Consultant Proposal Writer

Posted Dec 3

Description

ThinkWell is actively looking for experienced proposal writer consultants, both for developing our roster of writers and for live opportunities. The Consultant Proposal Writer will play a crucial role in leading the technical writing process for USAID opportunities. The consultant will work closely with a project team, subject matter experts, and key stakeholders to ensure the development of a comprehensive and compelling proposal that aligns with the objectives and guidelines set forth by USAID.

Scope of Work

  1. Technical Writing:
  • Lead the development of the proposal narrative, ensuring clarity, coherence, and adherence to USAID guidelines.
  • Translate technical information and inputs from SMEs into clear and persuasive language for a diverse audience.
  • Develop a deep understanding of the project goals, objectives, and methodologies to effectively communicate them in the proposal.
  • Provide appropriately complete drafts for multiple reviews according to the proposal calendar. These will likely include at a minimum:
  1. Pink Team Review
  2. Red Team Review
  3. Gold Team Review

Input Gathering:

  • Collaborate with subject matter experts, project team members, and stakeholders to gather relevant information and insights.
  • Conduct interviews and meetings to extract key data and ensure the proposal is informed by the latest and most accurate information.
  • As appropriate and available, participate in pre-solicitation activities such as strategy sessions or information gathering debriefs.

Harmonization of Wording:

  • Ensure consistency in language and terminology throughout the proposal.
  • Work closely with different contributors to harmonize diverse inputs into a cohesive and unified document. This includes reviewing annex documents, such as the budget narrative, MEL documents, organizational or management structures, or past performance documents.

Final Copyedit and Proofread:

  • Conduct a thorough copyedit of the entire proposal to identify and correct grammatical errors, typos, and inconsistencies.
  • Ensure the proposal adheres to USAID's style guide and formatting requirements.
  • Collaborate with the project team to incorporate feedback and finalize the document for submission.

Deliverables:

  1. Draft Proposal:
  • Proposal outline draft and tools to efficiently collect inputs.
  • Initial draft of the proposal narrative, including all relevant sections and components with pagination and prompts.

Working Draft Proposal:

  • Pink Team Draft
  • Red Team Draft

Final Proposal:

  • A polished and finalized version of the proposal, incorporating all feedback, properly formatted, and ready for submission, including reviewing entire package for harmonized voice.

Timeline: The consultant is expected to complete the scope of work ahead of the USAID deadline, likely 6-8 weeks after release. LOE ceiling will be determined based on each proposal.

Requirements

  1. Proven experience in writing successful proposals for international development projects, particularly with USAID.
  2. Demonstrated experience in collaborating with a proposal team.
  3. Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
  4. Familiarity with health systems strengthening projects is highly desirable.
  5. Strong attention to detail and proficiency in copyediting and proofreading.