Science Engagement & Resource Mobilization

Job Description

• The Partnerships department is seeking Associate Officer with proven experience in fundraising proposal development, particularly for large, complex proposals worth over US$2 million. These positions are integral to the Science Engagement and Resource Mobilization team and will directly support Alliance researchers in achieving their fundraising objectives.
• The Associate Officer will report directly to the Senior Manager, Science Engagement and Resource Mobilization, with a secondary reporting line to the Research Area (Lever) Directors. The primary responsibilities include managing all aspects of the proposal development process on behalf of Researchers, such as identifying and pursuing high-priority, high-likelihood fundraising opportunities, coordinating pre-award services from various support units, ensuring compliance with proposal development procedures, and providing procedural guidance throughout the process.
• In this role, Associate Officer will handle all process management, coordination, administration, inter-unit collaboration, and timeline planning activities related to large, priority proposals. This allows Researchers to focus solely on the scientific content of their proposals, knowing that all other aspects of proposal preparation are being expertly managed. The Associate Officers will work closely with all relevant units involved in the Alliance’s Proposal Development Process (PDP) to ensure seamless and efficient proposal development.

Responsibilities

• Proposal Management and Coordination: Lead the management and coordination of all aspects of the proposal development process for large, complex proposals (≥US$2 million) on behalf of Researchers. This includes timeline planning, ensuring adherence to compliance requirements, and managing contributions from various support units.
• Pre-Award Services Coordination: Act as the central point of contact for coordinating all pre-award support services involved in proposal development. Work closely with Finance, Legal, the OPD Proposal Enhancement team, and other relevant units to ensure that administrative, budgetary, and legal requirements are met.
• Opportunity Analysis and Decision Support: Provide strategic and procedural guidance to Researchers by conducting opportunity analysis, helping them make informed go/no-go decisions regarding funding opportunities. This involves evaluating the alignment with organizational goals, the likelihood of success, and the availability of resources.
• Process Management: Oversee the proposal timeline and manage the flow of information between stakeholders to ensure that all necessary steps are completed on schedule. This includes coordinating with Lever Program Management Officers (PMOs), the OPD Proposal Enhancement team, the Project Financial Analysis and Support (PLANS) team, and Regional Partnerships Officers.
• Learning and Improvement: Collaborate with the Head of Science Engagement and Resource Mobilization, PIs, and other contributing scientists to systematize lessons learned from both successful and unsuccessful proposals, aiming to enhance future proposal development processes.
• Administrative and Compliance Support: Handle all administrative tasks related to proposal development, including document management, scheduling, and compliance checks, ensuring that Researchers are free to focus on the scientific content of their proposals.
• Knowledge Sharing and Communication: Share insights, knowledge, and priorities with Science Communications Associate Officers to ensure that proposals are not only scientifically robust but also clearly communicated to potential funders.

Engagement responsibilities

• Cross-Functional Coordination: Facilitate effective communication and collaboration between PIs, Lever Directors, and all relevant support units, ensuring alignment throughout the proposal development process.
• Stakeholder Interaction: Engage with Finance, OPD, Legal, and other key stakeholders to ensure all administrative, budgetary, and legal aspects are seamlessly integrated into the proposal preparation and submission process.
• Decision Support: Provide opportunity analysis insights to assist PIs in making informed go/no-go decisions, ensuring that proposals align with organizational goals and have a high likelihood of success.
• Continuous Improvement: Collaborate with relevant teams to review and integrate feedback from proposal outcomes, driving enhancements in future proposal development efforts.

Delivery responsibilities.

• Proposal Drafting and Coordination: Produce and refine initial drafts of large, complex proposals, ensuring timely input from all contributors and adherence to submission deadlines.
• Guidance Documentation: Prepare inputs for written guidance notes for high-value funding calls (≥$1 million), ensuring consistency and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Process Management: Oversee the end-to-end management of proposal timelines and deliverables, ensuring all steps are completed efficiently and on schedule.
• Learning Integration: Contribute to post-proposal evaluations and integrate lessons learned into future proposal processes for continuous improvement.

Requirements

Education

• Master’s degree in agricultural, environmental, or biological sciences, international development, business administration, science communications, or related fields.
• Fluency in English at C2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), with proven high-level verbal and written communication skills.
• Advanced knowledge of French is desirable.

Experience

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in resource mobilization and research proposal development, particularly in agriculture, environment, rural development, and/or natural or social sciences.
• Proven experience in managing large, complex, technical proposals (≥US$2 million) in collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams in international settings.
• Experience in preparing analyses, guidance notes, or educational materials to support proposal development.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multi-cultural and interdisciplinary environments.

Technical Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills: Ability to assess complex proposals and provide strategic input to enhance success rates.
• Excellent organizational skills: Capable of managing multiple priorities and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality proposals.
• Attention to detail: High standards of accuracy in preparing and reviewing proposal documents.
• Effective communication skills: Proficiency in articulating complex ideas clearly in both written and verbal forms, tailored to diverse audiences including scientists and funders.
• Collaboration and teamwork: Proven ability to work within multi-disciplinary teams and engage withvarious stakeholders across different functions.
• Autonomy and initiative: Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, demonstrating a proactive approach in managing proposal processes.
• Proficiency in virtual tools and applications: Advanced skills in using the Microsoft Office suite and other relevant software for document preparation, communication, and project management.