Call for Resumes: Cost Lead Consultants

Overview

This role involves leading cost proposal and budget development efforts to support anticipated bids for U.S. Government, multilateral, and private donor opportunities, with a particular emphasis on USDA programs. Interested consultants should indicate which donors and programs they have costing experience with.

USDA opportunities may include:

• McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition (MGD)
• Food for Progress (FFPr)
• Food for Peace (FFP)

Working alongside the proposal manager and technical lead, the Cost Lead ensures the budget and cost narrative are accurate, cost-effective, and compliant with donor requirements and internal procedures. Responsibilities span capture through live proposal development.

Responsibilities

• Co-lead the development of the cost strategy with the technical lead, coordinating with the proposal team to integrate technical, partnership, and cost strategy.
• Lead cost strategy and analysis to ensure cost competitiveness, including:
  • Benchmarking costs
  • Assessing cost-effectiveness
  • Identifying opportunities to strengthen the value of the proposed budget
• Develop and adjust back-of-envelope/pre-lime team budgets based on capture updates and discussions.
• Gather local cost knowledge in coordination with local offices and Washington, DC-based staff to support the initial cost draft (including local fees and local pay scales).
• Coordinate with the proposal team for timely sourcing of cost inputs from the field and Washington, DC.
• Lead development of compliant and responsive cost applications, including:
  • Budget and budget narrative
  • SF Forms and other required cost documents within the solicitation (NOFO/RFA/RFP)
• Read solicitation requirements, develop a cost compliance matrix and templates aligned with the solicitation budget and internal templates, and compile the costs to produce the cost application.
• Lead development of cost drafts (lime team, green team, and final cost drafts) and present the budget at Lime and Green Team budget reviews.
• Work with the proposal manager and/or technical lead to ensure cost sharing developments and associated approvals are addressed.
• Co-develop requests for partner cost inputs with the proposal manager and/or sub-liaison, and support partners in developing their budget packages (including review and feedback).
• Incorporate changes from cost reviews and follow-up feedback, and organize the business application for submission, including partner budgets as necessary.
• Update and refine budget templates and associated narratives, including USDA templates, to reflect donor feedback, solicitation requirements, and evolving policy priorities.
• Attend proposal team meetings, technical reviews, and brainstorming sessions; maintain consistent check-ins with the proposal manager between formal draft reviews.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience leading cost proposal and budget development for U.S. Government-funded and/or other donor-funded projects in developing country contexts.
• Successful track record leading cost applications from capture through submission, including budgets, budget narratives, and SF Forms or equivalent donor forms.
• Demonstrated experience with cost strategy and analysis for cost competitiveness, including:
  • Cost benchmarking
  • Cost-effectiveness analysis
  • Developing budgets that are competitive while realistic and compliant
• Strong knowledge of 2 CFR 200 and donor cost principles, rules, and regulations, including cost share requirements.
• Experience developing partner and sub-award budgets and reviewing partner cost inputs.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including building and troubleshooting complex budget templates and formulas.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, oral, and written communication skills, with the ability to meet tight proposal deadlines.
• Professional proficiency in English (oral and written required).

Preferred

• Strongly preferred: Experience leading USDA cost applications (McGovern-Dole, Food for Progress, and/or Food for Peace).
• Experience with commodity-related costs, including commodity procurement, freight, monetization, and associated interest calculations.
• Experience developing or updating USDA budget templates.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a relevant field.

Compensation & Benefits

• Not specified in the provided description.

Location

• Involves coordination with local offices and Washington, DC-based staff. No additional location details were provided.