Job description
The Cost Proposal Design Officer contributes to African Wildlife Foundation’s (AWF) Program Design (PD) Department by helping raise funds for key programs. The Cost Proposal Design Officer will be responsible for developing cost applications, budgets and budget narratives for project proposals in coordination with country, program and finance teams in order to raise public funds for existing and planned program activities. Tasks include developing templates and cost reference materials as well as researching, budgeting, writing and submitting cost proposals to public donors. The Cost Proposal Design Officer will also maintain salesforce records to drive cultivation and pipeline management.
Responsibilities
Proposal Development and Budgeting (80%)
As a part of the proposal development team within Program Design and in very close collaboration with the finance team, conducts the full range of activities required to prepare, submit, and manage grant proposals with a specific focus on cost proposals in order to secure public funding.
Working under the leadership of “account managers” on the PD team, supports responding to Request For Proposals:coordinating proposal development teams,working with team leads from finance and programs, developing professional and compelling cost proposals and budget narratives, andputting together designated sections of proposal packages, such as organizational background, certifications and representations, qualifications summaries and past performance.
Assist in executing proposal development team meetings, including agenda development, meeting facilitation, documentation, and follow-up items.
Maintain proposal development calendars and the scheduling of external and internal meetings
Working closely with the Senior Finance Manager:
Develop and standardize internal budgeting/costing processes for cost proposals
Create budget templates compliant to donor requirements.
Develop and update a database for cost figures relevant for AWF offices and landscape/field programs for easy utilization during project budgeting.
Liaise with Human Resources department on costs of employment for staff and keep track of existing and projected level of efforts of staff for proposal budgeting purposes.
Assist in executing project development team meetings, including agenda development, meeting facilitation, documentation, and follow-up items.
Maintain proposal development timelines and the scheduling of external and internal meetings
Provides or secures PD input into technical and financial reports to public donors.
Gathers data on financial flows relevant to strategic planning for program design.
Creates fundraising reports requested by PD “account managers”.
Assists with other research assignments, as assigned.
Project Grant Management Support (20%)
Working closely with account managers as assigned, ensure PD activity is properly recorded in Salesforce/Box and that grants management and financial reporting activities are completed on time. These functions include, but are not limited to:
Assist in the processing of grants in coordination with PD “account managers”, Finance and Program/Country teams.
Support Grant Management teams to ensure compliance and that contractual obligations to donor are met.
Review financial project reports.
Log data relevant to current and prospective funder tracking into PD’s online and offline tracking tools.
Liaise with account managers and PD team members in Nairobi to support proposal development and cultivation activities as needed.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, accounting, business or other relevant field.
Excellent budgeting skills are a must, including the ability to work with technical leads to build accurate cost proposals.
Must possess database management skills.
Must possess strong skills in Microsoft Excel.
Must be proficient in research, interpreting, and analyzing diverse data and processes.
Must possess the ability to work collaboratively and independently to achieve stated goals.
Must be highly organized with the ability to implement systems and follow-up process.
Must possess strong analytical skills.
Must pay attention to detail.
Must have the ability to meet deadlines.
Fluency in written and spoken English is required. French or German language skills are preferred.
