Project and Proposal Developer

Oxfam Novib is committed to ridding the world of poverty and injustice. We have a conviction that people are capable of building livelihoods without poverty on their own, once given the chance to do so. Therefore, we support local projects and programs in developing countries, why we lobby governments and companies to consider the interests of the poorest and most marginalised people and why we campaign to involve women and men in our work. We work together with other Oxfam affiliates to increase our impact on development issues.
The Unit Partnerships and Program Development (P&P) is looking for a

Project and Proposal Developer

36 hours a week for 6 months – maternity cover

Based in The Hague.

Purpose of the Unit

This Unit is responsible for leading the development of (major) programs/projects; ensuring our program standards, including partnership development and capacity strengthening, are adhered to. It coordinates institutional donor (governments, foundations) relations to ensure a unified approach. The Unit is the primary channel for providing, maintaining, and improving high quality program development and donor engagement services. The Unit sets and maintains the standards for the development of high-quality programs, projects and campaigns and leads on partnerships, alliances and capacity strengthening of partners in our programs.

Purpose of the function

As Project and Proposal Developer you will lead in the development of (multi-) country/ (multi–) regional projects, concept notes and full proposals for institutional donors together with the Goal Units of Oxfam Novib in The Hague, in a process of co-creation with relevant Oxfam country office teams and Oxfam affiliate staff. You will be coordinating (for example as bid lead or lead writer) the engagement of Oxfam staff (finance officers, MEL advisors, thematic specialists) and relevant partners and allies to support hands-on co-creation/development of (multi country/multi regional) projects in The Hague and country offices. You will do this in such a way that it contributes to enhancing the quality and clarity of projects and proposals which can be funded by institutional donors and compliance with specific donor requirements. Your role is not only to lead the process and bring together the necessary support, but also to inspire, to identify opportunities, to be creative and innovative and to ensure development and delivery of quality projects and proposals, often to meet short deadlines. This includes producing clear and logical Theories of Change, with different pathways combining innovative on-the-ground work with strong influencing components in our programs and ensuring that gender justice, conflict sensitivity and active citizenship/strengthening civil society/attention to civic space are effectively mainstreamed in them. As needed, you will develop partnerships or alliances with key actors in order to enhance development of multi-country/multi regional projects related to one or more Oxfam Novib priority themes building on the complementarity of the contributions that Oxfam, allies and partners bring to the program.

Main tasks of the function

Provide leadership and overall process management to develop and ensure quality development of multi country/multi regional project proposals focusing on one or more Oxfam Novib priority themes within given deadlines and fitting the specific donor requirements. Together with goal unit managers and institutional funding colleagues, you will contribute to developing and updating thematic fund-raising strategies & appropriate plans for project development pipelines for these programs and as appropriate or needed, build relations with relevant back donors.
In close collaboration with Unit managers of P&P and Goal Units, lead and facilitate virtual, flexible teams for co-creating and supporting the development of projects and funding proposals with relevant units in The Hague, country teams and when possible/needed with other Oxfam affiliates. Build a pool of suitable consultants who could support the co-creation, or technical development of large-scale project proposals.
Lead in the writing of project frameworks, concept notes, program Theories of change (so-called program back bone documents), content for donor materials or products for the Oxfam Novib English website or funding proposals. Be responsible for quality (multi country/multi regional) project proposal development (coherent narrative, context analysis, clear and logical Theory of Change, Track Records and log frame) via feedback to drafts from colleagues and partners, identifying gaps and assuring linkage with the overall log frame. Elaborate with MEAL advisor & research officers, monitoring tool(s) and approaches, including a learning agenda. Ensure coherence between the text of the proposal and its accompanying (narrative) budget. Link effectively between Oxfam country offices / Goal units in The Hague, Learning, Innovation and Knowledge Unit (LINK), P&P donor engagement managers and potentially other Oxfam affiliates and support capacity for planning and deployment of support capacity for development of projects and funding proposals to institutional donors.
Ensure that project proposals are developed within the context of the Oxfam 2020 model and related responsibilities for Oxfam affiliates and country offices, clear management and governance systems are included, while ensuring organizational feasibility and efficiency for maximum possible success in implementation, upholding the Oxfam program and MEAL standards.
Facilitate and coach flexible teams and facilitate the process with all stakeholders involved. As needed, oversee the project or proposal development process to ensure timely delivery of high quality products through managing clear bid plans.
During the project development process, monitor progress, proactively signal obstacles, and actively seek solutions with relevant Unit Managers, in terms of delivery of support capacity and quality of project development. Contribute to setting clear priorities (in consultation with relevant Goal units in the Hague and other affiliates as required).
Ensure consistent, quality attention is given to mainstreaming gender justice, active citizenship/strengthening civil society/attention to civic space and conflict sensitivity in project/proposal development and develop lessons learned for staff training based on successes and failed applications.
Based on experience, and to the degree feasible, provide coaching/training support on skills and knowledge. In consultation with LINK Unit contribute to collecting and developing relevant practical tools, best practices and hands-on advice on proposal and project development and inception phases of grants, for Oxfam colleagues in The Hague and Country Offices in the initial stages of project/proposal development and fundraising. Promote learning and exchange between colleagues working on program and proposal development.

