The Specialist will be responsible for supporting the Local Governance Practice, including leading and supporting new business efforts, developing technical solutions, knowledge management, and product development, with a primary objective of winning new business in the USAID and USG markets and assisting project implementation teams in delivering exceptional technical performance. The Specialist will serve as an in-house technical specialist with a strong preference for experience in local governance, decentralization, citizen engagement, service delivery, and sub-national own-source revenue generation related issues, and will augment his/her capabilities through a professional network of external technical experts and strategic partners to provide technical support to DAI globally. Under the leadership of the Sector Vice President and management by their assigned Practice Area Manager, this position is responsible for delivering superior technical inputs on proposals and projects in the USG Business Unit, growing DAI’s market share for development services within the sector, and building a network that connects DAI projects, staff, and clients. The Specialist will collaborate with other specialists across sectors and regions to create a competitive advantage in delivering Development Innovations to DAI’s donor, government, and corporate clients.
This is a full-time position.
Responsibilities
Business Development and Growth
· Collaborates with DAI’s Regional Project Management Teams and other business units to identify technical trends and capabilities which guide annual new business plans and technical requirements for proposal support; participates in setting bidding priorities.
· Supports the development of a multi-year plan to expand DAI’s work in the Sector’s technical areas, focusing on products and services that address the needs of USAID and other select USG entities under the direction of the Sector Vice President and/or a primary Practice Manager.
· Prepares and supports new business efforts including responding to specific Requests for Information (RFIs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) particularly in the Practice or Sector to which the Specialist is assigned. They will directly support an assigned Practice Manager and the Senior New Business Advisor in their efforts to submit winning proposals to USAID and other USG clients in a range of capacities.
· Responsible for writing or managing multiple proposals and supporting or contributing to 4-5 proposals over the course of a calendar year.
· Responsible for building strategic client relationships with USAID and other USG entities as directed.
· Markets the Practice and Sector’s services and portfolio specifically but also DAI as a whole. Contributes to the marketing of DAI’s thought leadership specifically, building recognition of DAI’s capabilities, experiences, and results/impacts, by positioning DAI’s brand of quality and value.
· Supports the Practice and Sector to develop and maintain a new business pipeline
· Identifies and develops a network of consultants (especially local consultants) that can provide surge capacity for the sector.
· Work with the broader Development Innovations (DI) team to promote synergies on business development between practices and sectors.
Additional Responsibilities of the P9 Lead Specialist
· Responsible for lead writing or managing multiple proposals and supporting or contributing to 4-5 proposals over the course of a calendar year.
· Responsible for building and growing strategic client relationships with USAID and other USG entities as directed.
Technical
· Participates in the technical services provided by the Sector to projects, new business endeavors, and other internally and externally facing initiatives.
· Supports projects as part of an integrated DI/Programs team to ensure a high standard of technical excellence in delivery of results according to client expectations. This includes leading or participating in technical start-ups and other assignments to ensure awesome delivery of projects. Actively participates across practices, sectors and regions to integrate with other core DAI competencies.
· Participates in cross-sector, cross-practice and cross-business unit initiatives that foster and build DAI’s technical leadership or advance process improvements across teams.
· Responsible for contributing to activities, efforts, and research relevant for the sector.
· Develops integrated technical solutions that leverage technical skills and capabilities within and across sectors and in other DAI business units. Promotes and supports technical staff to widely disseminate DAI’s development solutions through multiple venues, including social media, professional conferences, video, and public speaking engagements.
· Undertakes short-term technical assignments providing expertise to DAI USG and other business unit field projects that either directly contribute to exceptional project performance or in the completion of strategic assignments that feed back into technical thought leadership and strengthen DAI’s competitive new business advantage in their field.
Additional Responsibilities of the P9 Lead Specialist
· Leading in technical start-ups and other assignments to ensure awesome delivery of projects. Work with senior representatives from other departments on company-wide initiatives and issues.
· Responsible for leading activities, efforts, and research relevant for the sector.
Brand Development and Project Support
· In concert with the Sector Vice President and the assigned Practice Manager, the Specialist will be responsible for enhancing DAI’s brand to USAID. They will produce content for the DAI website, internal and external publications including articles, reports, videos, presentations and other multi-media forms, and internal business development resources from DAI’s work in the technical area to enhance proposal quality.
· Supports the development and dissemination of DAI’s technical brand with the aim of building and advancing DAI’s technical reputation and competitive position through participation in conferences, events and seminars, and social media.
· Works closely with Delivery, Strategy and Marketing, and other business units to capture technical achievements, tools, lessons learned, and best practices to build on and advance DAI’s reputation as a thought leader in this technical area and to showcase this to advance new business opportunities or expand market capture.
Additional responsibilities as deemed necessary.
Qualifications & Skills
Minimum Requirements:
· Grade 8: Minimum of 9 years of relevant professional experience in the governance sector and a college degree. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
· Grade 9: Minimum of 11 years of relevant professional experience and a college degree. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
· Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
· Ability to take on both leadership and support roles in the development of plans, proposals, and in carrying out work.
· Excellent written and oral skills, and demonstrated experience writing strong technical proposals for USAID or other international donor clients. Has the ability to work effectively across technical areas and leverage resources in different parts of the company.
· Experience working in at least one of the emerging technical area(s) of specialization of interest to the Local Governance Practice, including: sub-national service delivery; decentralization policy reform and implementation; citizen engagement and civic education; sub-national resource mobilization and public financial management; and other related responsive governance areas.
· Demonstrated emotional intelligence with empathy and strong interpersonal skills.
· Demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams, create inclusive work environments, and work effectively within a culturally diverse environment.
· Able and willing to travel up to 33% of the time to any country where DAI currently operates or may wish to operate barring times when DAI Global Security has deemed travel unsafe.
· Able and willing to adjust work schedule, if needed, to support teams located in different time zones/countries.
· Authorized to work in the United States.
Preferred, but not required:
· Demonstrated ability to work with and/or lead teams for winning new business and delivering excellent results to clients.
· Demonstrated related new business success with USAID.
· Professional proficiency in French, Spanish, Arabic or other relevant language is strongly preferred.
· Field experience in developing country context(s).
Compensation & Benefits:
At grade P8: For employees working the United States, the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to be between $130,117 to $159,032.
At grade P9: For employees working the United States, the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to be between $149,635 to $182,887.
Salary for part-time employees will be prorated based on actual hours worked. Actual offers will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, qualifications, relevant education, experience, skills, seniority, performance, and business or organizational needs.
Eligible U.S. based employees, will be able to enroll in medical, dental and vision insurance, plus a 401(k)-retirement plan with a company match. Additionally, employees will be eligible for company-paid annual leave (vacation & holidays), sick leave, parental leave; as well as short- and long-term disability coverage. Detailed information will be provided at the time a formal offer is extended.
For employees working outside of the United States, compensation and benefits will vary based on location.
Equal Employment Opportunity
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.
DAI and its employees are committed to confronting discrimination in all forms, nurturing respect for our interpersonal relationships, and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.
DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.
DAI requires COVID-19 vaccinations subject to accommodation required by law.
How to apply
interested candidate please apply using the link below: