Partnerships and Business Development Specialist

**The Opportunity**

Reporting to the Head of Business Growth, the International Development Business Growth Specialist will help to grow and diversify Abt’s portfolio of international development programs through building relationships, pre-positioning, opportunity identification, and the development of high-quality and successful proposals and tender responses.

**Core Responsibilities**
- Proposal Development and New Business _
- Independent, end-to-end preparation and project management of high quality, client-focused and compliant tenders, from capture to contract award,
- Ensure priority bids are managed through structured capture plans and processes,
- Help shape and contribute to technical and operational approaches for bids across target sectors and Abt Australia's key geographies,
- Develop and lead on capture trips through travel to countries and locations where new programs will be implemented (as required),
- Relationship Management _
- Lead discussions with partners and personnel on strategic relationships for upcoming proposals,
- Build resourcing strategies and personnel approaches to ensuring that technical proposals are supported by high quality personnel,
- Build and maintain longer-term relationships with partners and personnel in technical fields of strategic importance,
- Coordinate aspects of the business development functions with internal and external partners, including Abt’s executive and technical teams, pricing and legal teams
- BD Management Systems and Continual Improvement _
- Ensure business development and contract management processes, tools, templates and resources are up-to-date, effective, efficient, and utilised, in support of strategy,
- Develop and provide support, guidance and training to opportunity leads and other key stakeholders across the organisation to promote more efficient and effective business development,
- Effective management of direct team reports (if required) and mentor and coach emerging talent within the team,
- Contribution to the development and implementation of strategies for integrating cross-cutting priorities into business development processes, including gender equality, disability inclusion and localisation.
- Support business process changes, including greater integration and partnership with Abt business development teams in other global divisions, as well as with Abt’s Global Business Development Unit,
- Report on business growth activities, provide timely data analytics and provide regular and relevant BD updates to staff.

**What We Value**
- A minimum of five years’ experience in business development related roles, with preference for previous experience in the international development sector or developing bids for the Australian government,
- Demonstrated experience of business development, including capture, proposal writing and proposal management, preferably on winning proposals for commercial contracts.
- Expertise in effective communication, including highly developed written communication skills and an ability to translate technical information into clear, accessible and persuasive written text,
- Demonstrated commercial acumen, with the ability to shape and development financial strategies and costing proposals for large and complex bids,
- Preference given to applicants who can demonstrate experience or knowledge in international development program delivery, or technical areas of governance, health, adaptive management, gender equality and social inclusion and/or, MERL.
- Bachelor’s Degree + Nine years of relevant experience, or Master’s Degree + Seven years of relevant experience, or PhD + Four years of relevant experience
- Permanent position can be based anywhere in Australia - Office hubs in Brisbane and Canberra

**What We Offer**

Abt is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits.
- #LI-AUSBRIT #LI-MG1_

Abt Global-Australia is a mission-driven, global leader with a proven track record in complex program implementation in the international development sector. We offer bold solutions and technical excellence in Health, Economic Growth, Governance, Research & Evaluation, Environment & Energy, Gender Equality & Social Inclusion. Working with our many partners, we have driven measurable social impact for more than 55 years, to achieve our mission of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people worldwide. We operate in remote and challenging environments and employ more than 3000 staff in over 50 countries.

**Equity**

**Safeguarding**

We are deeply committed to safeguarding, to protect and prevent harm and abuse to individuals we work for and who work for us. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation. We will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, child abuse, sexual abuse or exploitation in any fo