Program (Business) Development Advisor

Job description

**BACKGROUND**

Over the past 80 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster. Through 28 regional offices in cities across the United States, the IRC also helps refugees resettle in the US and become self-sufficient. The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

**Resettlement, Asylum and Integration (RAI)**

The RAI department creates opportunities for refugees and other vulnerable migrants and groups to survive and thrive in the US and Europe.

With a network of 25 offices in 15 U.S. states, RAI serves more than 35,000 individuals each year, among them some 10,000 newly arrived refugees, through a diverse portfolio of programs.

In Europe, IRC operates across 9 countries and provides technical assistance to more than 10 others to ensure that the most vulnerable asylum-seekers and migrants have the necessary support to feel safe and well, get the services they need day to day, and become financially independent from the time they arrive, throughout their journeys, and in their new homes.

**Resources, Acquisitions and Management (RAM) team**

RAM is a liaison between donors and the field: providing expert technical advice to the field, while maintaining portfolio-level visibility to ensure consistency and compliance, and manage risk. This unit ensures that donor compliance policies and procedures are implemented consistently, and supports all staff working across the grants management cycle for all restricted funding from global government sources.

**The Purpose of the Role**

As Programme Development Advisor (PDA) you lead and/or support new business development efforts for Resettlement, Asylum and Integration (RAI) programming in Europe.

**Key Working Relationships**
- Reports to Senior Programme Development Adviser
- Works closely with RAI office senior management, technical, and grants staff with regards to business development;
- Has regular contact with HQ technical, finance, HR, and other staff involved in business development.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Work with technical units, RAI offices, and other staff to support conceptualization and design of proposals for new project activities and/or amendments to current projects.
- Coordinate proposal work to include preparing timelines, ensuring the proposal team adheres to deadlines, supporting recruitment, assisting in budget development, ensuring document completion, organizing meetings and compiling notes, and drafting and proofreading proposal sections.
- Manage coordination, communication and inputs from subs or to our primes.
- Identifying partners, consultants, and other proposal development support as needed.
- Write proposal pieces including technical narrative, management plans, past performance, etc.
- Compile inputs from proposal team members, including consultants and partners.
- Ensure responsiveness to and compliance with solicitation documents.
- Provide Quality Assurance/Quality Compliance support on proposals.
- Maintain accurate information in database and assist with conducting analysis of proposal development; and maintain accurate and timely electronic files.
- Work collaboratively on organizational and system improvements; anticipate, identify and proactively solve problems.
- Facilitate internal post-submission debrief sessions to glean lessons learned.

**PERSON SPECIFICATION**

Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree in relevant field, including international relations, political science, public administration, and communications; Master’s degree a plus, or equivalent experience
- Strong writing skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively manage a variety of relationships in a multicultural environment;
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate equally effectively with colleagues in ‘remote’ and diverse teams, including as team leader for proposals;
- Able to work productively and accurately while under pressure in a fast-paced, demanding environment;
- Ability to multi-task and prioritize effectively;
- Ability to travel internationally;
- Fluency in English and proficiency in at least one other European language (German, Italian, Greek or Polish) highly desirable.

Experience
- Demonstrable experience writing institutional grants, developing funding proposals, and managing grants.
- Experience of working in remote and diverse teams, including as a team leader for proposals.
- Good financial management and budgeting skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a diverse team and handle a multifaceted workload
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