Job Title/Grade:** Senior Global Practice Specialist I/II/Principal/Sr Principal Global Practice Specialist – Clean Energy (Grades 10 - 13)
Department: USG Development Innovations / Environment Sector
Reports to: Global Practice Manager, Sustainable Cities
Location(s): US preferred; Apsley, UK; London, UK
Date: February 4, 2022
Function of the Position:
The Global Practice Specialist (GPS) will oversee delivery of DAI’s USG clean energy activities and support efforts to expand the portfolio of USAID and other US government projects focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency and enabling frameworks for clean energy.
The GPS will provide technical direction and specialized technical assistance to national, regional, and local government agencies and private sector institutions related to promoting clean energy. She/he will also support new business efforts for USAID and other USG projects in part by leveraging capabilities across DAI global business units, including ongoing project work for UK, EU and other international donors. She/he will engage in thought leadership and knowledge sharing activities highlighting DAI project results, tools and successes. DAI has a growing portfolio of projects in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East where USAID is integrating clean energy and climate change into broader governance, economic growth, and environment objectives. As a result, there is significant potential for technical and leadership growth for a talented and entrepreneurial candidate. This position can be based in the US or DAI’s Europe offices (London or Apsley), with some additional flexibility for candidates with directly relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities in other locations where DAI has a Corporate office.
Principal responsibilities will include:
- Deliver excellent technical assistance to USAID and other donor-funded projects. Activities may include working with national and local stakeholders to conduct renewable energy, energy efficiency, and/or electric vehicle infrastructure assessments; propose policies and regulatory options to facilitate the uptake and procurement of clean energy solutions; evaluate options for financing clean energy projects; and assess the gender, equity, greenhouse gas, and/or air pollution benefits of clean energy.
- Support new business opportunities related to clean energy and low carbon planning including by providing technical input to the writing of innovative, winning proposals.
- Support cross-company efforts to establish DAI's reputation as a thought leader in clean energy, and the mobilization of green investment in developing country contexts.
- Develop and test innovative approaches that are incorporated into winning proposals and put DAI at the forefront of clean energy service providers to USAID and other donors.
- Create partnerships with international initiatives, technology providers, private organizations, and expert consultants for the delivery of clean energy, climate change, and green investment services.
- Participate in the ongoing development and implementation of DAI Environment Sector's growth strategy focusing on USAID and other US government agencies.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Time will be allocated across these three responsibilities according to corporate need and personal capabilities; in 2022 the priority will be placed on providing technical support to existing DAI projects.
Technical
- Deliver technical expertise to DAI field projects in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency, green entrepreneurship, and electric vehicle market development resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable, inclusive, and equitable economic growth.
- Illustrative technical deliverables include the design of policy and investment frameworks to scale up the deployment of renewable energy, support for entrepreneurs in introducing distributed energy solutions or energy efficiency technologies, building capacity for the design of investment-ready clean energy project concepts, and working with public and private stakeholders to improve sector policies, build institutional capacity, and introduce blended finance structures for attracting green investment.
- Support technical start-ups of field projects and undertake short-term technical assignments providing training, high quality technical reports, assessments, recommendations and other deliverables as requested.
Business Development and Growth
- In collaboration with the Environment Sector new business team, build on existing clean energy work within the DAI USG, UK, EU and Sustainable Business Group Units to support winning proposals as a lead or supporting technical writer. Work with proposal teams to formulate convincing technical approaches, develop responsive technical narratives, competitive staffing and management structures, and provide inputs into the proposal budgeting process.
- Build and grow strategic client relationships, especially with USAID, but also with other implementing and donor organizations.
- Work with the broader USG Development Innovations team to promote synergies on business development between practices and sectors.
- Identify and develop a network of clean energy consultants (especially local consultants) that can provide surge capacity for the Environment Sector.
Thought Leadership and Knowledge Sharing
- Work with DAI’s technical sectors to identify and highlight innovative clean energy approaches being implemented in projects around the world. Using this knowledge base, participate in diverse clean energy and climate change networks and events that provide strategic opportunities to showcase work being carried out by DAI.
- Seek out opportunities to expand internal and external understanding of DAI’s work in clean energy, advance the use of innovative tools and approaches, draft articles for DAI publications, and develop and maintain external networks of partners, clients, and individual consultants that DAI can tap to identify business opportunities and deliver outstanding results.
- Identify, capture and share information and lessons learned from past and present projects with proposal teams and other field projects for dissemination via the DAI website and other platforms.
- Strategically market DAI USG’s services and portfolio.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications
- Grade 10: Minimum of 9 years of relevant professional experience and a bachelor’s degree; or 7 years of relevant professional experience and a master’s degree;
- Grade 11: Minimum of 11 years of relevant professional experience and a bachelor’s degree; or 9 years of relevant professional experience and a master’s degree;
- Grade 12: Minimum of 13 years of relevant professional experience and a bachelor’s degree; or 11 years of relevant professional experience and a master’s degree;
- Grade 13: Minimum of 17 years of relevant professional experience and a bachelor’s degree; or 15 years of relevant professional experience and a master’s degree;
- Demonstrated experience leading, designing, and/or evaluating projects and programs that promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric vehicles and/or low carbon development in developing country settings, including enabling frameworks for attracting investment into equitable, inclusive and sustainable clean energy solutions.
- Familiarity with a wide range of clean energy strategies, including their appropriateness in various types of low resource settings.
- Demonstrated experience leading technical teams for delivery of clean energy projects.
- Excellent writing skills and experience supporting technical proposals for USAID or other international donor clients. Has the ability to work independently and effectively across technical areas, develop technical approaches that integrate or leverage resources in different parts of the company, and adjust technical content to meet client needs.
- Ability to travel to countries in which DAI has projects or new business opportunities for proposal reconnaissance and the provision of technical support to projects, barring times or locations DAI Security Office has deemed unsafe. Travel requirement expected to be up to 25% of the time (public health conditions permitting—DAI continues to limit international travel due to global pandemic conditions).
- Possesses technical knowledge and skills as evidenced by project results, publications, reports, proposals, and/or public presentations
Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Strongly Preferred Qualifications
- Fluency in one or more of DAI’s priority languages: Spanish, French, Russian or Arabic
Supervisory Requirements:
- Experience in leading project delivery teams.
Organization and Values
DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism 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 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 of our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.
DAI is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a commitment to diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
DAI requires COVID 19 vaccinations subject to accommodation required by law.
How to apply:
Please submit applications on DAI's career site using the link below.
https://phf.tbe.taleo.net/phf04/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=DAINC&cws=1&rid=6744