Overview

Join AIR as a Senior Business Development and Project Management Specialist with our International Development Division (IDD) and make a difference, improving the quality of life for individuals and communities in low and middle income countries. AIR’s IDD work spans the globe with projects in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Central and Latin America, and the Middle East.

Our IDD team is committed and engaged because we drive positive change in the following areas:

• Agriculture, food, and nutrition

• Early childhooddevelopment and education

• Refugees and migration

• Social protection

• Water, sanitation, and infrastructure

• Women's empowerment

• Workforce development

Use your experience, knowledge, and education to help us deliver on our mission: to contribute to a better, more equitable world

AIR International is currently seeking a Senior Business Development and Project Management Specialist tojoin our International Development Divisionto grow AIR’s reputation in research, monitoring, evaluation and learning and achieve its business objectives in East Africa.The position will involve collaborating closely with AIR’s Managing Director for the Kenya and Ethiopia officesto represent AIR at meetings with potential funders and policymakers to learn about funding opportunities, publicize AIR’s capabilities, and to enhance AIR’s visibility throughout the region. S/he willtap into international donor organizations, international and local NGOs and civil society organizations, national government agencies, and academic institutions to develop a deep understanding of their needs in the following sectors – basic education, training and vocational education, global health, food, nutrition, agriculture, and climate change. S/he will leverage, and supplement current systems focused on identification of new business opportunities and coordinate proposal efforts in one or more of these sectors.

The Senior Business Development and Project Management Specialist is also expected to provide monitoring, evaluation, and collaborating, learning, and adapting support to current projects. S/he will engage project stakeholders in gathering information and lessons emerging from program implementation and ensure their use by project participants.

This position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya and candidates hired for the position must be eligible to work there.

About AIR:

Established in 1946, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, AIR is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institution that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. We advance evidence in the areas of education, health, the workforce, human services, and international development to create a better, more equitable world.

AIR’s commitment to diversity goes beyond legal compliance to its full integration in our strategy, operations, and work environment. At AIR, we define diversity broadly, considering everyone’s unique life and community experiences.We believe that embracing diverse perspectives, abilities/disabilities, racial/ethnic and cultural backgrounds, styles, ages, genders, gender identities and expressions, education backgrounds, and life stories drives innovation and employee engagement. Learn more about AIR's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy and hear from our staff byclicking here (https://www.air.org/our-commitment-diversity-equity-and-inclusion) .

Responsibilities

The responsibilities for the position include:

Business development (60% LOE to start)

• Gathers business reconnaissance data to provide information about social, demographic, and economic indicators, and funding trends.

• Maps and establishes and maintains relationships with potential partners in East Africa.

• Identifies and develops new business leads and supports business development planning, capture, and proposal writing.

• Leads proposal efforts in response to clients requests and drafts solicited and unsolicited proposals and concepts to generate and win new business.

• Promotes AIR’s values, standards, and unique capabilities by attending events, networking with clients and counterparts, and displaying a clear understanding of AIR’s service offerings.

• Discusses research and evaluation approaches for different studies, and evidence-based decision making with donor agencies and governments.

• S/he may also be required to provide program management and technical support to US Government and other international donor-funded projects which might include budget oversight, management of subcontractors, compliance of field projects with donor requirements, mentoring and training of staff and monitoring performance.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (40% LOE to start)

• Facilitates pause and reflect sessions, peer-to-peer learning; knowledge management, sharing, and application of collaborating, learning and adapting techniques.

• Facilitates MEL plan development, including indicators and methods to ensure consistent, rigorous collection and analysis.

• Supports the development of quality communications to external stakeholders to influence thought leadership and future programming.

• Reviews project deliverables to ensure they are of high quality and meet the needs of the various audiences such as USAID, counterparts in government, and other stakeholders.

• Performs other duties and responsibilities as required.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in a discipline related to international development or business management.

• Content knowledge in at least one or more of the following areas: education, global health, food security, nutrition, agriculture, climate change, training and vocational education, monitoring, evaluation, learning and adapting.

• At least 8 years (with a BA) or 7 years (with a MA) related experience in business development and/or project management for internationally funded programs.

• Demonstrated experience in organizational and peer-to-peer learning, capacity strengthening, and collaborative learning and adaptation.

• Established networks with international donors such as the UN, UNICEF, USAID, Gates Foundation, World Bank, and other implementers.

• Demonstrated experience leading and mentoring junior staff and conducting internal training related to proposal development and project life cycle, will be an advantage.

Skills:

• Excellent organizational and time management skills; ability to prioritize and multi-task, and work under and adhere to tight deadlines.

• Excellent writing skills and ability to translate complex technical language and ideas into a form easily comprehensible to non-technical audiences.

• Excellent cross-cultural and interpersonal communication skills and sensitivity in dealing with diverse audiences.

• Demonstrable initiative, creativity, and flexibility.

• Demonstrable ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate efficiently in a virtual work environment.

Disclosures:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.

AIR adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo reference and background checks.

AIR maintains adrug-free work environment (https://www.air.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/Workplace-Drug-Policy-2023.pdf) .

Fraudulent Job Scams Warning & Disclaimer:

AIR is aware of individuals falsely presenting themselves as AIR representatives.Fraudulent job scams seek to extract sensitive information or money from victims. To protect yourself, please be aware that AIR recruitment will only email you from an “@air.org” domain. Please take extra caution while examining the email address, for example jdoe @air.org is correct and jdoe @aircareers.org is not a legitimate AIR email address . If you are unsure of the legitimacy of a communication you have received, please reach outto recruitment@air.org .

If you see a job scam, or lose money to one, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov . You can also report it to your state attorney general . Find out more about how to avoid scams at ftc.gov/scams .

Submit an interest application (https://jobs-airdc.icims.com/jobs/12962/senior-business-development-and-project-management-specialist/job?mode=apply&apply=yes&in_iframe=1&hashed=1374627785)

Please note, each section of the application is required in order for you to be considered for this opportunity. If you do not complete the required screening questions, or if you close your browser before completing each section of the application, your application will not be submitted for this position.

American Institutes for Research is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to excellence through diversity. Minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.

American Institutes for Research’s commitment to Diversity goes beyond legal compliance to its full integration in our strategy, operations and work environment. Diversity is valued and Inclusion is reflected in all efforts to recruit, develop, and engage the diverse staff needed to accomplish our mission.

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to Taliba Boone at tboone@air.org or call 202.403.5000.

Job Location KE-Nairobi

Job ID 12962

Job Location Kenya

Category Proposal Development