Project Design Officer

Title:                               Project Design Officer

Department:                 Design & Data Services

Reports to:                    Program Design Manager 

Matrix Management:  N/A

Supervises:                    N/A

Location:                        AWF Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya

Purpose of the Role 

To lead the design and development of high-quality, compelling funding proposals to a range of donor audiences by translating programmatic inputs into strategic and well-written proposals. This includes leading the proposal development process, writing technical elements and narratives, supporting budget and cost proposal development, adhering to donor guidelines, integrating donor, AWF and country specific strategies, ensuring technical and financial quality, coherence and soundness, and supporting continuous improvement through learning loops.

Job Summary

The Project Design Officer (PDO) contributes to the African Wildlife Foundation’s (AWF) fundraising goals from all donor sources for AWF’s work and services AWF’s fundraising teams and their Donor Account Managers (DAM). As part of AWF’s proposal Design team, the staff conducts the full range of activities required to prepare, submit, and manage proposals to secure all types of donor funding for AWF’s work and its programs and projects. The staff is responsible for defining and developing funding proposals in coordination with DAMs country, landscape, thematic, program and finance teams to raise funds for AWF’s existing and planned program activities. This includes researching identified opportunities, process management, writing and submitting funding proposals to all AWF’s different donors. Working closely with and under the guidance and support of Design team leaders and DAMs, the staff takes primary responsibility as “proposal lead” in responding to and preparing proposals for donor funding opportunities.

Responsibilities

Proposal Development and Writing 90%

•Lead the process for developing and writing technical and cost proposals (the proposal lead oversee development of cost proposals which are developed by the cost proposal team) across AWF’s entire donor base (public, institutional, philanthropic, foundation, private sector and private donors).

•Fully understand and guide other teams and partners on all donor requirements for each opportunity, call for proposals, and ensure compliance with funder/donor guidelines.

•Proactively ensure all new proposals and donor requests are deliberately designed to deliver on AWF’s Strategic Vision, Theory of Change, Strategies, Landscape Approach, Rights-based standards, annual and multi-year budget requirements, and cost match/co-funding obligations.

•Collaborate with donor account managers, program teams (country, landscape, thematic), and all relevant support units (finance, M&E, etc.) to align proposals to donor priorities, organizational strategy, African government development agendas, and global development and conservation frameworks.

•Manage proposal processes and timelines and solicit and coordinate technical inputs from AWF teams and technical experts as well as from co-applicants and implementing partners to ensure proposals meet submission deadlines and quality standards.

•Ensure project design is coherent, can be implemented effectively and efficiently, and realistically deliver its promises within its specific time, resources, and budgetary limitations.

•Support development and design of AWF’s internal annual and multi-year Priority Unfunded Needs (PUNs) proposals and support DAMs to re-purpose these for specific donor pitches and funding opportunities.

•Contribute to internal learning by capturing lessons learned and supporting post-proposal reviews.

•Support DAMs in identifying and surfacing funding opportunities from institutional (public, foundation, private sector) donors including analysing and reviewing funding opportunities and calls for proposals and their fit for AWF’s projects, programs, and strategies.

•Support DAMs in developing e.g. opportunity summaries, completing the GO/NO GO process for all relevant opportunities, and internal approval documents. 

Other responsibilities 10%

•Coordinate with and assist AWF’s fundraising teams and DAMs efforts, highlight funding needs and priorities, function as a resource person, and ensure fundraising synergies.

•Provide specific but limited support upon request from DAMs or Grants Management team on existing grants, e.g. review project reports, donor compliance support to management of grants, grant planning and/or financial revision of ongoing grants.

•Consult with DAMs and Design team members to support proposal development activities as needed across AWF’s fundraising  portfolio.

•Represent AWF in relevant meetings, conferences, and events as requested.

•Collaborate with AWF communications and marketing teams to support visibility of AWF’s program and projects.

•Support filing, tracking, and reporting on fundraising and proposal metrics and pipelines.

•Assists with other tasks, as assigned.

Requirements and skills

•Reputable master’s degree (or equivalent combination of education and experience) in relevant field: including conservation, natural resource management, project design, rural/international development, economics, political science or similar. 

•Minimum of 3 years’ experience to develop and design technical and cost proposals with high-quality logical framework and results chains and a successful track record of securing significant funding from donors, preferably in the field of conservation or environmental management in Africa.

•Good understanding of different donor environments, African governments’ development agendas, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the Global Biodiversity Framework as well as of issues faced by AWF in delivering its mission across Africa. 

•Have a logical perspective on things, strong editing skills, attention to details, and ability to reduce mechanisms, processes, proposals, ideas, or formulas to their basic parts and understand and explain how they interrelate in a project or contribute to fulfilment of higher agendas such as the SDGs, national development plans, and AWF’s mission, strategies, and plans.

•Well-developed emotional intelligence including self-awareness, self-motivation, self-regulation, and empathy. This is a job that requires both independence and collaboration, and an ability to sense when to take leadership in a situation, and when to put others forward. 

•Fluency in English speaking and writing as well as an ability to produce high quality technical documents, including the ability to shift writing style and purpose to be appealing and persuasive to the designated target audience is essential. Similar capacity in French is a significant advantage. 

•MUST demonstrate strong attention to detail to ensure the accuracy and quality of program proposals/concepts and budgets as well as the ability to identify and correct errors or discrepancies.

•High degree of responsibility and accountability for tasks, projects, assignments, and commitments including meeting strict deadlines.

•Ability to communicate effectively with a wide group of colleagues and partners, including proactive sharing of information and reporting. Especially in relation to cross-cultural communication skills or experience working in an international organization.

•Proven ability to work independently, and effectively and collaboratively in cross-functional and remote teams. 

•Demonstrate commitment to and a good understanding of AWF’s Rights Based Conservation approaches, values, and principles.

 

Deadline:April 10,2026