Bilateral Lead, New Business Development Unit (NEW) Job Vacancy in Kenya

International Research and Exchanges Board

Position Title: Bilateral Lead, New Business Development Unit (NEW)

Who We Are

IREX is a global development and education organization. We strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world—where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people, and communities thrive. With a projected annual portfolio of more than $100 million and more than 600 staff worldwide, we work with partners in more than 100 countries in four areas essential to progress: cultivating leaders, empowering youth, strengthening institutions, and increasing access to quality education and information.

The Bilateral Lead position is essential to IREX’s goal of funding diversification. A strategic mindset, ability to fashion creative solutions to problems, ability to work across teams, and proven leadership of teams to capture business opportunities and to develop winning funding proposals are key ingredients of this position. The position will support IREX’s work cultivating leaders, empowering youth, strengthening institutions, and increasing access to quality education and information. The Bilateral Funding Lead will, as part of IREX’s New Business development Unit (NBDU) work to expand IREX’s current portfolio of collaborative partnerships and programs designed and carried out with support of non-US bilateral and multilateral donors including UK FCDO, Global Affairs Canada, GIZ, SIDA, DANIDA, and NORAD, among others. The position will support global new business efforts with a special focus on East Africa. The position is directly responsible for positioning IREX to effectively seize funding opportunities and to generate new business.

The Bilateral Lead is an integral part of the NBDU team. They will report to the Director of the New Business Development Unit of the Strategy and Development Group. They will also expected to support, participate in, or lead select bids and proposals for non-governmental donors. In addition, they will coordinate activities with other members of the NBDU team, members of the IREX Practices and field offices.

The Bilateral Lead is responsible for the effective implementation of the IREX's Business Development Annual Business Plan, the NBDU strategy and the expected results of the NBDU goals, and aspects of the annual business plan of the Strategic Partnerships Unit. They will actively contributes to the overall growth of IREX and will identify, design, and secure new funding opportunities to expand IREX's program opportunities in core program areas worldwide. This work will involve international travel.

On occasion, the Bilateral Lead may work directly with IREX projects to offer technical solutions to clients and partners in areas of technical expertise, foster productive relationships with clients, and look for creative ways to expand the scope and diversity of existing technical initiatives.

Are you the next member of our team?

Your Background & Skills

  • 10+ years of professional experience in international development.
  • 6-8 years of experience in core sector and established network of international development donor, partner, and practitioners contacts in sectors relevant to IREX's core areas.
  • Ability to put together effective consortia and teams for proposals.
  • Advanced degree in a related field preferred.
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills, high level of reliability, and track record of follow-through.
  • Excellent oral communication skills with the ability to present the results of efforts through public speaking engagements, etc.
  • Outstanding interpersonal, intercultural and collaboration skills.
  • Demonstrate understanding of innovation methods to support learning and adaptation and learning.
  • Demonstrate ability to plan strategically and creatively to meet specified objectives.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including governments, private sector, civil society, etc.
  • Strong facilitation skills.
  • Ability to learn through feedback and collaboration with others across the organization.
  • Familiarity with monitoring, evaluation and learning.
  • Excellent project management skills including ability to effectively manage human resources, budgets and to manage for results.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, second language strongly preferred.
  • You must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States, Kenya, Guatemala, or Jordan.

Your Daily Tasks

  • Support proposals to bilaterals with writing support and/or proposal management.
  • Promote IREX's participation and represent IREX in conferences and industry functions.
  • Write technical narratives, concepts, expressions of interest, or other documents.
  • Develop donor relationships.
  • Lead proposal development efforts to ensure quality and timely submission.
  • Write technical narratives, concepts, expressions of interest, or other documents.
  • Contribute to ensure IREX is fully prepared to pursue new business opportunities.
  • Lead proposal management efforts using consistent business development processes.
  • Leverage technical expertise to increase quality of proposals and IREX positioning.
  • Track and gain intelligence to advance IREX' s new business opportunities.
  • Conduct reconnaissance missions for project development.
  • Identify and develop priority sectors for business development.
  • Contribute to develop and implement country strategies for priority countries.
  • Contribute to proposal development in strategy meetings and partner discussions.
  • Oversee the development of relevant new business promotional materials and their dissemination to target audiences.
  • Review funding trends and intel to inform business development.
  • Develop and manage relationships with IREX' s clients, partners, etc.
  • Help identify COPs and other key personnel and participate in interviews.
  • Mentor and train staff and interns when required.
  • Other support duties as needed.

IREX will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008.

We conduct background checks on all successful candidates.

This position is not eligible for Immigration Sponsorship.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

EOE – Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.

How to apply

Please click on the link below to apply for this job:

Bilateral Lead, New Business Development Unit (NEW) | IREX Job Board (ultipro.com)