ForAfrika is seeking qualified candidates for the Director of Business Development to stand up and lead our USAID portfolio. This opportunity will manage and support the full lifecycle of new business opportunities. The selected candidate will be responsible for leading the business development process for specific opportunities identified by the company, serving as the capture lead for pre-RFP activities and serving as proposal manager at RFP release leading the development of customised, winning proposals for those opportunities. They will also be responsible for guiding capture/proposal teams through business development processes and procedures in accordance with the company's established processes and best practices. This role will be responsible for designating and coordinating tasks to meet applicable deadlines, collaborating effectively with and managing internal and external subject matter experts, supporting corporate reporting needs, and representing the company to external stakeholders, including clients and partners. The Senior Director will also work with others to improve tools, skills, and processes to enable effective proposal development.
The Director of Business Development will report to the Chief Revenue Officer.
This is an ideal opportunity for a programme development officer, capture manager, or a proposal manager looking to apply their talents across the full business development lifecycle to contribute to the growth of a dynamic company pursuing a mix of USAID, DOS, and other client awards.
Join ForAfrika. Let's solve Africa's most challenging problems together. Roles and responsibilities:
Leadership + Management = Accountability
Establish and maintain a culture of accountability by providing clear expectations and setting performance standards in line with our core values (Deep Love for Africa, Dependability, Compassion, Initiative, Discipline) and LMA principles.Develop and implement initiatives that promote open communication and collaboration.Management of direct reports through core values. Ensure core values are understood and cascaded down. Regular check-in sessions for mentorship and guidance. Ensure expectations on roles and responsibilities are understood and agreed on.Provide timely and accurate status reports to the Chief Revenue Officer, and identify, assess, resolve, and/or escalate issues as needed.Adhere to the organisation's policies and procedures and apply them consistently throughout duties.Coordinate with other divisions and offices on "One ForAfrika" priority proposals.Internal Capacity Building
Mentor and coach proposal team members in best practices in proposal development with an emphasis on international requirements and best practices.Support development/refinement of BD processes and procedures to ensure efficiency and cost-effective BD development.Participate in/facilitate proposal post-submission meetings to discuss and capture lessons learned.New Business Development
Drive opportunity development across the business development lifecycle as an integrated team member, including pipeline management, bid decisions, reviews, and reporting.Proactively identify new business opportunities in ForAfrika's core technical areas, including programs funded by USAID, USTDA, DOS, etc.Identify new programming trends in international development and develop concrete, time-bound action plans to strategically position ForAfrika for new opportunities.Develop and expand international, regional, and local teaming relationships with current and potential partners.Stay current on procurement reforms and changing trends within USAID and other key clients and disseminate/integrate relevant information within the ForAfrika Revenue team.Expand partnerships with US small businesses and develop SB contracting plans.Proposal Management
Serve as proposal manager from RFP release through post-submittal, ensuring the highest quality of work and proactive communication and facilitation for the proposal team.Develop non-technical proposal sections, such as management, staffing, and past performance, cost notes, subcontracting plans, or others.Provide quality control for the proposal and proposal process; interpret solicitations to ensure that the proposal complies with all donor requirements and ensure timely submission.Assemble proposal components into a coherent whole and conduct/oversee final review and editing to ensure compliance with donor requirements and consistency of usage and appearance.Capture Management
Serve as capture manager for specific opportunities, maintaining the capture plan which directs the strategy on competitors, client, win themes, recruitment, and draft solution design.Ensure that the proposal clearly conveys the proper business perspective, key messages, value proposition, and differentiators against the organization's competition.Represent ForAfrika at industry and partner events to strategically expand ForAfrika's network and visibility.Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge And Skills
Bachelor's degree required (Master's degree preferred) in relevant field such as Public Policy or Public Administration, Political Science, Business, International Relations or other relevant field10 or more years of directly relevant professional experience, preferably with proposal development for donor-funded international development projectsMinimum of 5 years of direct experience managing large, complex proposals in response to RFPs/RFQs issued by USAIDProgressively responsible proposal experience on donor-funded projects with demonstrable expertise ensuring complianceUnderstanding of the relationship between the technical and cost/business volumes, including familiarity with CPFF, T&M, and IDIQ pricing structuresDemonstrable analytical and critical thinking skills – particularly as they relate to assembling disparate pieces of knowledge and careful assumptions to form a clear picture of a client's intentions before a solicitation is releasedFamiliarity with U.S. government (particularly USAID) and/or international donor procurement processes and regulationsExcellent written and verbal communication skills, able to write persuasive proposals sections and reportsStrong attention to detail in terms of tracking a variety of requirements, tasks, and prioritiesExperience communicating, networking, and collaborating with clients and partners (subcontractors and prime partners as well as with local partners)Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (mastery of Word specifically and strong Excel, Teams/SharePoint, and PowerPoint preferred)Skilled in Adobe Professional software or similar with the ability to produce and edit complex PDF documentsFamiliar with Salesforce or similar pipeline management toolsExperience navigating SAM.gov, DEC, foreignassistance.gov and other relevant information sources such as GovWin, DevAid, or similarDemonstrated ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, and process information in support of changing activities on a self-directed basis and to support and facilitate others to meet proposal deadlinesDemonstrated ability and comfort providing guidance and direction to more senior-level staff who are leading proposal efforts as well as early career staff learning new proposal rolesWillingness to travel.Preferred Qualifications
Experience with at least two of our core donors: USAID, DOS or FCDOExperienced in Salesforce, DocuSign, GovWin, and other relevant business software and servicesCertified or trained in a relevant proposal management methodology (e.g., Shipley, Humentum, or other)Proficiency in Portuguese.Additional Information
This role will be based in East or Southern Africa. Preferably in one of the ForAfrika countries of operation.The starting salary for this position is $130,000. The actual salary may be higher and will be determined by several factors, including relevant work experience, education, skills, and market competitiveness.Shortlisted candidates will be expected to undergo psychometric testing and background screening.
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