Director, Business Development, Economic Growth Division

Overview

Background:

Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions, and stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.

Position Summary:

This is a senior-level position responsible for leading and performing specialized, complex business development work, coaching, and mentoring others, and overseeing various business development activities for the Economic Growth Division. Creative’s economic growth areas of focus include private sector competitiveness, market-oriented workforce, technical and vocational training, market systems, livelihoods, trade and investment, and access to finance, with a focus on working with youth, and working in fragile and conflict-affected states and non-permissive environments. Responsibilities include ensuring the development and delivery of competitive contract proposals and cooperative agreement applications beginning with identification and prioritization of opportunities, advising on pre-bid intelligence gathering efforts, leading preparatory efforts for bid pursuits, developing partnerships and client relationships, managing procurement opportunities, and ensuring effective cross-divisional and functional collaboration on bid pursuits across the company. The incumbent also takes a lead role in building Creative’s business development capacity, to include contributing to knowledge management, and documenting best practices and lessons learned to drive continuous improvement.

 

Reporting & Supervision:

The Director, Business Development, Economic Growth Division works under the direction of and reports to the Vice President of the Economic Growth Division. While this position has no direct reports, it includes extensive coordination and collaboration with team members from the Economic Growth Division, Education Division, Communities in Transition Division, Business Development Division, Contracts and Pricing, Knowledge Management, and Human Resources.

Responsibilities

Expected Outcomes:

• Provides exceptional contributions to Creative’s growth strategy and global impact;
• Successfully leads the development and delivery of winning proposals;
• Coaches and mentors Economic Growth Division staff in business development;
• Serves as a dynamic leader for business development across the company; develops and nurtures desired synergies and alliances within the market and for specific new bid opportunities;

Serves as a key leader representing Creative within the international development industry; stays abreast of latest developments, innovations, and best practices in economic growth focus areas, cross cutting areas, and donor priorities.

 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Serves as a key leader in the end-to-end capture and proposal development within the Economic Growth business portfolio to include ensuring quality capture plans, proposal solutioning, and strategic positioning are implemented relevant to the technical market sector;
• Identifies, prioritizes, and qualifies opportunities that align with Creative’s program and business objectives;
• Oversees specific capture and proposal activities for Economic Growth’s pipeline, including identifying capture and proposal team resource requirements, estimation of bid costs, and early opportunity assessment and bid/no bid decision; serves as a vital color team reviewer; tracks overall capture and proposal spending, ensuring efficient use of resources;
• Coordinates closely with Creative’s Business Development Division as well as corporate support teams (e.g., Cost & Pricing, Global Operations, Communications, HR) to achieve quality capture and project design, as needed;
• Performs rapid formal assessments of company’s capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses for each potential pursuit in the company’s pipeline; contributes to capture teams’ development of the company’s win strategy;
• Leads high interest target captures and live proposals, when needed, serving as Technical Lead or Lead Writer;
• Develops value-add teaming strategies and competitively priced-to-win structures and solutions for specific new bid opportunities;
• Contributes to development of Economic Growth partnership strategy, including identifying new local, U.S. small business, and private sector partners of strategic interest;
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