Overview
RTI International (RTI) is an independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across the social and laboratory sciences, engineering, and international development. Our staff of nearly 6,000 works in more than 75 countries—tackling hundreds of projects each year to address complex social and scientific challenges on behalf of governments, businesses, foundations, universities, and other clients and partners.
The Vice President of Business Development Strategy and Growth (VP BDSG) is a strategic and visionary leader responsible for establishing and driving the International Development Group (IDG) business development growth strategy. The VP BDSG will lead the development and execution of IDG’s growth strategies, including overseeing client engagement, pipeline development and management, competitor analysis, and capture and proposal processes to ensure standards of excellence and success in achieving growth targets.
This new role reports to the Executive Vice President (EVP) for IDG and closely collaborates with IDG division VPs (DVPs), Finance, and other senior leaders across IDG and RTI to ensure alignment and coordination between divisional strategies and the overall growth strategy. The VP is a member of the IDG Executive Team, the senior-most leadership team in IDG.
This position will be based in Washington, DC, or the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (RTI headquarters). Telecommuting from other locations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The position will be expected to travel up to 30% of the time. Candidates must be authorized to work in the US.
Responsibilities
Strategy and Growth
- Lead business planning to position IDG for strategic growth in the short- and long-term, including :
- In close collaboration with IDG / Finance, establish and refine processes that capture market trend data and competitive intelligence and promote their active use, to ensure that IDG effectively identifies and responds to market trends, competitive dynamics, and client the development and implementation of an overall IDG BD strategy and country-level strategies in key and secure resources needed to drive growth strategy including targeted hires and strategic partnerships.
- Oversee IDG client engagement strategy, connected to division client engagement.
- Set growth targets, including :
- Collaborate with IDG Finance and DVPs to recommend award targets to and communicate a clear path for achieving IDG’s awards targets on a fiscal year as well as a multi-year collaboration with IDG Finance, align financial allocations and resourcing to growth targets.
Pipeline Development
Manage and chair IDG’s standing BD and opportunity review meeting.Drive IDG pipeline development and provide oversight and support to team members responsible for opportunity management.Optimize the IDG opportunity pipeline to be focused on the most strategic and attainable opportunities.Lead a team that identifies, prioritizes, and resources opportunities by : Identifying and assessing high-potential business opportunities, in collaboration with division which bids to pursue and prioritizing them within the overall portfolio of go / no-go decisions during capture and proposal reviews, balancing risk and potential and allocating Bid & Proposal (B&P) funds, in collaboration with IDG Finance, to ensure appropriate resourcing for critical bids that require special attention and assigning additional resources as proposal leaders, proposal writers, management writers, and reviewers based on strategic importance and resource availability; this will require close collaboration with DVPs and recognition of relative bid priority.Capture and proposal process refinement and quality oversight of business development and proposal management staff, guarantee that effective IDG business development process adheres to industry and RTI standards and best practices, through setting quality standards, performing quality control, and maintaining process fidelity. Provide oversight of business development capacity strengthening initiatives to build IDG capability and maintain high standards of and manage the process for the conduct of regular after-action reviews and client debrief analyses, incorporating lessons learned into process improvements.Team Leadership
Lead and manage IDG’s business development team of approximately 35 staff, including business development and proposal management and operations staff.Lead BD talent planning, including recruitment, development, and retention strategies, to build and maintain a high-performing business development team.As part of continuous improvement, identify opportunities to improve organizational structure and design to maximize impact.Establish and maintain strategic relationship with other teams in the BD ecosystem that do not report directly into this role, including market analysis, proposal pricing, sourcing, communications, pre-awards contracts, and talent acquisition teams.Serve on the IDG Executive Team, IDG’s senior-most leadership body responsible for the success of the business.Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, international development, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.20 years of professional experience, with 15 years in business development, extensive USAID experience preferred, with a proven track record of leading capture and proposal efforts and winning in a competitive market.Firsthand experience in all aspects of the business development lifecycle, including market strategy, capture and proposal management, technical design, and proposal writing.Deep understanding of international development, particularly the USAID market, from both a technical and procurement (acquisition and assistance) perspective.Excellent client and competitor networks.Experience effectively working and managing a team in a matrixed environment, with strong leadership and talent management skills.Excellent communication, negotiation, influencing, and decision-making skills.Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret market data and financial information.Ability to travel as needed, approximately 30%.Competencies :
Strategic Thinking : Ability to anticipate market trends, identify business opportunities, and develop actionable strategies.Leadership : Proven ability to lead and motivate teams.Collaboration : Proven ability to effectively collaborate with other senior leaders including influencing without authority.Decision-Making : Demonstrated experience making high-stakes decisions in complex business environments.Communication : Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with strong capabilities to influence and persuade at all organizational and client levels.Results-Driven : A focus on achieving measurable business results, with a commitment to accountability.LI-EP1
