United States of America: Senior Proposal Writer

Overview

This position works primarily on multimillion-dollar international public health proposals for various donors, including USAID and DFID. The Senior Proposal Writer works with the Technical Strategy Lead and Proposal Manager to ensure that final proposals are responsive to the needs of the client and reflect the technical approach of MSH and its partners.

Specific Responsibilities

Writing of proposals, applications, expressions of interest, and other procurement documents

• Drafting: Draft sections of proposals as requested by the Proposal Manager and Technical Strategy Lead, which may include the technical approach, management plan, personnel section, executive summary, and/or capabilities statement, in close coordination with the Technical Strategy Lead
• Research: Contribute to identifying and reviewing background materials to use in writing technical proposals or to provide to other team writers
• Outlining: Develop annotated outlines for proposals in collaboration with the proposal team, working closely with technical experts and the Proposal Manager/Coordinator
• Coordination: Coordinate with other writers to meet all deadlines for proposal drafts
• Rewriting: Rewrite and rework sections of proposals submitted by other writers as needed, including condensing sections to meet length requirements
• Capability statements: Work with proposal teams to ensure that the institutional capability statements and past performance narratives of MSH and partners are relevant to the technical proposal
• Staffing sections: Work with the human resources team to ensure that job descriptions, biographical summaries, and CVs of proposed staff accurately reflect their skills and accomplishments in relation to procurement requirements

Development of technical strategies for proposals

• Actively participate in strategy sessions to help to develop the technical approach and strategies and identify win themes
• Work with the Technical Strategy Lead and graphic designer to help develop high-quality, compelling graphic portrayals of key concepts and strategies

Positioning

• Within a target geographic portfolio, technical area, and/or priority donor, work collaboratively with designated BSA, Center, and field staff to develop and implement positioning strategies to strengthen MSH stature, credibility, and likelihood of winning new business, including, but not limited to, intelligence gathering (desk and field), analysis, and information sharing

Quality assurance and review of proposals

• Check that technical proposals are responsive/compliant, sound, internally consistent, and appropriately address all procurement requirements
• Review drafts of selected proposals to make recommendations to improve responsiveness/compliance, organization, and clarity

Proposal editing

• Edit selected proposals in accordance with the standards of the Business & Resource Development Unit

Capacity building

• Build the capacity of other staff in proposal writing and editing

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Required

• Postgraduate degree in English, communications, health sciences, international development, journalism, or related field.

Experience

Required

• A minimum of 7 years of writing experience including at least 5 years in writing and substantive editing of international development-related materials, including competitive proposals, in a professional setting.

Knowledge and Skills

• Outstanding skills in persuasive writing and the ability to present technical ideas in a concise way that is relatively free of jargon.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Word.
• Ability to interview technical experts and use information to craft easily understood language. Ability to take in and process reviewers’ comments and other feedback and make sound decisions about when to ask questions.
• Experience in writing proposals for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), other US government agencies, and/or other donors.
• Familiarity with issues related to international development, public health, the social sector, or the social sciences desired.
• Ability to quickly research and identify factual information.
• Strong editing skills.
• Experience working in developing countries and understanding of field realities and social needs.
• Professional proficiency in Spanish or French a plus.

Competencies

• A love of writing and crafting clear language, with careful attention to details.
• Flexibility, tact, and ability to work with diverse kinds of team members under tight deadlines.
• Ability to perform well under pressure and in challenging environments.
• Good verbal communication.
• Self-motivated and capable of taking the initiative.
• Strategic thinker who can work with designers to convey strategies and themes visually.

Physical Demands

• Keyboard use, pulling drawers, lifting papers <10 lbs. Ability to travel internationally, approximately 20% time and on short notice.

Background Information

Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a global health nonprofit organization, uses proven approaches developed over 40 years to help leaders, health managers, and communities in developing nations build stronger health systems for greater health impact. We work to save lives by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health. Since its founding in 1971, MSH has worked in over 150 countries with policy makers, health professionals, and health care consumers to improve the quality, availability and affordability of health services. Working with governments, donors, non governmental organizations, the private sector, and health agencies, MSH responds to priority health problems such as HIV & AIDS; tuberculosis; malaria; maternal, newborn and child health; family planning and reproductive health; and chronic non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and lung and heart disease. Through strengthening capacity, investing in health systems innovation, building the evidence base, and advocating for sound public health policy, MSH is committed to making a lasting difference in global health.

EEO Statement

Management Sciences for Health is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or veteran status.

https://jobs-msh.icims.com/jobs/9711/senior-proposal-writer/job