Senior Specialist - Portfolio Pipeline Development

The Portfolio Development Pipeline Senior Specialist is a member of the Portfolio Development and Management Office, which oversees and provides administrative support for all portfolios, programs, and projects throughout their life cycle. The office acts as a bridge between donors and researchers in the field, while providing portfolio level visibility to ensure consistency and compliance and manage risk.

This position will manage a broad range of bid preparation activities for the development of large, complex, and competitive submissions, including the coordination of the proposal development process with the research and proposal teams, partner management, proposal writing support, and quality assurance and control. This position will also provide technical expertise in developing strategic project designs that would enable the successful implementation of research for development projects that align with the client’s specific requirements. The incumbent is expected to assist the Portfolio Development Manager in running day-to-day operations, and deputize for them in their absence.

This position will be based at the IRRI Headquarters, Los Baños, Philippines and may only be filled by permanent citizens of the Philippines.

• Manage a broad range of bid preparation activities for the development of large, complex, and competitive submissions including the coordination of the proposal development process with the research and proposal teams, partner management, proposal writing support, and quality assurance and control
• Provide technical expertise in the development of strategic project designs that would enable successful implementation of research for development projects that align with the clients’ specific requirements
• Analyze and confirm eligibility of new resource opportunities to direct resource mobilization initiatives on high probability bids
• Lead project design and planning processes within research and regional programs to advise on how programs could be adjusted to make them more effective and responsive to donor trends
• Develop and compile non-technical proposal submission requirements such as CVs, project references, and other supporting documents required for submission, contracting, and due diligence checks
• Coordinate with proposal teams and facilitate the preparation of a proposal development plan ensuring they are well informed on the donor requirements and compliant with internal standards and processes prior to submission.
• Partner with Finance to ensure that budget proposals are competitive and adhere to full cost recovery guidelines and most advantageous to IRRI in design
• Engage with the IRRI Technology Transfer (ITT) unit on any submissions involving the private sector or with complex IP issues to protect IRRI’s intellectual assets and financial interests
• Engage with and advise Research Directors, the Deputy Director General for Research, Deputy Director General for Strategy
• Engagement and Impact (as needed), and all other assigned proposal reviewers on administrative and process-related aspects of proposals to ensure that appropriate decisions and recommendations on packaging and submission are taken
• Advise proposal teams on project design/planning processes within research and regional programs on how proposals could be adjusted to make them more effective and responsive
• Synthesize and provide to the proposal development team, useful information on relevant policies, R&D priorities, donor updates, country plans, etc. to strengthen proposal content and its overall competitiveness
• Ensure all submissions developed have approval to be pursued before significant time is invested in development, and that their development aligns with guidance given by the research leadership team (RLT)
• Ensure that all proposals comply with both the technical and non-technical documents (i.e. CVs, logical framework, Project references) required for submission, contracting and due diligence checks
• Enforce quality control standards including a systematic process for all submissions of documents shared internally and externally
• Cultivate opportunities for funding and continuously improve systems, tools, and templates used to support proposal teams
• Develop templates for common/repetitive tasks that would allow for organized storage of information to support the efficient and expedient development of proposals
• Develop strategies for project design that enable successful implementation of research for development projects that align to client’s specific requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Communication, Social Science, Finance, or other related field; with relevant professional experience of 6 years in resource mobilization or project proposal development; knowledge or familiarity with research and development stages in agriculture/rice is preferred
• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Communication, Social Science, Finance, or other related field; with relevant professional experience of 4 years in resource mobilization or project proposal development; knowledge or familiarity with research and development stages in agriculture/rice is preferred

Mandatory

• Experience of working in, and with, international organizations
• Strong project management experience
• Ability to operate spreadsheets, databases and word processing programs at a highly proficient level.
• Proficient in developing project logical framework, theory of change and/or other applicable project development frameworks

Preferred

• Advanced knowledge of financial accounting and budgeting, as well as financial planning and analysis
• Ability to synthesize and summarize large volumes of information quickly and
  communicate the main points to stakeholders

IRRI offers a highly extensive employee benefits package inclusive of globally-covered medical insurance, retirement plan, life and accident insurance and other allowances.

Join our team and be part of our story!

Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
This position will remain open until filled.