Job Title : Lead Specialist, Water Energy and Waste
Department : Development Innovations, Environment
Reports to: Water, Energy and Waste Practice Director
Work Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Function of the Position
The Water Energy and Waste (WEW) practice provides technical leadership and implementation support to international field-based USAID programs in the areas of clean energy, waste management, ocean plastics, green/circular economy, climate change mitigation, and water security, sanitation and health. Under the leadership of the Water, Energy and Waste Practice Director, the Specialist will lead business development initiatives to grow the WEW global portfolio and serve as the Technical Lead for up to two ongoing field programs in the practice area. As a subject matter expert, the Specialist will be responsible for identifying new trends in green economy other WEW areas and integrating best practices and approaches across other DAI sectors, including Governance, Economic Growth, Digital, and Health.
Roles and Responsibilities
The WEW practice is seeking an innovative thinker, skilled writer, and proactive problem solver who is energized by working with an ambitious team, all of whom are passionate about growing the WEW portfolio and integrating green economy and climate change mitigation into global development programming. The position entails the following:
Program Implementation
• Directly support DAI projects with program strategy, work planning, activity implementation, and developing technical tools and solutions that help achieve program objectives; provide quality control on technical deliverables, mentor local staff, and support communications and knowledge management.
• Conduct research, synthesize information and evidence, and support development of technical deliverables for DAI’s USAID projects; package and present technical work to diverse and non-expert audiences.
• Serve as a subject matter expert to ensure integration of green economy and climate change mitigation best practices across programs in Environment, Health, Governance, Digital, and Economic Growth.
Business Development and Growth
• Lead/support proposal development teams to define a win strategy, conduct in-country capture trips, establish key partnerships, and write high-quality winning technical proposals.
• Support the Environment sector to develop, assess and pursue a new business pipeline.
• Build and expand strategic client relationships, especially with USAID, and grow the WEW practice’s network of implementation partners both domestically and in priority regions (Africa, Latin America, and Asia).
Competitive Positioning
• Capture technical achievements, lessons learned, and best practices from program implementation to build on and advance DAI’s reputation as a market leader in green economy and other Environment Sector technical areas.
• Enhance DAI’s technical reputation and competitive position through participation in conferences, field-based workshops, events and seminars, and social media.
Corporate Support
• Participate in DAI corporate activities, including planning, new business forecasting, team-building meetings, cross-business unit initiatives.
• Support the Environment Sector and WEW team in organizing internal retreats, workshops, meeting presentations.
Additional responsibilities as deemed necessary.
This position will close on Friday, April 28, 2023.
Minimum Qualifications
• Grade 9: Minimum of 11 years of relevant professional experience and a bachelor’s degree. Candidates should have had regular client interaction and full or significant responsibility for managing or implementing an activity, project, or task.
• Relevant professional experience includes work for an organization engaged in emerging markets in one or more of the following areas: clean energy, waste and methane emissions management, ocean plastics, green/circular economy, climate change mitigation, green/climate finance, water security, sanitation and health, or other relevant area.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and lead teams for winning new business and clients; experience leading/supporting USAID new business efforts, including serving as a proposal manager, technical writer, and/or capture lead.
• Ability to take on both leadership and support roles in the development of plans, proposals and in carrying out field work.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical information in a clear and concise manner to diverse and often non-expert audiences.
• Ability and willingness to travel to any country where DAI currently operates an estimated 25% of the time for proposal capture trips and provision of technical support to projects.
Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Preferred Qualifications
• Demonstrated ability to work across sectors, especially on linkages between the environment and economic growth sector, or any sector increasingly focused on mainstreaming climate and green economy concerns into their traditional programming.
• Experience working in least developed or conflict and fragile states.
• Proficiency in French, Spanish, or other relevant language for working in development.
Compensation & Benefits:
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.
Supervisory Requirements: None.
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.
