Director, New Business

Chemonics International•Washington, DC

5d•$100,400 - $125,600

About The Position

Chemonics seeks a New Business Director for the USG Portfolio. The new business director is a senior-level management position in a business unit (BU). The new business director manages the new business strategy and staff development efforts in a specific BU. The director operates at advanced levels of authority and accountability for achieving results. The director manages the BU’s market development strategy; operates in leadership roles for new business development and/or technical assignments; leads resourcing for the BU’s business development; and contributes to all levels of departmental, BU, and corporate strategy, technical practices, and staff development and supervision. The director manages and mentors new business managers, associates, and proposal teams. The director serves in the acting SVP capacity, as required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required; Master’s degree preferred
Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience or demonstrated track record leading and writing winning proposals
Minimum 2 years of supervisory and team leadership experience
Thorough knowledge of company’s main clients and their operations
Demonstrated experience conceptualizing, outlining, performing, and directing the research and writing of technical documents (reports, proposals)
Ability to leads effective meetings; demonstrated presentation skills
Demonstrated experience solving complex technical, managerial, or operational problems and evaluating options based on relevant information, resources, well-rounded experience, and knowledge
Operates at advanced levels of authority on and control of significant activities, budgets, and resources; takes responsibility for results
Demonstrated leadership, management, organizational, and decision-making skills
Demonstrated experience managing and supervising staff assigned to a department or several project teams and new business efforts
Communicates clearly and concisely in both verbal and written communications; strong cross-culture communication and sensitivity skills
Willingness to travel and work abroad up to 3 months per year
Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
Demonstrated leadership, versatility and integrity
Demonstrates knowledge of artificial intelligence concepts and tools, with the ability to apply them appropriately and responsibly to support efficiency, decision‑making, and problem solving in a dynamic business environment.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience working in international development and/or living or conducting work in developing countries preferred
Language proficiency for assigned geographic area preferred

Responsibilities

Oversees, manages, and prioritizes forward market of potential biddable opportunities in assigned BU.
Analyzes development funding trends and priorities; formulates strategies, new directions, and techniques to grow the company and improve market share; networks with clients, consultants, and counterparts regarding new business opportunities.
Proactively tracks upcoming solicitations and informs relevant in-house parties of bids in sufficient time to make bidding decisions and effectively prepare for bids.
Develops effective working relationships with clients, counterparts, potential partners, and stakeholders and continually promotes outstanding client service with corporate office staff and project office teams.
Leads resourcing for proposal opportunities, aligning the needs of the full project portfolio with the capacity and interests of staff within and outside of the BU.
Leads corporate-office new business activities for assigned BU and participates, as needed, on corporate new business task forces with special emphasis on technical approach strategy and proposal teams.
Oversees and/or leads proposal teams including developing guidelines consistent with corporate policies and best practices.
Supervises, develops, and evaluates assigned team(s) and supervises managers, associates, and sometimes other directors; ensures staff receives regular constructive performance feedback and prompt resolution of problems.
In collaboration with SVP, develops and supervises implementation of proposal strategies to optimize profitability and win rate.
Takes initiative to promote business opportunities, implement efficiencies, and realize cost savings for the BU.
Anticipates, manages, and mitigates corporate risks; implements strategies and takes steps, including those that require cross-departmental and corporate-level collaboration, to lessen impact or mitigate those risks.
Externally promotes Chemonics by attending events, networking with clients, and displaying a clear understanding of the past and present portfolio and corporate history.
Plans opportunities for knowledge- and solution-sharing across company and takes initiative to build staff and company capacity.
May dedicate time to other workstreams and functions to achieve BU goals, including operations, project management, and technical practice contributions.
Undertakes leadership role in proposal development, analyzing and recommending bid decisions and conceptualizing teaming, technical approaches, and cost strategies to maximize competitive advantage.
Leads new business efforts, generally assuming role of technical proposal writer, proposal lead, proposal review, or proposal mentor; provides vision and leadership to proposal teams and oversees the application of best practices.
Travels periodically to explore new business opportunities, represent Chemonics, or gather information to develop a technical proposal.
Interacts with key client and counterpart staff to strategically influence new programming decisions and develops and negotiates strategic partnerships with local and international partners, leveraging industry network.
Applies in-depth technical expertise to new business efforts and Chemonics’ knowledge base; conceptualizes and leads proposal, G-trips, and other relevant technical assignments.
Advances body of knowledge and quality standards in primary discipline and practice networks; formulates interdisciplinary approaches to guide new business efforts and technical assignments and advises others on technical trends and programming priorities.
Takes an active role in work of the practices and professional societies, represents company at technical conferences, and prepares or improves technical and development practitioner publications.
Participates in activities to build a strong knowledge culture by sharing best practices and important innovations through practice networks and knowledge management systems.
Leads documentation and open sharing of best practices and important innovations company-wide; delivers effective oral and written presentations that advance development assistance knowledge and understanding and communicates in a way that persuades and promotes openness and innovation.
Works with SVP to establish BU performance objectives/indicators for staff.
Recommends and/or leads strategic staff recruitment; supervises, mentors, and evaluates manager and associate-level staff, communicating clear performance goals and standards.
Promotes staff development through coaching, mentoring, and facilitating professional growth opportunities, including mentoring on discrete new business development activities of varying complexity.
Creates a productive and motivating work environment for staff by promoting cooperation and teamwork across departments, staying abreast of management, leadership, and team building strategies and advocating for them within Chemonics; promotes the building of a strong partnership between project offices and corporate office based on open exchange.
Promotes and exemplifies Chemonics’ values and ethical standards and manages staff to achieve team and development objectives.
Demonstrates inclusive behaviors and leadership consistent with Chemonics’ values and leadership competencies.
Serves in the acting SVP capacity, as required.