Job Title: Project Manager and Business Development Manager, MEL/TPM/Evaluations
Reports to: Director of M&E Department
Works closely with: M&E Department, External Technical Leads, Proposal Coordinators
Location: Brussels, Belgium or United Kingdom (hybrid office/home-based; occasional travel)
Duration: Full-time, Starting ASAP (employment or consultancy contract considered)
SUMMARY OF THE POSITION
Reporting to the Director of the M&E Department, the Project Manager and Business Development Manager leads or supports the identification, positioning, capture and implementation of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), Third-Party Monitoring (TPM) and Evaluation opportunities with institutional donors, primarily the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and United Nations agencies. The role drives the full bid lifecycle — from opportunity tracking and partner engagement through to proposal development (including development of MEL, TPM and Evaluation methodologies), submission and implementation — and works closely with technical and proposal teams to shape competitive, high-quality bids.
The Project Manager and Business Development Manager brings established donor relationships and a strong understanding of FCDO and UN procurement and project implementation mechanisms to strengthen Cowater's pipeline and win rate in the MEL/TPM/Evaluations space.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Business Development & Positioning
- Track and qualify MEL, TPM and Evaluation tender opportunities with FCDO, UN agencies and related institutional donors.
- Build and maintain relationships with donor contacts, technical experts, consortium partners and subcontractors to strengthen Cowater's positioning ahead of tenders.
- Contribute to capture planning and go/no-go decisions on relevant opportunities.
Proposal Development - Lead or support the development of technical and financial proposals for MEL/TPM/Evaluation bids, coordinating inputs from technical leads, pricing and proposal coordination teams.
- Draft and edit technical narrative sections, ensuring compliance with donor requirements and alignment with Cowater's MEL methodologies and quality standards.
- Coordinate partner and consultant inputs, teaming agreements and CV/reference collection.
Market Intelligence & Networking - Monitor FCDO framework agreements (including GEMFA 2 and related call-downs) and relevant UN LTAs for upcoming opportunities.
- Provide regular pipeline updates and market intelligence to the Business Development team and senior management.
- Develop and maintain networks with UK- and/or Brussels-based donors to identify priorities, strengthen positioning and support early opportunity shaping.
Project Implementation
- Implement on-going or new Evaluation or TPM projects with various clients
JOB REQUIREMENTS Education - Master’s degree in a relevant field (international development, social sciences, evaluation, or related discipline).
Minimum Experience - Minimum 5 years of business development and project implementation experience in international development consulting, with a strong focus on MEL, TPM and/or Evaluation.
- Demonstrated track record of winning or strongly contributing to successful bids with FCDO and UN agencies.
- Familiarity with FCDO framework mechanisms and proposal drafting (e.g. GEMFA 2) and UN procurement processes.
- Experience integrating gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) considerations into MEL frameworks, evaluations or TPM assignments would be considered an asset.
Essential Skills - Strong proposal writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate technical MEL concepts into compelling narrative.
- Excellent relationship management and networking skills with donors, partners and consultants.
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent bids under tight deadlines.
- Fluency in English required; French an asset.
- Willingness to travel occasionally for donor meetings, partner engagement or bid-related events.
APPLICATION PROCESS Interested candidates are invited to submit a cover letter addressing the position requirements, along with a CV, to marta.chudzikiewicz@cowater.com, mentioning the position title in the subject line.
Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law. Cowater is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process upon request.
We thank all applicants; however, only those shortlisted will be contacted.