Strategic Proposals & Donor Engagement Manager

Socket.dev; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

401(k) match

Paid time off

Volunteer time-off

Professional development

Headspace access

Job summary

USA for UNHCR is seeking a Manager of Program Engagement to drive development of high-value donor proposals and materials, translating complex program content into compelling donor narratives. You will coordinate cross-functionally, lead concept notes and reports, and ensure compliance with donor requirements across private philanthropy audiences.

The role emphasizes relationship-driven communication, strategic liaison duties, and strong project management to advance donor stewardship and impact

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• 5 or more years of experience in proposal and grant writing for principal donors and in project or grant management.
• Experience in international programs and fundraising/donor relations for private philanthropy preferred.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to synthesize complex and technical information into clear, compelling content for principal donors as well as to develop technical materials, including proposals, grant applications, budgets, and impact reports
• Experience managing or supervising staff, including goal setting, coaching, and performance monitoring, with the ability and interest to take on people management responsibilities to support organizational growth
• Strong knowledge of grant management, project management principles, and proposal development processes
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple high-priority projects in a fast-paced environment with strong attention to detail, follow through, and adaptability
• Strong decision making, strategic thinking, and problem-solving abilities, with skill in navigating diverse stakeholder dynamics and communicating diplomatically
• Ability to identify and implement workflow and process improvements that increase team efficiency and operational clarity
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Excel, Salesforce or similar CRMs, and project management tools such as Jira
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, respond quickly to evolving needs, and maintain an inclusive, growth-oriented team environment
• Commitment to providing high-quality customer service to internal and external stakeholders
• Understanding of refugee issues, humanitarian programs, and global affairs, gained through professional or lived experience

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of complex funding opportunities involving multiple stakeholders, workstreams, and deadlines, ensuring timely execution, clear accountability, and effective project management throughout the opportunity lifecycle
• Lead the development of concept notes, proposals and reports from conception through delivery, including outreach to UNHCR to identify programs and activities that align with donor interests, drafting, and finalizing proposals, concept notes, and reports
• Serve as a strategic liaison between fundraisers and UNHCR focal points, maintaining strong relationships, transparent communication, and effective coordination to advance donor cultivation and stewardship
• Lead complex negotiations with UNHCR and internal stakeholders, ensuring objectives, project terms, and deliverables are clearly defined, agreed upon, and met
• Develop compelling, relationship-centered proposals and donor materials that synthesize complex programmatic, technical, and budget information into clear, persuasive content demonstrating need, impact, and funding outcomes for principal gift audiences
• Craft concise, emotionally resonant narratives that incorporate human stories and context to strengthen donor engagement, deepen connection, and inspire philanthropic support
• Coordinate and guide the creation of evergreen content tailored for private philanthropy audiences, ensuring alignment with annual priorities and donor engagement calendars
• Serve as a subject matter expert on UNHCR programs, emergencies, and thematic priorities, and on USA for UNHCR and donor requirements, proactively identifying opportunities and strengthening donor-facing materials
• Ensure strict compliance with USA for UNHCR and UNHCR policies, donor requirements, technical specifications, and reporting obligations, including conducting quality reviews prior to submission
• Establish standardized workflows, resource materials, and process improvements to streamline collaboration, enhance efficiency, and elevate organizational practices in funding opportunity development
• Build organizational capacity by supporting and delivering staff training on UNHCR priorities, donor expectations, funding processes, and effective proposal development
• Support the development of corporate, foundation, and civil society funding opportunities as needed, including outreach to UNHCR, proposal development, and donor reporting
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

Proposal writing

Grant management

Stakeholder management

Project management

Editorial judgment

Microsoft Office

Excel

Salesforce

Jira

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

5+ years proposal writing experience

International programs & fundraising experience

Exceptional written and verbal communications

Staff supervision experience

Tools

Jira

Salesforce

Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

USA for UNHCR is seeking a Manager of Program Engagement to drive development of high-value donor proposals and materials, translating complex program content into compelling donor narratives. You will coordinate cross-functionally, lead concept notes and reports, and ensure compliance with donor requirements across private philanthropy audiences.

The role emphasizes relationship-driven communication, strategic liaison duties, and strong project management to advance donor stewardship and impact