ROLE PURPOSE:

• Lead the development proposal development team ensuring alignment with country office strategy and donor and member requirements
• Provide guidance and training to staff involved in proposal development, including thematic specialists, budget development staff and field operations teams
• Act as main contact for development proposals and as a liaison with the thematic/ sector leads as well as NGO partners and donors as appropriate
• Lead on donor intel gathering and strategic donor engagement management for key development donors
• Act as the Deputy of the Program Development Unit as required, supporting the Head to engage donors strategically and standardize proposal development approaches and business development processes 

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Head of Program Development Unit

Dimensions: Save the Children works in 8 regions in Ethiopia with a current staff of approximately 1,600 staff and an annual budget of approximately $80 million each year.

Staff directly reporting to this post currently: Program Development Specialist (1)

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Donor research and relationship building

• Lead the coordination of conceptualizing and designing cost effective, innovative and high quality programs to serve children in Ethiopia in emergency and longer term development contexts.
• Conduct research and intelligence gathering on key donors.
• Manage a portfolio of donor responsibilities and maintain knowledge of current donor priorities and funding methodologies, and formats (e.g. USAID, EU, SIDA, NORAD, FCDO, Global Affairs Canada, AICS/ Italian Cooperation)
• Assist in seeking and tracking donor intelligence on prospective new opportunities or partnerships.
• Coordinate closely with the Head of the Program Development Unit and Senior Management to cultivate relationships with external stakeholders and potential partners for strategic funding opportunities.
• Represent SCI in meetings, working groups, clusters, task forces, as needed.

Lead proposal development

• Work closely with field and Country Office-based Finance and Awards teams to ensure that staffing ratios and all overhead costs related to proposal development are adequately covered through the use of response master budgeting.
• Draft and/or solicit proposal concepts by identifying and clarifying opportunities and needs; studying calls for proposals, and sharing information with relevant thematic teams.
• With the Head of Program Development and the Program Development unit team, facilitate the development of concept notes, proposals or bids.
• Lead proposal development, developing work plans and tracking each step of the process to ensure that the proposal team is meeting key deadlines.
• Check all concept notes and proposals follow internal procedures and are compliant with internal and donor standards. Process all documents through the SC Award Management System and ensure approvals are in place prior to submission.
• Work closely with the field operations team to ensure quality proposals with realistic implementation plans and compliance with SoPs for all program development.
• Communicate with relevant SC member contacts to review and approve concept notes and proposals.
• Assist the Head of Program Development in regularly communicating and training on program design processes and requirements.
• Ensure the design and development of child-focused programs of a high quality that contribute to the Country Office’s strategies and plans.
• Track and ensure the incorporation of all feedback and edits throughout the proposal revision stage in order to ensure that a high-quality finished product is submitted to the donor and member.
• Assist in the development of the master budgeting, staffing organogram, operational costing on an annual basis.

Documentation and learning

• Capture and document learning from ongoing projects to be applied to project design.
• Ensure that all documents are properly filed within the award management system and country office shared drives.
• Hold meetings with Awards Management staff to ensure that successful proposals are handed over and all lessons learned during proposal development stage are shared.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant government (ChSA), member and donor guidelines and ensure their compliance in proposal development.

Staff Management, Mentorship and Development

• Support the Head of Program Development to develop and carry out training for field staff and Addis staff on their respective roles in proposal development.
• Design proposal development training series and conduct regular inductions with new staff.
• Manage the performance of Proposal Development Specialist through the Performance Management System.
• Broker training opportunities and resources to build the capacity of the PDU Conducts performance evaluation for direct reports, documents and submits to HR
• Provide occasional coverage and backstopping for Head of Program Development during his/her leave or field travel

Other

• Provide pipeline information and reports as required Represent Program Development Unit in working groups with other departments.
• Act as primary contact for development proposals issues as well as be the first escalation point when issues are not/cannot be addressed by the Specialist reporting to this role.

SKILLS AND BEHAVIOURS (our Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their reports, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency

KEY COMPETENCIES (Save the Children competency framework)

• Delivering Results
• Developing Self & Others
• Problem Solving
• Applying technical & professional expertise 5. Working effectively with others
• Communicating with impact 

Job Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Academic Qualification- Bachelor Degree from recognized University in a discipline relevant to Save the Children’s thematic priorities; Master’s Degree preferred
• 10 years of work experience out of which 4 years should be directly related to program development and/or program management.    
• Computer literate
• Knowledge of local laws and development/humanitarian context
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching
• Ability and willingness to work irregular hours and work with incoming humanitarian surge teams in the event of emergencies
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Commitment to Save the Children values
• Line management experience essential

How to Apply

The Organization

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realize the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. 

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found here

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.