lifecycle.
• Serves as member of multiple proposal teams throughout the year to develop detailed proposals that are persuasive and compliant.
• Serves as a Proposal Manager on USG bids, providing input and leadership in support of key proposal decisions; leads pricing strategy and cost competitiveness; supports recruitment and partnering;
• Leads drafting of proposal sections, either with others or independently, such as Management Approach chapters, MEL chapters, and technical proposal annexes.
• Gradually takes other responsibilities in addition to managing proposals based on a successful track record of managing strategic proposals with limited guidance. These responsibilities may include technical integration and writing of discrete technical sections of the proposal.
• Tracks compliance with DAI controls and proposal processes and procedures, troubleshooting issues as needed.
• Serves on technical and cost proposal review panels.
• Reviews and revises proposal text.
• Reviews budgets, reviews cost proposal volumes, such as budget narrative, and prepares best value summaries for the cost proposal.

Proposal pre-positioning

• Works closely with Proposal Champions to develop and implement capture strategies.
• Participates in all phases on the pre-positioning process, will be assigned multiple prepositioning bids at once.
• Conducts research and participates in “reconnaissance” trips to the country/region to prepare new proposals, recruits project staff, facilitates technical and operational incubators and storyboarding, and markets DAI to prospective clients and partner organizations.
• Supports planning and logistics for information-gathering and marketing trips.

Coaching/mentoring

• Serve as a mentor/coach to other proposal team members, providing strategic guidance and support in upholding DAI business development standards and managing compliant and responsible proposals.
• Support upgrading training course content and facilitating courses.

Pipeline Development

• Works with the Business Development Director to take on pipeline management tasks such as proposal expenditure tracking, CRM data entry, coordinating capture strategy approval process, and supporting consultant onboarding process, among other areas.
• Use networks and contacts in support of pipeline development and the verification of specific new business opportunities.
• Undertake desktop research, coordinating as necessary with DAI’s market intelligence team.

Additional responsibilities as business needs evolve.

USG Business Unit Core Competencies

All staff hired into positions within the USG Business at DAI are expected to demonstrate these competences throughout their work and interactions with others.

Collaborates Effectively: Recognizes the benefit of working with others from multicultural backgrounds; believes collaboration can lead to better and stronger contributions to USG; views relationships as long-term and meaningful; Communicates with empathy to cross-cultural audiences.

Champions Inclusion: Treats others with honesty, respect, and consideration; promotes cross-cultural understanding and inclusion throughout the organization; demonstrates appreciation for the complex environments in which DAI works.

Performs with Excellence: Thrives in all aspects of your role and fosters an open and energizing environment that motivates self and peers to contribute their personal best and is reflective of USG’s vision and mission.

Creates Innovative Solutions: Problem solves and broadens perspectives, while overcoming biases to find solutions to complex challenges; seeks opportunities to experiment with new approaches and grow/develop the skills of oneself and others.

Drives Growth: Able to weigh the costs and benefits of actions both internally and externally and their impact on diverse markets and stakeholders; Understands priorities and behaviors necessary for personal and organizational growth.

Navigates Risk: Integrates risk considerations into all aspects of work and planning; understands benchmarks for escalation of a risk-related issue or concern; makes decisions by gathering input from others and displaying trust of their recommendations, while also taking accountability for outcomes.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• P5: Minimum of 4 years of relevant professional experience - with at least 3 years of experience in new business development including managing/writing proposal or report sections – and a college degree. Equivalent combinations of experience and education will be considered.
• P6: Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience - with at least 4 years of experience in new business development including managing and/or writing proposal or report sections – and a college degree. Equivalent combinations of experience and education will be considered.
• Demonstrated knowledge of USAID thematic and functional policies and regulations.
• Customer service orientation with a positive, can-do and a sense of humor.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Able to meet deadlines, take initiative and accomplish work in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills with the ability to communicate policies and interpret regulations to provide clear guidance and tailor communication style to effectively communicate with diverse audiences.
• Proven experience with proactive client engagement and thorough understanding of client requirements and preferred methods of business.
• Able and willing to adjust work schedule, if needed, to support teams located in different time zones/countries.
• Demonstrated knowledge of USAID thematic and functional policies and regulations.
• Customer service orientation with a positive, can-do and a sense of humor.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Able to meet deadlines, take initiative and accomplish work in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills with the ability to communicate policies and interpret regulations to provide clear guidance and tailor communication style to effectively communicate with diverse audiences.
• Proven experience with proactive client engagement and thorough understanding of client requirements and preferred methods of business.
• Able to build and maintain strong working relationships with staff at all levels of the organization from diverse backgrounds.
• Able and willing to travel to any country where DAI operates, barring times with DAI Global Security has deemed travel unsafe.
• • Based in one of the following U.S. locations where DAI is registered: District of Columbia, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated understanding of DAI’s business model.
• Customer service orientation.
• An understanding of one of DAI’s specific thematic areas (Governance, Economic Growth, Environment, Health, Digital Acceleration) is preferred.
• Proficiency in a second language (French, Spanish, Russian, or Arabic preferred).
• Demonstrated experience working on highly competitive new business efforts.

Supervisory Requirements: None

Compensation & Benefits:

At the P5 level – For employees working the United States, the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to be between $82,417 to $96,962.

At the P6 level – For employees working the United States, the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to be between $103,143 to $131,577.

Salary for part-time employees will be prorated based on actual hours worked. Actual offers will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, qualifications, relevant education, experience, skills, seniority, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Eligible U.S. based employees, will be able to enroll in medical, dental and vision insurance, plus a 401(k)-retirement plan with a company match. Additionally, employees will be eligible for company-paid annual leave (vacation & holidays), sick leave, parental leave; as well as short- and long-term disability coverage. Detailed information will be provided at the time a formal offer is extended.

For employees working outside of the United States, compensation and benefits will vary based on location.