Senior Commercial Budgeting Consultant

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent international development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Working with children and young people, our supporters, and partners, we aim to tackle the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

The Opportunity

Plan International is currently prepositioning for a large-scale FCDO-funded education programme in Sub-Saharan Africa, anticipated to include a commercial contracting element.

We are currently seeking an independent Senior consultant to lead on commercial (financial) proposal development working closely with and under the guidance of Plan International staff.

Deliverables

The specific tasks under this assignment are:

The consultant will be tasked with leading and developing an accurate and competitive commercial proposal for a Plan bid.

(a). On-boarding and development of standardised budget tools and templates

The Consultant will be provided with a detailed induction by Plan International UK staff. Prior to commencing budget development, the consultant will work with PIUK staff to develop and agree on a standardised budget template and other standard tools that will be used internally across all relevant Plan entities for this opportunity and beyond.

(b). Developing the commercial (financial) proposal:

The commercial proposal and pro formas should reflect full cost recovery, allow for a profit margin whilst being competitive and consistent with the technical proposal. The commercial (financial) proposal should include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Financial methodology including competitiveness of fee rates, financial risks or contingency costs and economies of scale

• A detailed financial plan

• The Commercial Pro Formas

• Detail of assumptions made in proposal (e.g. inflation rates, risk considerations etc)

When developing the above the consultant should also focus on the following.

• Accurate direct costs recovery

• Accurate indirect costs recovery

• Accurate fee rates with applicable overhead recovery and margin

• Appropriate profit % as agreed

• Producing the commercial pro-forma with the bid lead for internal sign-off before submission

• Template for downstream partners to provide information/data for consolidated budget where needed

(c). Subsequent reviews, amendments and post-submission learning

With support from the PlUK bid lead and Grants Finance Specialist, the consultant will lead reviews of budget iterations throughout the process to ensure accuracy, competitiveness and profitability. Reasonable steps will be taken to record any learnings and knowledge generated as part of the process (e.g. through a follow up meeting post-submission), and Plan UK may reserve the right to contact the consultant once we have heard from the donor.

Plan UK reserves the right to ask the consultant to perform other relevant tasks in addition to those outlined above or vary the outlined tasks based on any changing business requirements.

Knowledge, skills and experience:

The consultant will have the following knowledge, skills and expertise:

· Ability to understand our business and requirements

· Able to demonstrate alignment with Plan’s values and to Feminist Leadership Principles and uphold these in the way you work

· Able to demonstrate value for money.

· Developing high quality and accurate commercial proposals and Pro Formas for FCDO / (or former DFID)

· Previous experience working on large scale commercial bids for FCDO and or other institutional donors

· Demonstrable track record in developing winning commercial proposals for FCDO

· Demonstrated experience of coordinating complex bids or projects in a structured manner

· Demonstrated ability to consolidate feedback from multiple stakeholders

· Experience working in an International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO) environment

· Be flexible in approach and able to undertake tasks of varying complexity and interest in quick succession working under own initiative where required

· Strong Microsoft Office skills, especially Microsoft Excel

· Demonstrate an awareness of child protection issues and child safeguarding standards

· Demonstrate a commitment to gender equality and inclusion

· Fluency in English.

Duration

It is expected that the consultant will work with Plan for up to 36 working days, with the option for extension, across a roughly three-month period from February to May 2022 (the exact dates are TBD and contingent on the final release date of the funding opportunity’s invitation to tender).

How to apply:

Your Response

If you would like to be considered for this work, please submit the following:

An overview of your organisation including the CVs of the person/people you would propose working with us on this project in an email requesting the full ToR. We will share a full ToR and request for proposals with interested candidates. Candidates will then be required to submit their proposal and any optional supporting documents by 2^nd February, 2022.

Please note only candidates who meet the minimum criteria outlined above should apply. Please submit your CV to: aaron.littlefield@plan-uk.org

Selection Process

The closing date for the submission of CVs and proposals is: 2^nd February 2022, with interviews to be held on a rolling basis from 4^th February.

Vetting and due diligence

The individual / company successful in being appointed to carry out this work will be subject to a range of vetting and due diligence checks including a vetting check using the Accuity ‘Online Compliance’ screening process. The Accuity system identifies whether a person or organisation comes up in a search on: Adverse media, Enforcement or Government Sanction Lists. A basic / enhanced DBS check will also be required.