Business Development Talent Officer

Job Summary:

This role will play a critical role in designing, identifying, and coordinating internal and external teams for competitive business development proposals. You will work closely with technical experts, proposal managers, talent pools, and partner organisations to map technical expertise, identify key personnel, and collaborate with proposal writers, technical leads, and the BD Lead to assemble competitive, donor-aligned teams for national and international proposals in the development sector.

This role is ideal for an individual who thrives at the intersection of people strategy and proposal development, and enjoys building high-performing, cross-functional teams for complex development sector bids. If you have an eye for matching talent with technical needs, a knack for coordination under tight deadlines, and experience navigating donor requirements, this role offers an exciting opportunity to make a tangible impact on global development projects.

The successful candidate will be expected to work with a high level of autonomy and initiative, proactively solving problems and making decisions that keep proposal timelines on track and teams aligned.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Proposal Team Composition

• Analyse RFPs, RFAs, and ToRs to understand client requirements for roles, experience, and qualifications.
• Lead the end-to-end process of identifying and finalising team structures for business development proposals.
• Strategically select and assemble teams with the right mix of skills and expertise for each assignment.

2.Expert Identification & Coordination

• Coordinate with internal teams and external consultants to identify suitable candidates.
• Build and maintain a talent database of sectoral experts, advisors, and field professionals.
• Lead initial outreach and engagement with proposed candidates, including bio-data and CV alignment, daily rates negotiation etc.

3. Vetting, Documentations and Process Improvements:

• Review consultant capabilities and ensure alignment of team profiles with project needs.
• Support the preparation of personnel-related annexes (CVs, biodata forms, position descriptions).
• Customise and optimise CVs for researchers and consultants to align with the specific requirements of proposals.
• Stay informed about key donor trends in staffing expectations (USAID, FCDO, BMGF, etc.)
• Continuously assess and enhance expert identification strategies to increase efficiency and client satisfaction.
• Representation and Subcontractor Engagement: Act as the face of Includovate when approaching potential consultants.
• Virtual Team Coordination: Manage and coordinate teams in a virtual environment to ensure effective communication and collaboration.

Experience and skills:

• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in proposal development, BD operations, or resourcing in the development or consulting sector.
• Strong understanding of donor-funded project staffing norms.
• Proven experience in leading team composition for large, multi-stakeholder proposals.
• Familiarity with institutional donors (e.g., USAID, FCDO, GIZ, UNICEF, UNDP, ADB, World Bank).
• Excellent coordination, relationship-building, and communication skills.
• Proficient in MS Office, Google Workspace, and project documentation.
• Organisational or project management experience, preferably in research or consultancy settings. 
• Demonstrated expertise in CV writing, editing, and tailoring for diverse audiences.
• Experience working in virtual teams and managing remote collaboration.
• Experience representing a firm and negotiating rates with external contractors.

Work Location: Although it is largely a remote assignment, we prefer someone based in the South Asian time zone. Successful candidates must have access to a computer or laptop with a high-speed internet connection.

Employment Type: This is a twelve-month, full-time, contractual position with a high probability of extension based on performance and financial considerations. 

Work hours: Flexible working arrangements apply, with some work falling outside core business hours to accommodate time zone differences and business development needs.

Remuneration: We offer competitive remuneration depending on the candidate’s base location and role suitability.