I am recruiting this position on behalf of a US-based client.  Please be sure you meet all requirements and can perform all roles and responsibilities and apply before October 16.^.

Position Title:  Proposal Technical Writer – Afghanistan Higher Education

Location: This position is an “at home” assignment. 

Reports to: Associate Director of Business Development

Anticipated Period of Performance:  TBD (dependent on release date of solicitation, but expected to start sometime before January 2020)

Level of Effort (LOE):  Up to 25 days (or 200 hours)

Travel:  There is no travel associated with this assignment

The organization desires to engage the Independent Contractor (IC) to provide professional services described below in connection with a proposal that the organization anticipates preparing. The below outlines the scope and limitations of the IC’s services.

Assignment Purpose:

Under the direction of the Associate Director of Business Development, the Proposal Technical Writer will lead the development of a technical approach for the anticipated USAID AHEAD solicitation, that was expected in late September 2019.

According to the USAID new business forecast, “The purpose of AHEAD is to improve employability of professional Afghan men and women through tertiary education programs and to generate workforce skills based on market-driven needs in Afghanistan. This includes initiatives to improve the academic, administrative, resources and management functions of universities for enhanced support to students and faculty members and university administrations. Tertiary education includes what is commonly understood as academic education but also includes advanced vocational or professional education. This may include public or private universities, colleges, research institutes, training institutes, including teacher training institutes.”

The assignment is anticipated to last four to eight weeks, ranging from part to full time effort. The position will not require any travel, but the Technical Writer is expected to communicate regularly with proposal team members via frequent email correspondence, frequent phone and/or skype calls, and regular proposal check in

Duties and Responsibilities:

      The Technical Writer’s primary activities include but are not limited to:

• Review the solicitation in its entirety. Identify any clarification questions to ask USAID.
• Conduct research and analyses of relevant materials (Afghan government strategies, relevant project reports of USAID-funded higher education programs in Afghanistan, and USAID Afghanistan’s FY2019-2023 CDCS, etc.) or discussions with subject matter experts to support the development of a strategic, innovative, and competitive technical approach.
• Provide input about potential partner organization(s) and/or project personnel.
• Participate in proposal strategy session(s), providing input for program design and synthesizing input from other participants to incorporate into the technical approach. (Will be scheduled within seven calendar days of solicitation release).
• Write the technical approach section of the proposal (including results framework and management and staffing section), which is responsive to the evaluation criteria outlined in the solicitation.
• Clearly and accurately address the solicitation requirements, incorporating input from subject matter experts, proposal team members, and proposal draft reviewers.
• Ensure the proposal is compliant with USAID regulations and requirements.
• Provide input on graphics and images to include in the proposal, which succinctly articulate complicated concepts of the technical approach.
• Provide input to recruiter on job descriptions for key personnel and/or other essential staff positions that will be named in the proposal.
• Read and review other sections of the proposal for technical content to ensure entire proposal is consistent throughout and that each section compliments and supports the technical approach, as well as ensuring a singular voice throughout the proposal. Other sections may include but are not limited to monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL); staffing and personnel; past performance; institutional capacity; branding and marking; budget; and annexes.
• Work with proposal cost preparer to ensure anticipated expenses of all technical activities are accounted for in the program budget and pricing realistic.
• Assist with development of responses to USAID questions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in the field of higher education, education administration, business administration, international development or similar topic.
• At least five years of technical writing for proposals required, with proven record of writing winning proposals for USAID programs.
• Familiarity of various proposal team roles required; experience writing sections monitoring and evaluation (M&E), staffing and personnel, past performance, institutional capacity, branding and marking, partnering strategy.
• Familiarity with USAID priorities, procurement process and policies, as well as regulations for proposal compliance required.
• Previous experience writing two (2) or more proposals related to education administration and/or higher education highly required.
• Must have a good understanding of USAID project management in Afghanistan; two (2) or more years of working on USAID Afghanistan programs (either in Afghanistan or remotely) highly preferred.
• Must be well organized and have the ability to synthesize complex concepts into persuasive narratives.
• Must have the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Must be able to meet deadlines.
• Fluency, or proficiency at the level of Very Good to Excellent, in American English is required.

Level of Effort:  The consultant will be allotted 25 days (equivalent to 200 hours) of level of effort (LOE) between dates TBD (to be decided, based on release of funding notification), to consist of home base days. IC may work consecutive days or spread the work over a longer timeframe appropriate for their tasks. The IC is authorized to bill for up to five (5) days during a one-week period (Sunday through Saturday), with a maximum of eight (8) hours per day and forty (40) hours per week. The IC may be reimbursed for full or partial days.

Reporting:  The Proposal Technical Writer will report to the client’s Regional Director for Asia and will coordinate closely with other proposal team members.

Location:  This position is an “at home” assignment. The consultant may complete work from their home of record or another location of their choosing, understanding that at-home days are not eligible for any type of living allowances.

Compensation:

            Compensation will be commensurate with experience.

How to Apply: Applicants should submit an updated CV/resume that clearly shows the applicants meets all qualification requirements to linda.aines@internationalink.net, referencing “Proposal Technical Writer-STTA” in the subject line.  (Second Step:  After the email is received and reviewed, applicants will be sent a confirmation letter with a link to formally apply through the client’s application portal)

Deadline for application is October 16, 2019 or until filled.