Proposal Budgeting Manager (CO)

***Due to the urgency to fill this role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Kindly note that the position might be filled before the vacancy announcement is closed; therefore, early applications are encouraged.***

***This role will be contingent upon securing available funds, and we might use this vacancy to fill more than one post.***

The Opportunity – Proposal Budgeting Manager

Post location: oPt Country Office (CO) located in Ramallah.

Contract Duration and Level of Effort: 12 months.

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Proposal Budgeting Manager will, as part of the Resource Mobilization (RM) team, lead on proposal budgets. The post holder is a budgeting/costing specialist responsible for analysing and determining the essential cost elements needed for each proposal submission, in relation to the donor’s requirements, and for providing timely and effective costing guidance and support throughout the proposal development process.

The position works within the RM Team and in close liaison with the Finance Director and Finance leads. This person will work closely with Finance to maintain an overview of all country programme costs and how they are to be covered (or not) when working across different awards and will provide insight in the development of strategic planning tools, such as financial forecasts and funding strategies. This analysis to be available to the Finance Director for onward transmission to the SMT at any time.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Head of Business Development

Staff reporting to this post: NA

Role Dimensions: oPt CO is a high complexity country, multi-member interest, with an annual budget of around $40+m, and 100+ staff. Currently the program is experiencing a growth in funding and complexity due to the war in Gaza.

Key working relationships: Engages internally with the Programme Development and Quality (PDQ) and Technical Experts (TEs), Operations, Finance, Awards, Risk and Compliance, and Human Resources (HR) teams to coordinate deliverables and responsibilities across the Country Office and with relevant SC members

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Thoroughly review solicitations/calls that provide opportunities for funding, ensuring that donor requirements for budgeting, cost eligibility, payment terms and conditions, and other financial compliance related requirements are well understood by the full proposal team and inform go/no-go decisions taken by the senior management team (SMT).
• During the proposal development process, work closely with technical advisors to identify and cost for project activities.
• Working with inputs from the CO Senior Finance Leads, support the Gap Analysis Report by inputting data from proposal budgets - a database that provides a detailed breakdown of costs and allocations of CO programme and support personnel working across all or many projects at the same time.
• Maintain a log of typical and essential direct and indirect project costs across all SCI programmes, taking into consideration, global common approaches and other SCI policies and procedures.
• Analyse proposal budget allocations for SCI’s essential program inputs like Child Safeguarding, MEAL, and Security; and periodically disseminate these to relevant teams for tracking and reporting purposes.
• During the proposal development process, work closely across all units such as Operations, Human Resources, Security, Logistics and Finance, to identify and budget for operational costs.
• Improve and maintain budgeting tools and processes as well develop a guidance for budget development within the oPt CO, in line with Save the Children International and donor guidance.
• Ensure that realistic, comprehensive, and accurate donor-compliant budgets accompany all proposals.
• Build the capacity of staff involved in proposal development, when necessary, in budget development and budget-related areas of donor compliance.
• Make appropriate estimation/projection of foreign exchange rates to be applied in proposal budgeting, taking into consideration, annual inflationary adjustments.

In order to be successful, you will bring/have:

QUALIFICATIONS

• A B.Sc. in Accounting or equivalent area of study.
• A professional qualification or Master’s degree in Accounting or Financial Management will be an added advantage.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential:

• Minimum 5+ years demonstrated professional experience in leading in the development of budgets for proposals for USAID, DFID, other bilateral donors, foundations and/or corporations Knowledge of donor rules and regulations, including for USAID, DFID, and the EU
• Background in donor relationship management, strategic portfolio analysis and planning, and change management required.
• Ability to work with technical experts to cost out proposed project activities
• Experience working with field office staff and/or headquarters staff to jointly develop proposal budgets
• Experience with USG contract budgeting experience
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex issues through critical thinking, analysis, definition of a clear way forward and ensuring buy in.
• A high degree of flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing needs. Ability and willingness to change work practices and hours in the event of major emergencies including travelling at short notice, to insecure locations as needed, and for extended periods of time.
• Experience with non-profit accounting, budget analysis and development.
• Ability to work with technical experts to cost out proposed project activities.
• Prepared to spend time in field locations and to work with field staff as well as headquarters staff.
• Experience building the capacity of appropriate staff on business/cost proposals and ability to communicate guidance clearly to non-Finance staff.
• Proven experience in strategic cost modelling.
• Excellent experience of computerized accounts packages and in particular of complex spreadsheets, Excel, Power Point and Words.
• Familiar with cost modeling applications
• Proven ability to multitask between multiple budgets with efficiency and accuracy.
• A high degree of flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing needs. Ability and willingness to change work practices and hours

Desirable

• Has worked in similar context and/ or has experience of working in a humanitarian response
• Knowledge of Master Budgeting processes and identifying linkages between cost and resources mobilization

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector**. This role is offered on the basis of national terms and conditions.**

Save the Children promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment, women and people with different abilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Organisation

Save the Children works in development and humanitarian contexts with children and partners to help families, communities, and governments identify and use innovations to ensure all children survive, learn and are protected.

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realize the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday • All children learn from a quality basic education and that, • Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at Search Jobs - SCI Career Site Careers (oraclecloud.com).

We Need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy