United States of America: Donor Engagement Officer II


Position Title: Donor Engagement Officer II – Non-USG
Department: Institutional Donor Engagement & Advancement Department (IDEA)
Location: Baltimore, MD
Band: D
FLSA: Exempt
Reports To: Director, Non-USG Public Donor Engagement


About CRS:
Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.
Job Background:
CRS’ IDEA department advances the agency’s strategic position by managing and stewarding institutional donor relationships and resources, supporting the growth of CRS’ business and influence, and building the capacity of staff across the spectrum of resource acquisition and management. Donor-focused units within the department provide relationship management, business development and award management expertise; deep knowledge of donor priorities and business processes; and coordination of donor engagement strategies that integrate multiple points of contact across organizational functions. The Non-USG Donor Engagement Team, newly expanded within the department, supports the establishment and expansion of institutional relationships with foreign government donors and multi-lateral organizations, providing specialized knowledge, direct support for specific opportunities and awards, research on and outreach to emerging donor entities, as well as global capacity strengthening and best practice leadership within CRS’ decentralized operating model. The Donor Engagement Officer (DEO) position will sit within this team’s Emerging Donor Engagement Unit (EDEU). The DEO will support agency-level positioning and contribute to the development of CRS’s agency-level engagement strategy for priority donors. S/he will conduct research and analysis to build the agency’s understanding of priority donors, and will support pursuit of funding opportunities, administration of awards, establishment of systems and processes to meet donor requirements, and achievement of CRS’ engagement strategies for a portfolio of priority public institutional donors, including foreign bilateral, multi-lateral and emerging donor agencies.


Key Responsibilities
Research & Analysis


  • Identify and prioritize non USG public funding sources, and drive the development of CRS’ competitive intelligence base about donor priorities and funding trends.

  • Research, track and analyze new business opportunities, and analyze information about CRS’ performance on current programming. Maintain accurate business pipeline and performance data through CRS’ online system.

  • Identify and execute appropriate actions in response to donor trends and policies. Collaborate with relevant teams, departments and divisions to support the development of CRS’ organizational position and response.

  • Monitor relevant metrics to inform opportunity and revenue forecasting, improve award compliance and performance, and proactively influence donor trends.

Positioning and Donor Cultivation


  • Support the cultivation and strengthening of institutional relationships with select donors, partner organizations, and other collaborators. Assist with assessing the “fit” between donor priorities and CRS priorities.

  • Lead the development and implementation of strategic engagement and positioning plans for priority donors. Support actions to help shape the donors’ understanding of CRS, including organizational visibility, senior-level interaction and representation, and opportunity creation, in partnership with relevant field and HQ staff.

  • As appropriate, engage directly with donor representatives in coordination with CRS technical, senior management, and/or executive staff.

Opportunity Pursuit


  • Provide expertise to country program, regional and HQ staff regarding donor procedures and processes for accessing funding. As applicable, oversee the use of donor registrations and electronic portals.

  • Give direct technical assistance to CRS staff on capture planning, bid analysis, and proposal preparation and/or review for specific non USG donor opportunities.

  • As appropriate, serve in a key role on proposal teams.

Stewardship and Compliance


  • Research, understand, interpret, and advise country programs on donor regulations, guidance and work preferences, and requirements pertaining to programming and award management.

  • Help country programs strategize on best approaches to take with various donors to advance CRS interests, troubleshoot award administration issues.

  • As requested, review agreements, protocols, budgets and other complex donor documents for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with CRS policies and donor requirements. · Analyze award management, compliance and implementation issues that may impact the relationship with the donor. Liaise with relevant stakeholders and contribute to solutions to ensure compliance.

Capacity Building & Knowledge Management


  • Document and communicate lessons from proposals and ongoing grant performance to improve field and HQ management and operations.

  • Develop capacity statements, past performance references, and other materials to document and market CRS’ experience with select non USG donors.

  • Develop, disseminate, train on, and model the use of tools and resources related to priority Non USG donors.

  • Contribute to the improvement and uptake of CRS’ global pipeline and project information system, modeling the use of competitive intelligence and data analytics for strategic planning, end-to-end relationship management, and investment decisions.

  • In partnership with IDEA’s Knowledge Management and Learning team and other relevant departments and divisions, improve CRS staff capacity and business processes in relationship management, competitive positioning, opportunity creation and pursuit, award management, and leveraging of results.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff): These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.


  • Serves with Integrity

  • Models Stewardship

  • Cultivates Constructive Relationships

  • Promotes Learning

Key Working Relationships:
External: Contacts within targeted donor agencies, relevant peer organizations and industry networks. Internal: HQ-based and field-based Overseas Operations staff and other relevant HQ departments.


Qualifications:


  • Masters Degree in Development, International Relations, or relevant field preferred; equivalent experience acceptable.

  • Minimum 5 years of relevant experience, including direct proposal development and/or grant or contract administration experience with institutional donors. Overseas work experience preferred.

  • Knowledge of the requirements and priorities of non USG institutional donors or other emerging donors, such as DFID, the EU, the World Bank, and United Nations agencies.

  • Experience with intelligence gathering, strategic planning and donor cultivation highly desirable.

  • Experience with adult learning, training, capacity building and tools development a plus.

  • Ability to work both independently and within a team structure.

  • Demonstrated ability to show initiative and follow through on tasks.

  • Ability to both see the big picture and give attention to detail.

  • Strong interpersonal, organizational, and analytical skills.

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.

  • Knowledge of CRS programs, justice agenda and Catholic Social Teaching principles, a plus.

  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet) required, experience with Salesforce or similar programs is a plus.

  • Ability and willingness to travel overseas as needed, up to 25%.

  • Fluency in English required; working ability in French or Spanish a plus.

This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, efforts, duties, and responsibilities.


Disclaimer:This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.


NOTE: All interested applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. at the time of application.


CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.


Equal Opportunity Employer





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