Description:
The Proposal Development Associate will play a critical role in supporting the preparation of competitive proposals by focusing on strategic proposal components such as team composition, structure and organizational experience. The incumbent will be responsible for sourcing external consultants that meet the requirements of the Terms of References (ToRs) using internal and external databases and repositories through close coordination and collaboration with the Proposal Developer and Quality Assurance Lead. A major component of the role involves preparing key expert profiles and tailoring CVs that highlight their capabilities and fit for the role/positions. Additionally, the Proposal Development Associate will support proposal development by creating visuals and infographics and contribute to strategic communication and marketing products such as brochures and concept notes. This is a highly collaborative role that requires a forensic attention to detail, the ability to work under pressure and demanding deadlines. The ideal candidate will have experience in using graphic design software like Canva (or Adobe Illustrator) to create infographics and visuals, along with strong organizational and written communication skills for managing and tailoring expert profiles to the specificities of each proposal.
Job Responsibilities (include but are not limited to):
- Proactively search for external consultants to join Cynosure’s bids for tenders and collaborate with internal teams to prepare key expert profiles (both internal and external) to align with the scope and requirements of each proposal.
- Tailor and edit CVs of internal staff and external consultants to highlight relevant expertise and experience for each bid.
- Maintain and update the internal consultant database with new profiles, ensuring that all records are current, organized, and easy to access for future bids.
- Use Canva and other graphic design software to create infographics, charts, and other visuals that enhance the technical proposals and make them more engaging for clients.
- Assist in the development of strategic proposal components, such as organizational experience, project management, and team structure, which are critical for demonstrating Cynosure’s capability and fit for the project.
- Ensure that all proposal sections comply with the formatting, content, and submission requirements outlined by the client.
- Coordinate with internal teams to gather necessary inputs for the proposal, ensuring that all deliverables are submitted on time and in line with client expectations.
- Communicate and coordinate with partner firms to ensure timely submission of required documentation and information;
- Ensure final submission is compliant with donor/client regulations and instructions in the solicitation;
- Create and/or modify brochures, concept notes, and or content for strategic communications on a need basis.
Key Requirements:
- An individual with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Business, International Relations, Development Studies, or a related field; candidates with degrees from international institutions are highly preferred;
- 1-2 years of experience in proposal development, preferably in an organization working in the international development sector, such as an NGO or consultancy firm
- Excellent knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) is required;•
- Knowledge and skills in Photo editing and creation tools (Canva, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator etc.) are required;
- Ability to summarize complex documents, and identify client compliance requirements in tender and related documents;
- Ability and willingness to work overtime when deadlines approach;
- Ability and willingness to manage commute to the office reliably;
- Demonstrating excellent time management / prioritization skills;
- Comfortable with continuous quality management, process improvement, coordination, and strategic planning mechanisms;
- Self-starter and ambitious personality who enjoys working in a fast-paced team environment, with proven ability to prioritize multiple tasks and work efficiently and independently, within a strict deadline-oriented environment; and
- Disposition to work in small and dynamic teams.