DAI ESOP Inc.
Associate Specialist, Economic Growth Delivery Team
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OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION
The Economic Growth Delivery Team manages a diverse portfolio of donor-funded programmes and business development opportunities focused on economic growth, private sector development, trade, investment, market systems development, climate finance, and inclusive economic development.
The Associate Specialist supports delivery of donor-funded programmes and business development activities across the Economic Growth portfolio. Working under the guidance of Portfolio Leads, Project Directors and Bid Directors, the role coordinates project processes, supports financial and compliance management, contributes to proposal development, and helps maintain effective relationships with clients, partners and consultants.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We therefore encourage early applications.
The upper end of the salary range relates to the grade above the advertised position. Exceptionally strong candidates may be considered for appointment at this higher grade.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Project Delivery, Contract & Financial Management
- Coordinate and support projects throughout the full award lifecycle, from mobilisation and implementation through to closeout, ensuring delivery against client requirements, contractual obligations, budgets, and project objectives.
- Serve as day-to-day point of contact for project teams, providing operational guidance, resolving implementation challenges, and escalating complex risks and issues with recommended solutions.
- Monitor project operational, financial, contractual, and compliance performance, and support implementing risk mitigation measures to support successful delivery.
- Coordinate project operations and administration, including consultant and staff documentation, procurement processes, deliverable tracking, contract administration, and timely completion of project requirements.
- Manage and monitor project financial processes, including budgeting, forecasting, invoicing, accounts payable, vendor and subcontractor payments, financial analysis, and budget modifications, ensuring accuracy and strong financial stewardship.
- Support strategic decision-making through preparing financial reporting, performance analysis, risk assessment, and recommendations to improve project performance and profitability.
- Draft and coordinate contractual documentation, approvals, contract amendments, subcontract modifications, and other client or internal submissions, ensuring compliance with donor and corporate requirements.
- Advise project teams, subcontractors, consultants, and partners on contractual, compliance, budgetary, and operational matters, drawing on knowledge of client regulations and DAI policies and procedures.
- Conduct project, contract, subcontract, grant, and operational file reviews to ensure compliance with donor regulations, internal policies, and record retention standards.
- Oversee project mobilisations and demobilisations, consultant recruitment administration, and other key operational transactions required for effective project implementation.
- Build and maintain productive relationships with project teams, technical specialists, corporate service functions, clients, consultants, subcontractors, and other stakeholders to support high-quality programme delivery.
- Contribute to portfolio-wide learning, continuous improvement initiatives, and knowledge sharing across projects and business units.
Business Development & Bid Coordination
- Coordinate bids, proposals, expressions of interest and capture activities across the Economic Growth portfolio under the direction of the Bid Director or champion
- Develop and maintain proposal workplans, schedules and submission strategies to ensure high-quality and timely delivery.
- Act as Proposal Manager or Coordinator (opportunity dependent) on strategic opportunities, including managing the proposal workplan, tracking and assuring key deliverables and organising key internal review points.
- Coordinate technical, operational, financial and commercial inputs from internal teams and external partners, contributing to technical and commercial writing as needed.
- Support preparation of proposal pricing exercises, including budget development, cost modelling, assumptions and financial reviews.
- Coordinate proposal resourcing processes, including identification, recruitment and mobilisation planning for long- and short-term experts.
- Maintain expert databases, screen CVs, and prepare bios/CVs for inclusion in bids.
- Conduct candidate outreach, screening and support negotiations with technical experts.
- Support on key communications surrounding the bid preparation both internally and externally.
- Coordinate consortium development and partner engagement activities, including due diligence and teaming arrangements.
- Support opportunity identification, market intelligence gathering and pipeline development.
- Contribute to win strategies and proposal positioning discussions.
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Stakeholder Engagement & Client Relations
- Build and maintain effective relationships with clients, consortium partners, subcontractors and consultants.
