United States of America: Cost and Pricing Officer

Overview

The Senior Business Proposal and Contracts Specialist is an integral part of the new business development process. Under the direction of the Director, International Business Proposal Development, the Senior Business Proposal and Contract Specialist oversees the development of cost proposals including the MSH budget, budget narrative, cost and price analysis of partner budgets, partner budget negotiations and documentation, The Senior Business Proposal and Contracts Specialist can assist with the development of large and complex proposals, and also trains, mentors, assists, manages and supports the Business Proposal/Contracts Associates on smaller proposals.

Specific Responsibilities

Cost Proposal Development and Submission

• Gather, research, analyze and document all cost assumptions for cost proposal budgets. Obtain US and international cost information, quotes and/or analyze historical costs from similar MSH projects, external vendors (as necessary), MSH finance teams (both headquarters-based and field- based) and local consultants.

• Coordinate with the proposal team on strategic issues involving competitive, realistic and responsive proposal budgets. Ensure that the proposal team is educated on donor requirements and regulations for all cost proposals. Assist TSL to develop cost strategy for individual proposals for review and approval by Director, International Business Proposal Development or CFO.

• Manage assigned subcontractors as a part of the proposal process and perform activities including: preparing Teaming Agreements, send out budget assumptions, taking the lead in negotiating budgets with a focus on cost realism and cost and price analysis, documentation for costs proposed and ensuring final submissions conform to donor requirements

• Develop and revise complex proposal budgets in accordance with donor requirements, while utilizing advanced Excel spreadsheet techniques.

• Attend and lead proposal budget meetings, provide costs based on proposal design inputs, and propose recommendations to the technical team to develop a competitive proposal.

• Ensuring final submissions conform to donor requirements, and provide assistance in budgeting and other donor requirements to organizations when necessary.

• Review draft and final award documents for consistency of financial data with proposal budgets and provide written and oral analysis.

New Business Development Activities

• Research and analyze various donor requirements for proposal budgeting and project management.

• Create and/or modify budget spreadsheet templates to comply with donor requirements and create and/or revise new budget templates as needed for small proposals or non-U.S. donors/Foundations.

• Provide ongoing formal and informal training to Budget Liaisons and Technical Strategy Leaders on cost proposal budgeting process, SOPs, tools and templates.

• Provide updates to the Cost Proposal Unit proposal tracking sheet. Maintain and revise (on an ongoing basis) content for the Cost Proposal Unit Training Manual.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participate in the development of Finance & Operations/CPU work plan.
• Attend Finance and Operations, BDS, CPU staff meetings. Prepare and present on assigned topics at the weekly CPU staff meetings.
• Perform math checking of pipeline budgets as necessary.
• Assist in researching and compiling information from the Internet and other sources in order to update and maintain donor regulations
• Provide other administrative support to Finance and Operations Office staff as necessary.
• Domestic and international travel as required.Qualifications and Experience

Education

Required

• Bachelor’s degree

Preferred

• Master’s degree

Experience

Required

• At least four years of experience working in the development of complex cost proposals and analyzing contracts terms and condition for risk and solutions

Preferred

• Five or more years of related experience

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong computer skills and advanced knowledge of spreadsheets using MS-Excel.
• Advanced analytical and business modeling skills and attention to detail is a must
• Ability to graphically and textually depict data in order to make recommendations to management
• Communicates clearly, effectively and respectfully both verbally and in writing.
• Experience with budgeting and knowledge of working with Foundation, Corporation and Gift giving required
• Experience working with US government rules and regulations preferred.
• Work effectively and contributes to productive work relationship with staff at all levels – both within team and outside of one’s own project or work group.
• Experience with budgeting and knowledge of regulations and policies for non-US donors such as DFID, UN, WB, Gates, etc. preferred

Competencies

• Ability to be flexible and adapt to new and/or unplanned situations to meet the dynamic needs of the organization.
• Customer service oriented.
• Solution-oriented, and can troubleshoot challenges as they arise.
• Ability to problem solve, and needs to be a team player.
• English language skills required. Foreign language (Spanish or French) preferred.

Physical Demands

• Ability to travel as needed, possibility 5% to 10%
• Keyboard use, pulling drawers, lifting papers <10 lbs, etc.

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/9624/cost-and-pricing-officer/job