Proposal Writer

Mercy Corps Europe; United States; Remote; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercy Corps is building a roster of experienced international development professionals with a proven track record in proposal writing and program design for diverse donors. Consultants will support high-quality submissions and work across humanitarian and development contexts.

The roster emphasizes strong technical and analytical writing, collaboration across time zones, and flexible support for regional opportunities.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in program design, development and implementation for donors.

Responsibilities

• Draft and draft review of proposal sections to ensure coherence and flow.
• Coordinate with Country Directors, Technical Teams and BD team for inputs.
• Lead or support proposal design workshops and strategic papers as needed.

Skills

Proposal writing

Technical writing

Donor engagement

Program design

English proficiency

Project management

Team leadership

Education

BA/BS or MSc in development

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

G Suite

Job description

International Consultancy Roster - Proposal Writer

Description

The purpose of the consultancy roster is to establish a pool of potential consultants who may be considered for future consultancy opportunities with Mercy Corps. Inclusion on the roster does not guarantee selection, engagement, or any contractual obligation.

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.

Purpose / Project Description:

Given the high volume of new business opportunities in the pipeline, Mercy Corps' Business Development team is looking to develop a roster of experienced international development professionals with a track record of strong program design and deep proposal development and writing experience with a variety of donors (including, but not limited to the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the EU, AFD, private donors, etc...). The consultants will be called upon to support in the drafting of quality submissions for diverse funding opportunities across the region.

Consultant Objectives:

The Consultant will provide strong technical design and writing inputs, as needed, for both humanitarian and development response proposals and strategy papers. The Consultant should be ready to work collaboratively with the team on the ground, and flexible to support work in the time zones that span the region.

Consultant Activities:

Broadly, activities will take the form of strategic pre-positioning efforts for large, complex bids, as well as immediate writing and proposal management support for opportunities that are already under development. This could include:

• Providing technical input into proposal design for development bids focused on areas aligned with Mercy Corps' global strategy
• Drafting context and technical approach sections for these proposals
• Drafting context or needs assessment sections of humanitarian response programs, including proposals focused on WASH, shelter, multi-purpose cash assistance, and protection
• Serving as a "consolidating" writer for either development or humanitarian response proposals to ensure the document flows clearly and coherently
• Writing strategic papers or concepts in alignment with country or regional strategy priorities, as requested by the Deputy Regional Director
• Serving as Team Lead or Proposal Manager for strategic bids.

Consultant Deliverables:

Deliverables will be determined based on the specific proposal development needs as determined by the BD Team during the period of performance. Throughout the consultancy, the Consultant will:

• Draft and submit on time high quality writing for assigned proposal sections, as needed
• Provide on time detailed reviews and strong edits to submissions to ensure coherence and logical flow
• Actively participate in design workshops to help teams develop and refine strong technical approaches, as needed

Timeframe / Schedule:

Open contract - with possible 3-6 month engagements

The Consultant will report to:

Varies depending on the opportunity

The Consultant will work closely with:

Country Directors/Deputy Country Directors/Country Technical Teams involved in the proposal writing process; Global Business Development team members, as needed; HQ technical team members, as needed

Consultant Required Experience and Skills:

• 5+ years of experience and proven track record in successful program design, development, and implementation for various donors; experience with development as well as humanitarian proposal writing
• Exceptional written and interpersonal communication skills
• Applicants with strong technical expertise in the following fields are also encouraged to apply: climate adaptation, food security, market system developments, social cohesion, gender
• Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines
• BA/S or equivalent required; Master's degree in international development or a related field preferred
• Native-level spoken and written English

Team Engagement and Effectiveness

Equal Employment Opportunity

Safeguarding & Ethics Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.