About the role
Function of Department: To build and deliver a portfolio of U.S. Government- (USG) funded stabilization and political transition projects for Crown Agents (CA), positioning the business as a trusted partner supporting the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and the Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Conflict Prevention & Stabilization (CPS), and specifically CPS’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI).
Build out from existing stabilization and transition projects and position CA as an established player and implementer of choice for DOS, USAID, CPS, and OTI. Deploy CA’s existing capabilities in procurement and supply chain management, government systems strengthening, and program/fund management to task orders awarded under OTI’s Support which Implements Fast Transition 5 (SWIFT 5) indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract (IDIQ) and other prime and subcontracts CA holds.
Main Job Purpose: The primary function of the Senior Specialist Business Development & Field Projects (SS-BDFP) role is to coordinate and manage DOS and USAID/CPS-related business development in support of CA’s five-year strategy. The SS-BDFP will initiate and support new business capture efforts under SWIFT 5 and any DOS and/or USAID/CPS awards CA pursues. As CA’s transition and stabilization portfolio of projects grows, the SS-BDFP will play a wider field project coordination role, including working closely with the human resources, contracts, accounting, and finance staff to ensure rapid and compliant personnel recruitment and procurements and timely and accurate accounting, financial reporting, and invoicing for US government-funded projects.
The SS-BDFP must bring a flexible attitude toward the day-to-day tasks and workload and be willing to provide administrative support to all members of the CA-USA team, including the President & CEO, Senior Contracts Advisor, and colleagues in the UK. This support may include general office, administrative, document filing, and IT support.
About you
Required Experience & Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree and five (5) years of relevant work experience required; or a master’s degree in an international development-related field and at least three (3) years of relevant work experience required.
- Knowledge and awareness of the USG policy and programmatic landscape around stabilization and transition.
- Prior experience working on business development related to DOS, USAID, MCC, and/or USTDA or other donor-funded projects supporting stabilization and transition is required.
- Project backstopping experience on USAID and other donor-funded projects is required.
- Excellent analytical, conceptual, verbal, and written communication skills required.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to multi-task; ability to work efficiently and independently in a fast-paced environment and under stress required.
- Strong interpersonal and troubleshooting skills required as well as proven flexibility and agility to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities.
- Advanced ability to use all Microsoft Office and other Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, CRM, etc.).
- Ability to work effectively as part of a multi-site team which spans CA group offices and includes remotely managed personnel and projects.
- Knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, USAID Assistance Regulation (AIDAR) and Automated Directives System (ADS), and other donor regulations related to the management of field staff and human resources, project accounting and finance, and solicitation and negotiation for project procurements, grants, and other types of subawards required.
- Willingness to travel up to 30% and make trips to CA group headquarters in London as well as overseas destinations including to politically unstable countries and regions, countries and regions where serious security threats exist, and travel to remote areas where basic services including water and electricity may be limited and/or frequently interrupted.
- US work authorization required, dual US and EU or UK work authorization preferred.
Preferred Experience & Qualifications:
- Minimum of one year of overseas field experience working in fragile and/or politically unstable developing country/ies strongly preferred.
- Previous direct business development/proposal management experience is strongly preferred.
- Prior demonstrated experience managing and contributing substantively to successful USAID proposals (technical and cost) with experience working on OTI proposals strongly preferred.
- Network of contacts in the international development community, especially in the areas of stabilization and transition strongly preferred.
- Foreign language ability preferred, especially in French, Spanish, Portuguese, and/or Arabic.
- Prior experience leading or supporting project start-up and/or close down strongly preferred.
About us
You’ll be working with Crown Agents which is a high impact social enterprise passionate about transforming the future for millions of people. Since our creation in 1833 we have worked across the globe to improve public services and drive economic growth. Our expertise is finding new solutions to difficult problems for clients in the areas of health, governance, economic growth, humanitarian action, and supply chain services. We work with and train leaders at local, national, and international level to achieve lasting change drawing on our insight and experience.
Crown Agents is committed to diversity and will promote diversity for all candidates at all times as well as a business culture that reflects that belief. Crown Agents will treat everyone equally irrespective of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation, and places an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy. Crown Agents shall not discriminate unlawfully when deciding which candidates are selected for an interview, or in any terms of employment, and will ensure that each candidate is assessed only in accordance with their merits, qualifications, and abilities to perform the role. Crown Agents is committed to being an organization enhanced by diversity and encourages applications from anyone who shares our values and commitment to improving the lives of communities affected by poverty or conflict.
About what's on offer
Crown Agents offers a competitive benefits package.