Business Development Associate - United States

Position : Strategy and Design Associate - United States

Location : Bethesda, MD

While professional experience and qualifications are key for this role, make sure to check you have the preferable soft skills before applying if required.

Job Id : 568

of Openings : 1

Strategy and Design Associate

Democracy International (DI) is seeking to hire a full-time Strategy and Design Associate . As a member of the Strategy and Technical Leadership Team, this role will be based in DI's home office in Bethesda, Maryland.

We will only consider applicants who are based in the DMV area and willing to work a hybrid in-office / remote schedule.

This position will provide support to cross-discipline and cross-functional teams in identifying and tracking opportunities, developing proposals, and refining DI’s business development systems and procedures to ensure the highest quality standards and competitiveness.

They will also contribute to and support internal learning processes that improve DI’s business development practice, enhance the company’s value propositions, and leverage innovative, evidence-based results into new revenue and programming.

They are expected to be open to learning and applying new concepts and ideas to address development challenges.

Responsibilities :

• Supports proposal development processes, including costing, recruitment of personnel, identification and outreach to partners, and coordination of partner inputs.
• Contributes to elements of proposal research and technical writing.
• Supports quality control and ensures compliance with all relevant solicitation requirements.
• Coordinates with DI colleagues, consultants, subcontractors, subgrantees, and identified personnel to manage and troubleshoot logistics for information gathering and inputs, set guidelines and timelines, and produce relevant proposal requirements.
• Conducts research on program implementation logistics such as country-specific registration requirements, benefits, and other potential implementation considerations / issues.
• Conducts / supports training for staff and new hires on business development systems and procedures.
• Reviews opportunity websites for new opportunities relevant to DI's strategic business objectives and channels opportunities through designated team points of contact.

Secondary Job Duties :

• Contribute to, and in some cases lead, the development of DI internal trainings related to the above based on topic and need.
• Provide support and guidance to interns.
• International travel may be required.

Qualifications :

• Bachelor’s degree in international relations, public policy, political science, or a related field;
• 2-6 years of work experience and interest / experience in DRG;
• Professional experience supporting USAID or other USG-funded programs desired;
• Highly organized and able to prioritize multiple tasks and meet dynamic client deadlines;
• Demonstrated interest or experience in democracy, human rights, governance, conflict transformation, peacebuilding, or related field;
• Strong interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity to effectively interact with all staff, U.S. and foreign government personnel, and members of donor organizations;
• Fluency in English and excellent writing and communications skills;
• Ability to travel on short notice if needed;
• Ability to work a hybrid in-office / remote schedule at DI's home office in Bethesda, MD.

Reporting and Supervision :

This position reports to the Director of Strategy and Design.

Environmental Conditions :

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Moderate noise (i.e. business office with computers, phone, printers, and moderate traffic).
• Ability to work in a confined office space / area.
• Ability to sit and / or stand at a computer desk for an extended period of time.
• Ability to travel on long plane flights across several time zones and at irregular hours.

Physical Requirements Required to Perform Essential Responsibilities :

• Stand, sit; talk, hear, use of hands and fingers, and perform repetitive motions to operate a computer and telephone keyboard.
• Reach, stoop, or kneel, to adjust computer and / or telephone equipment.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work.
• Hearing abilities required due to telephone.
• Light to moderate lifting is possible.
• Travel will require moderate lifting, sitting for extended periods of time, overnight flights across multiple time zones.
• Regular, predictable attendance is required; as business demands dictate.

Application Process :

Interested applicants must submit a cover letter and CV. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The starting salary range for this position is $47,000 - $60,000 commensurate with experience.

DI is committed to attracting, hiring, and retaining the best talent, and the position will be filled as soon as a qualified candidate is identified.

Applications without a cover letter will not be reviewed. DI will only contact candidates of interest.

All interested applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. at the time of application. DI will not sponsor applicants for work Visa.

Democracy International maintains the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches.

All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

About the Organization :

DI provides technical assistance, analytical services and project implementation for democracy, human rights, governance and conflict mitigation programs worldwide for the U.

S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. State Department and other development partners. Since its founding in 2003, Democracy International has worked with civil society organizations, political parties, election-management bodies, government agencies, legislatures, justice-sector institutions, and others in 80+ countries.

DI welcomes and supports a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are committed to equal employment opportunities (EEO) for all applicants seeking employment and for DI employees.

DI makes employment decisions based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, personal appearance, military status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation, educational status, unemployment status, place of residence or business, source of income, or reproductive health decision making.

Additionally, harassment or discrimination based on these characteristics will not be tolerated at DI. To perform the essential functions of this position, reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities.

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