Job Openings

Senior Manager, Proposal Development

Employment Type

Full-Time

Minimum Experience

Experienced

Position: Senior Manager, Proposal Development

Location: Australia, Canada, Colombia, Germany, Kenya, Malawi, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, or Zambia

Reporting to: Institutional Markets Lead

ABOUT US

World Bicycle Relief mobilizes communities in rural regions around the world to thrive with life-changing bicycles. We partner with communities to expand access to education, markets, healthcare and other essential services. With our purpose-designed Buffalo Bicycles, individuals in low-income regions are a force for change, unlocking pathways to new opportunities for themselves, their families and entire communities.

We are a mission-driven, global not-for-profit company that manages a highly refined bicycle supply chain from design through final distribution. World Bicycle Relief uses an innovative business model to create sustainable bicycle ecosystems. Through World Bicycle Relief's 501(c)3, we provide transport solutions to those who cannot afford them, and through Buffalo Bicycle Ltd, we sell the rugged Buffalo Bicycle and spare parts. Buffalo Bicycle Ltd also offers users repair and maintenance services via a retail network of shops and local mechanics. World Bicycle Relief has distributed over 900,000 fit-for-purpose bicycles and trained 4,000+ community-based mechanics. Girls with Buffalo Bicycles are 19% less likely to drop out of school; business owners see 53% more revenue; and health workers serve 63% more households.

PURPOSE OF POSITION

The Senior Manager, Proposal Development plays a pivotal role in advancing World Bicycle Relief’s portfolio. Working closely with Country Directors, the Program team, the Monitoring and Evaluation team and Development/Fundraising colleagues, this position strengthens WBR’s impact by supporting business development and the proposal processes. The Senior Manager will lead and support proposal development from concept through submission, and write, edit, and review high-quality proposal documents that clearly articulate the organization’s value proposition, impact model and technical expertise. The position will support strategic mobility solutions (programmatic design) and business development efforts by: 1) leading and/or supporting proposal development processes; 2) writing, editing and reviewing proposal documents; 3) helping to enhance the overall state of practice vis-a-vis proposal development processes across the organization; and 4) providing mentorship and guidance to country proposal development teams.

The ideal candidate will be energized by evidence, storytelling and mission-driven impact, and will thrive in an environment that values collaboration, creativity and continuous learning. Compassionate about WBR’s mission, they will be eager to roll up their sleeves, ideate, and help transform innovative mobility solutions into compelling opportunities that change lives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Proposal Writing & Enablement

• Co-develops proposal content with internal stakeholders and subject matter experts, ensuring inputs are aligned to funder requirements and reflective of organizational priorities.
• Writes and refines compelling, high-quality proposals and supporting documents that clearly articulate the organization’s value proposition, impact model, and technical expertise, applying best practices in proposal development to maximize competitiveness and compliance.
• Leverages strong writing and synthesis skills to translate complex programmatic concepts (mobility solutions) into persuasive, donor-ready language
• Co-designs proposals in close collaboration with Country Teams, Development (Fundraising) Teams, Technical Teams, and M&E, ensuring each proposal reflects local context, aligns with donor interests/commitments and advances the organization’s mission.
• Manages the development of detailed proposals and concept notes, and continuously enhances the proposal process to ensure competitive submissions - this includes pre-positioning activities such as monitoring grant and funding application deadlines and drafting Letters of Intent (LOIs).
• Supports the internal proposal review and submission process, regularly monitoring funder compliance and competitiveness, and coordinating the collection, writing, and compilation of proposal sections to support timely feedback, content integration and submission readiness.
• Tracks post submission outcomes, capturing lessons learned and insights to improve future proposal development and strengthen organizational competitiveness.
• Partners to clarify and disseminate funding requirements to support effective and compliant proposal submissions.
• Facilitates planning/co-design sessions and develops/maintains shared tools, documentation, and knowledge management systems to support proposal readiness, ensure consistent execution, and promote centralized access to proposal resources and institutional knowledge.

Project Management (Funding Partners & Scaling Partners)

• Partners to develop and implement detailed project plans for proposal efforts, including milestones, timelines, resource allocation, timelines, and deliverables aligned with budget and strategic goals.
• Convenes key stakeholders to form proposal project teams composed of cross-functional and cross-geographical members, facilitating planning, defining responsibilities and coordinating execution across departments, country teams and other contributors.
• Tracks project progress, evaluates performance, and makes necessary adjustments to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Provides guidance and support on mobility solution proposal efforts, contributing to stronger proposal development processes through collaborative engagement, knowledge sharing and insightful input.
• Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• 5-10 years of experience in international development or humanitarian contexts, including program design and proposal development
• Bachelor’s degree required in International Development, International Relations, or a related field
• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the key responsibilities of the role may be considered
• Proven ability to craft and edit technical proposal sections, including logframes, result frameworks, and conceptual narratives.
• Advanced writing and synthesis skills to translate complex programmatic concepts into compelling, donor-ready narratives
• Demonstrated success in developing and winning proposals across diverse sectors and geographic regions. (e.g., Africa, Latin America)
• Excellent oral and written communication with ability to present complex information clearly
• Experience managing proposal processes, including use of internal workflows and systems
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines
• Proven ability to work effectively in multicultural environments and across global teams
• Strong ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, balancing participatory processes with the need to meet tight deadlines and deliver quality outputs.
• Working knowledge or specialization in thematic areas (e.g., mobility solutions, food security, social cohesion, gender, climate adaption) desirable
• Project management experience in international development preferred.
• Native-level spoken and written English required; proficiency in Spanish a plus

Travel Required: At least 5% travel to country programs required.

Salary Range: The salary range for this position is USD 105,000–110,000. The final offer will be aligned to this band and converted into the applicable local currency based on the candidate’s country of residence.

WBR is a registered not-for-profit in the USA (501c3), Canada, UK, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia. We have supported programs in 20 countries, and have country offices, staff, and assembly facilities in Colombia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. WBR is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Thank You

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Location

Remote

Employment Type

Full-Time

Minimum Experience

Experienced