- Arrange logistics, gather briefings, and maintain day-to-day contact with external partners, experts and clients.
- Represent DAI in meetings with clients, partners and technical stakeholders and support senior staff in interactions with the stakeholders.
- Support negotiation of scopes of work, budgets and teaming arrangements.
- Ensure effective communication and coordination across geographically dispersed teams.
Organisational Capability & Knowledge Management
- Contribute to strengthening Economic Growth delivery and business development systems and processes.
- Share lessons learned and best practice across programmes and bids.
- Contribute to innovation and continuous improvement initiatives.
BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES
PLANS AND ALIGNS
Plans and prioritises work to meet commitments aligned with organisational goals. For example, strengthens alignment and coordination between own work and others', providing well-sequenced activities and exact time frames. Foresees and resolves many potential bottlenecks and delays.
ENSURES ACCOUNTABILITY
Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments. For example, tracks performance and strives to remain effective, learning from both successes and failures. Readily takes on challenges or difficult tasks and has reputation for delivering on commitments.
COLLABORATE
Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives. For example, enlists a range of stakeholders to add value; ensures they are well informed and surprises are avoided. Confronts and challenges "us vs. them"; shows strong appreciation for others' efforts toward shared goals.
MANAGES COMPLEXITY
Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. For example, looks at complex issues from multiple angles; explores issues to uncover underlying issues and root causes; sees the main consequences and implications of different options.
ACTION ORIENTED
Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm. For example, takes timely action on important or difficult issues. Identifies and pursues new opportunities that benefit the organisation.
DRIVES RESULTS
Consistently achieves results, even under tough circumstances. For example, devotes considerable effort to surpassing goals and achieving the best possible results; goes above and beyond to achieve excellence. Drives ahead with great focus when faced with obstacles and setbacks; maintains productivity and a positive attitude.
FINANCIAL ACUMEN
Interprets and applies key financial indicators to make better business decisions. For example, determines and estimates the main direct and indirect costs; makes generally appropriate decisions regarding expenditures. Studies financial and quantitative information; uses data to improve performance.
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COMMUNICATES EFFECTIVELY
Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. For example, listens attentively and takes an interest. Keeps others well informed; conveys information clearly, concisely, and professionally when speaking or writing.
OPTIMISES WORK PROCESSES
Knows the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement. For example, uses metrics and benchmarks to monitor accuracy and quality. Takes steps to make methods productive and efficient. Promptly and effectively addresses process breakdowns.
DIRECTS WORK
Provides direction, delegating and removing obstacles to get work done. For example, asks questions to understand the desired outcomes for the role; confirms accountabilities with others so that work can be done effectively and efficiently; informs stakeholders when there are delays or problems that will affect them.
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience.
- Experience managing donor-funded international development projects. Strong project management skills, including planning, budgeting, risk management and stakeholder coordination.
- Experience working on Economic Growth, Private Sector Development, Trade, Investment, Market Systems Development, Climate Finance or related sectors.
- Experience coordinating complex bids and proposals, including a good understanding of proposal development, programme management systems and standards, client service and management and best practice in respective technical area.
- Experience coordinating recruitment and mobilisation of technical experts.
- Experience engaging and managing consortium partners and subcontractors.
- Strong financial analysis and commercial management skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. (including being able to write technically and write client reports)
- Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships both internally and externally to deliver against programme and business targets.
- Strong organisational skills and ability to multi-task and work to tight deadlines.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, flexible, and team-focused work environment.
- Numerate with a high level of attention to detail.
- Strong knowledge of MS Office
- Willingness to travel to any of DAI’s countries of operation including (if required) for project deployment for longer assignments.
Desirable
- Experience working with FCDO, Gates Foundation, BII, World Bank, ADB, AfDB or other major development clients.
- Overseas field experience in international development programmes.
- Professional fluency in an additional language, especially French and/or Arabic
- Experience with ERP, CRM and proposal management systems.
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.
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