Contacts

External 

As appropriate, with relevant staff of external donors, together with relevant Unit managers, to explore funding opportunities and liaise during proposal development.
With other organisations, to co-ordinate and co-operate regarding (potential) joint proposal or project development trajectories.

Internal:

With Oxfam country offices, Oxfam affiliates, and relevant partners and other stakeholders in development of projects/ proposals for institutional donors.
With Oxfam institutional funding teams (PDDE colleagues and Compliance colleagues) to ensure good attention to donor requirements, to make use of donor intelligence and opportunities to raise funds for Oxfam Novib priority themes.
With other Oxfam Novib Units on resources available for project development and support to Country Offices on MEAL, Influencing (WIN), financial management and impact measurement.
With different Goal units in The Hague & Oxfam Country office teams, to co-ordinate and exchange information on opportunities, counterparts and/or the region, and to facilitate the co-operation within Oxfam & with specific Dutch actors, and to exchange and use insights in relation to results and learning opportunities.

Key competencies

A higher-level education and at least five years of experience in development work, especially in project development, partnership management and demonstrated capacity in successfully raising substantial funds from institutional donors.
Strong, clear, and convincing writing and communication skills in the English and French language (Dutch is an asset) and ability to write and communicate effectively for different donors and audiences.
Understanding of how different intervention strategies can be employed to achieve objectives or results; Strong experience and capacity in relation to linking local to global via influencing; gender analysis, strengthening civil society, and/or conflict sensitivity in programming highly desirable.
Good understanding of and demonstrable experience in project development and writing high quality proposals.
Entrepreneurial mindset, risk-taking and result-oriented, ability to provide hands-on support, co-create, negotiate, develop, and let go. Leadership skills, able to lead a project team to deliver high quality results to meet deadlines. Ability to work effectively and calmly under pressure.
Capacity to give hands-on, practical support to program staff in Country Offices and The Hague in establishing engagement with major institutional donors and co-creating (multi-country/multi regional) projects to equip Oxfam and partners to raise funds to support their programs.
Excellent planning skills and demonstrated ability to prioritise as needed.

Strong negotiation and convincing skills and ability to work effectively with a wide range of colleagues and able to proceed with and uphold a clear vision despite multiple opinions. Flexible, pragmatic, creative and solution oriented. Ability to juggle multiple tasks at any one time.
Experienced working in facilitating and coaching (online) meetings with staff, partners, and other stakeholders, aimed at co-creation, clear agreements, and concrete deliverables.

Willingness to work flexible hours and to travel frequently overseas and within Europe. Ability to represent Oxfam Novib externally.
Ability to work together with colleagues from a variety of backgrounds and to stimulate mutual respect and appreciation of each contribution.

What we offer

Oxfam Novib is committed to providing you with a competitive, fair, and comprehensive pay and benefits package that is justifiable to our donors. The salary range for this position is set in scale 10 with a salary range between € 3.320,-- and € 5.109,-- based on 36 hours a week.

Applicants for this contract must be Dutch nationals or a European Union member State or have a valid work permit for the European Union.