Background:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.
Purpose / Project Description:
The Proposal Writer(s) will work closely with the Mercy Corps Americas region team, which supports humanitarian and development programming across countries and islands in Latin America and the Caribbean. Mercy Corps is currently operational in Colombia, Guatemala, Haiti, Venezuela, and in various jurisdictions across the Caribbean Basin (including Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, US Virgin Islands, and entering Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia), with ambitious goals to expand its programmatic footprint in Central America and beyond in the coming years. The Proposal Writer will play a critical role in bolstering the Americas region’s aggressive business development efforts, by assisting various country teams with the execution of high-quality proposals in response to requests for proposals and notifications of funding opportunities by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States Department of State (USDS), the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) agency, various United Nations agencies, and potentially other donors. The Consultant(s) will act as lead writer(s) for concept notes, full proposals, or cost modification proposals.
The Proposal Writer(s) will be tasked with working closely with Mercy Corps country offices, the Americas regional team, and global teams to design and develop competitive proposals based on field research, consultations with key internal and external stakeholders, input from technical and business development experts, and a thorough design process.
Consultant Activities/Deliverables:
Responsibilities will include:
- Work with country/regional teams and global technical experts to develop strong technical designs.
- Develop initial logframes/results frameworks and participate in technical design sessions as requested.
- Work in close collaboration with proposal Team Lead and other team members to set deadlines and hold team members accountable to proposal development deadlines and production of key deliverables.
- Write drafts of key technical sections, respond to feedback, and produce quality final drafts for submission.
- Potentially travel to country offices and field locations to participate in design sessions, information gathering activities, and collaborate with proposal team members and country team colleagues, as required.
Timeframe / Schedule:
Up to 90 days at a time, informed by NOFO/RFP launches and proposal deadlines; beginning in January 2024
The Consultant will report to:
Deputy Regional Director, Americas Region
The Consultant will work closely with:
Americas Regional Director, Americas Technical Director, Country Directors, Directors of Programs, Americas Regional Team, Global Technical Advisors and Program Quality Advisors, consortium partners and peer organizations, as appropriate.
Application Process:
Please submit a cover letter and CV. Cover letter should include a list of past proposals including donor, value and if awarded. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Required Experience & Skills:
- 5-10 years of experience in program design and proposal development in a wide variety of sectors and geographic locations, with a special emphasis in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- At least 2-3 years’ experience in field-based program and staff management, with relevant regional knowledge.
- Proven experience developing winning proposals, especially for USAID, USAID/BHA, USDOS/PRM, ECHO, EU, UN agencies, and other institutional donors.
- Proven ability to work productively with a wide variety of stakeholders to run both participatory processes and also meet tight deadlines with an emphasis on producing quality products.
- Strong negotiation skills and experience developing consortia and multiple-partnership arrangements for proposal development.
- Ability to lead teams, handle negotiations and facilitate planning processes.
- Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines and in sparse working environments.
- Exceptional written and interpersonal communication skills an absolute must.
- Fluent spoken and written English and Spanish; professional proficiency in French preferred.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.