Associate Officer, Science Engagement & Resource Mobilization

Position: Associate Officer, Science Engagement & Resource Mobilization

• Company: Alliance Bioversity & CIAT
• Location: Nairobi, Kenya
• Type of Job: Full-Time
• Reporting to: Senior Manager, Science Engagement & Resource Mobilization, and Research Area Directors
• Application Deadline: 30th November 2024

About the Position

The Associate Officer, Science Engagement & Resource Mobilization role is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the impactful work of the Alliance Bioversity & CIAT in addressing global challenges in agriculture, environment, and rural development. This position is integral to the Partnerships Department, enabling researchers to achieve ambitious fundraising goals. The role involves managing and coordinating high-priority proposals exceeding USD 2 million while ensuring procedural compliance and efficient collaboration between teams. The role can be based at the Nairobi Duduville campus or hybrid within Kenya.

Key Responsibilities

Proposal Management and Coordination

• Lead the end-to-end management of large, complex proposals, ensuring timeline adherence and compliance with funding requirements.
• Coordinate input from multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality, competitive proposals.

Pre-Award Services Coordination

• Act as the primary liaison for pre-award services, ensuring alignment between Finance, Legal, and other support units.
• Oversee budgetary, administrative, and legal requirements for proposals.

Opportunity Analysis and Decision Support

• Provide strategic insights for go/no-go funding decisions by evaluating alignment with organizational goals and likelihood of success.
• Prepare detailed opportunity analyses to support researchers in identifying viable funding streams.

Process Management

• Oversee proposal timelines and ensure seamless information flow among stakeholders, including Lever Program Management Officers and Regional Partnerships Officers.

Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate with researchers to integrate lessons learned from previous proposals to enhance future success rates.
• Share procedural insights with the Science Communications team to ensure proposals are scientifically robust and clearly communicated to funders.

Engagement Responsibilities

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Foster effective communication between Principal Investigators, Lever Directors, and support units.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with Finance, Legal, and administrative teams to integrate requirements into proposals seamlessly.
• Feedback Integration: Drive improvements by reviewing feedback on proposal outcomes.

Delivery Responsibilities

• Proposal Drafting: Lead the creation and refinement of drafts for high-value proposals.
• Guidance Notes Preparation: Develop written guides for major funding calls, ensuring clarity and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Timeline Oversight: Manage proposal deliverables to meet submission deadlines efficiently.

Qualifications and Skills

Education

• Master’s degree in agricultural, environmental, or biological sciences, international development, business administration, or related fields.
• Proficiency in English (C2 level CEFR) with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced French proficiency is desirable.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years in resource mobilization and research proposal development, with a focus on agriculture, environment, or rural development.
• Demonstrated success managing complex proposals worth ≥USD 2 million.
• Experience working in international, multicultural settings.

Technical Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities for proposal assessments.
• Excellent organizational skills for managing multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management tools.

Company Culture and Values

The Alliance Bioversity & CIAT fosters a multicultural and inclusive environment committed to tackling critical global challenges. Employees are encouraged to innovate, collaborate, and grow in a supportive research-driven culture. The organization values gender diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity for all.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply through the official website at Alliance Bioversity & CIAT Careers. Applications close on 30th November 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Expert Tips to Be a Successful Applicant for the Associate Officer Role

1. Tailor Your Resume to Highlight Proposal Development Experience
   • Example: Showcase specific proposals you managed, emphasizing their size and success rate.
   • Tip: Use quantifiable metrics like “Led a USD 3 million proposal with 95% success in securing funding.”
2. Align Your Application with Key Responsibilities
   • Example: Highlight coordination with interdisciplinary teams or experience with compliance processes.
   • Tip: Use keywords from the job description such as “resource mobilization” and “opportunity analysis.”
3. Demonstrate Multicultural Collaboration Skills
   • Example: Provide examples of working in diverse teams and adapting to international settings.
   • Tip: Mention specific cultural challenges you overcame and their outcomes.
4. Showcase Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills
   • Example: Describe how you identified and addressed risks in a complex project.
   • Tip: Use action verbs like “analyzed,” “resolved,” or “optimized.”
5. Highlight Mastery of Proposal Writing Tools
   • Example: Mention software like Microsoft Office or project management tools you used.
   • Tip: Emphasize expertise in virtual tools relevant to remote/hybrid work settings.
6. Proof Your Language Proficiency
   • Example: Provide details about your English (and French if applicable) certification or professional use.
   • Tip: Include examples of reports or proposals written in these languages.
7. Address Administrative and Compliance Skills
   • Example: Cite your role in ensuring compliance with funding body guidelines.
   • Tip: Include details about audit success or procedural improvements you implemented.
8. Prepare for Behavioral Interview Questions
   • Example: Reflect on questions like, “How do you prioritize tasks during tight deadlines?”
   • Tip: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for structured answers.
9. Focus on Relevant Achievements in Cover Letter
   • Example: “I successfully coordinated a USD 5 million proposal that met all compliance requirements and submission deadlines.”
   • Tip: Keep the cover letter concise but packed with impactful examples.
10. Optimize for ATS Systems
    • Tip: Use exact phrases from the job description like “opportunity analysis” and “science engagement” to pass initial screenings.

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