Call for Experts: Commercial Diplomacy, Trade Promotion & Business Enabling Environment

Background

Creative Associates International delivers rapid, flexible programming through robust project management, comprehensive logistics capabilities, and high-quality technical assistance across multiple sectors. Founded in 1977, Creative has experience in more than 115 countries around the world.

Position Summary

Creative seeks experts with proven experience in Commercial Diplomacy, Trade Promotion, and Business Enabling Environment to support business development for the U.S. Department of State and other U.S. Government clients. The Consultant will lead or contribute to concept notes, statements of interest, and full applications in commercial diplomacy, trade promotion, and business enabling environment (BEE) reform. The Consultant will provide thought leadership and design technically sound, competitive approaches aligned with current USG priorities and will work on an as-needed basis under Creative’s consultant agreements, with level of effort set per assignment.

Reporting & Supervision

The Consultant will coordinate closely with Creative’s Business Development, Technical, and Pricing teams on each assignment.

Primary Responsibilities

• Draft concept notes, statements of interest, and technical narratives in response to U.S. Department of State and other USG solicitations which may include:
• Commercial diplomacy, including embassy commercial advocacy, business delegations, and market-access support for U.S. firms.
• Trade promotion activities, such as export readiness, trade missions, B2B matchmaking, investment promotion, and linkages between local SMEs and U.S. buyers and supply chains.
• Business enabling environment reforms, including regulatory simplification, trade facilitation (WTO TFA), customs modernization, licensing reform, and public-private dialogue.
• Develop technical approaches based on sound theories of change aligned with solicitation requirements and merit-review criteria.
• Align technical designs with current USG priorities, including economic security, supply chain resilience, critical minerals, and opportunities for U.S. business.
• Provide intelligence on client priorities, the competitive landscape, and prior USG- and donor-funded programs in the technical area.
• Identify and recommend potential partners, subject-matter experts, and key stakeholders in target technical and geographic areas.
• Integrate inputs from technical experts, partners, and pricing staff into coherent, compliant submissions that meet page limits and deadlines.
• Review proposal drafts against evaluation criteria and provide written red-team feedback.
• Participate in capture, design, and proposal discussions as a subject-matter expert.
• Perform other duties as assigned, consistent with the scope of the consultancy.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• BA degree in international economics, trade policy, international affairs, business, law, or a related field required; MA degree preferred.
• Minimum of ten years of professional experience, including at least six years in commercial diplomacy, trade promotion, investment climate, or private sector development.
• Demonstrated record of writing successful concept notes or proposals for USG clients.
• Working knowledge of USG assistance and acquisition instruments (grants, cooperative agreements, contracts) and solicitation processes (NOFO, APS, RFA, RFP).
• Excellent writing, analytical, and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team under tight deadlines.
• Fluency in English required.

Only finalists will be contacted. No phone calls, please.