Position description
The Director, US Government Donor Engagement will lead, guide and coordinate IRC’s funding focused engagement with key Washington DC based donors and partners, in particular United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State (DoS). The role will provide an internal and external “account management” function to lead engagement with these donors.
It is responsible for providing expertise and leadership on donor relations. It will work closely with technical and proposal development teams who will provide the operational BD capacity to secure significant growth in its funding portfolio from the US Government and to protect IRC’s funding share, through influential engagement around policy shifts. It will partner with the Director, US Government Compliance to ensure policy and compliance regulations are widely understood within IRC and reflected in organizational donor influence.
The Director, US Government Donor Engagement will lead the development and implementation of strategies for proactive donor and partner relationships with key agencies, on behalf of IRC. The role will develop and maintain positive working relationships and standards of collaboration with senior colleagues across the organization, including the Awards Management Unit, International Division (CRRD) and with Policy and Advocacy teams. The role will also lead USG liaison on Business Development with the President’s Office, advising the leadership board on relevant trends in USG funding.
Major Responsibilities:
Strategy
- Collaborate with senior leaders to develop and lead a comprehensive USG-focused business development strategy including approaches, tools, and metrics.
- Oversee the implementation of the USG BD engagement strategy including coordinating actions of relevant stakeholders.
- Develop and maintain a network of senior stakeholders within relevant USG teams to ensure effective engagement, influence and winning, compliant BD approaches.
- Undertake direct representation with donor officials, and support the development of IRC’s donor relationships, including brokering meetings between donors and Regional and Technical Leadership, Country Directors, and supporting the preparation for these engagements.
- Participate in key meetings with USAID and DoS officials, including Desk/Program Officers, Heads of Unit, Director-General/equivalent, advisors and other officials.
External Representation
- Represent the IRC at external meetings, events, and forums including delivering presentations/briefings to senior donor representatives, forums and sector groups.
- Proactively identify and broker relationships with key USAID and DoS officials and stakeholders.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of USAID and DoS strategies relevant to IRC’s work, such as funding priorities, geographical interests and political climate, providing analyses and synopses of press releases, policies and other announcements, and disseminating this information internally.
- Lead the development and implementation of the USAID donor engagement strategy.
- Map donor organizational structure, identify key contacts and maintain relationship records in IRC’s CRM system.
- Maintain tools and resources to support donor engagement and relationship building with donors.
- Contribute to the improvement of donor tools and resources to support engagement and relationship building.
- Work with key staff across the organization to support USAID and DoS business development planning and implementation, routinely engaging with operational BD teams at global, regional and country levels to review long term pipeline, plan strategic engagement and mitigate portfolio risk.
- Equip IRC staff with the skills, tools and information to manage local, or technical donor engagement, business development and implementation.
- Coordinate across IRC teams to ensure consistent, accurate, and timely messaging for USAID and DoS.
- Significant senior experience of working with organizations that engage closely and directly with USAID and US Department of State.
- Strong working understanding of the US political environment and trends relevant to USAID and DoS, and knowledge of their structure, priorities, and financing mechanisms.
- Hold a wide network of contacts within USAID and/ or the Department of State’s refugee facing work.
- Experience of humanitarian and development business development, program management, advocacy or other similar HQ-HQ relationship with USAID and/or Department of State.
- Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, including development of influential reports and briefing documents.
- Ability to lead and manage projects, including working as part of remote/virtual teams.
- Excellent strategic vision and a track record of delivering long-term strategic objectives.
- Good analytical skills and first-class attention to detail. Experience undertaking reviews of policies and reports, producing associated written and verbal guidance relevant to senior and operational staff.
- Strong prioritization skills and organizational skills.
- Ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to collaborate with others and work as part of team.
- Previous experience of working for USAID or equivalent experience of working in partnership with US government agencies.
- Demonstrable experience of driving coordinated advocacy, communications and fundraising programs to access funding.
- Understand programmatic and financial contractual arrangements with donors and partners, including experience of negotiating with donors.
- Experience of working in developing countries, preferably in the context of a USG donor, NGO or International Organization.
- Relevant additional language skills, particularly French or Spanish
Enabling cross organizational engagement with USG
- Develop and maintain a network of senior stakeholders within relevant USG teams to ensure effective engagement, influence and winning, compliant BD approaches.
- Undertake direct representation with donor officials, and support the development of IRC’s donor relationships, including brokering meetings between donors and Regional and Technical Leadership, Country Directors, and supporting the preparation for these engagements.
- Participate in key meetings with USAID and DoS officials, including Desk/Program Officers, Heads of Unit, Director-General/equivalent, advisors and other officials.
- Represent the IRC at external meetings, events, and forums including delivering presentations/briefings to senior donor representatives, forums and sector groups.
Qualifications
- Significant senior experience of working with organizations that engage closely and directly with USAID and US Department of State.
- Strong working understanding of the US political environment and trends relevant to USAID and DoS, and knowledge of their structure, priorities, and financing mechanisms.
- Hold a wide network of contacts within USAID and/ or the Department of State’s refugee facing work.
- Experience of humanitarian and development business development, program management, advocacy or other similar HQ-HQ relationship with USAID and/or Department of State.
- Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, including development of influential reports and briefing documents.
- Ability to lead and manage projects, including working as part of remote/virtual teams.
- Excellent strategic vision and a track record of delivering long-term strategic objectives.
- Good analytical skills and first-class attention to detail. Experience undertaking reviews of policies and reports, producing associated written and verbal guidance relevant to senior and operational staff.
- Strong prioritization skills and organizational skills.
- Ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to collaborate with others and work as part of team.
Preferred experience & skills:
- Previous experience of working for USAID or equivalent experience of working in partnership with US government agencies.
- Demonstrable experience of driving coordinated advocacy, communications and fundraising programs to access funding.
- Understand programmatic and financial contractual arrangements with donors and partners, including experience of negotiating with donors.
- Experience of working in developing countries, preferably in the context of a USG donor, NGO or International Organization.
- Relevant additional language skills, particularly French or Spanish
Compensation: Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.
Application instructions
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