Director - Inclusive Growth Natural Capital (IGNC)

About Palladium:

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop, and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities. 

This Opportunity:

Palladium’s Inclusive Growth and Natural Capital (IGNC) Practice is seeking expressions of interest for a seasoned development professional to join as a Technical Director to join the Inclusive Growth Portfolio. As a senior leader in the portfolio, the Director, IGNC will bring extensive technical expertise and project management experience to both business development and project delivery in one or more of the following technical areas: Finance and investment, financial and digital inclusion, market systems, business enabling environments, agriculture, climate change and green economy, enterprise development and entrepreneurship, competitiveness, export and market development, e-commerce, and innovation.

As a senior member of the IGNC practice team, the Director will contribute to Palladium America’s growth and thought leadership around the world.

As one of three technical portfolios in the IGNC practice, the Inclusive Growth portfolio focuses on economic growth, market systems, enabling environment, private sector development, localization, youth and gender inclusion, and working with and through local business ecosystems to achieve scaled and sustainable development outcomes. Directors in the portfolio will work extensively and collaboratively with other portfolio teams to advance overall practice goals and manage effective, dynamic teams.

Location and Compensation:

The position is based in Palladium’s Washington D.C. office.

For our prospective employees in the United States, please note that the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to range from $116,000 to $174,000, and successful candidates may also be eligible for additional, variable incentive compensation dependent on the role. For part-time employees, the salary will be prorated based on the actual number of hours worked.
Please be advised that a final salary offer will be based on various factors, including but not limited to your qualifications, education, experience, skills, seniority, performance, and Palladium’s business or organizational needs.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the compensation for this position, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We value your interest in our company and appreciate the opportunity to discuss this opportunity with you.

You and Your Career:

If you are a problem-solver, collaborator, and doer, and you have expertise in private sector engagement (PSE), inclusive growth, sustainable market systems development, green economy, agriculture and enterprise competitiveness we are interested in hearing from you. 

We are a learning organization and provide growth opportunities from the start. We pride ourselves on giving you the freedom, resources, and guidance to chart a fulfilling career!

Reporting and Supervision:

This role will report to the Portfolio Lead, Inclusive Growth
Directors typically supervise one or more Managers or Sr. Managers
The position is based in Palladium’s Washington, D.C. office with an expectation to be physically present 3 days per week.The position may entail overseas travel, at approximately 20% time and for periods averaging 2 weeks.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

Business Development:

Build and maintain relationships with corporate and donor (especially USAID) clients, other thought leaders, and potential implementing partners
Identify and assess new business opportunities, developing and advancing the business cases for investment of business development resources
Lead positioning, teaming, and strategy development for new business opportunities
Serve as the technical “architect” of responses to requests for application/proposal, developing responsive, effective theories of change, technical approaches, and other inputs to guide all aspects of proposal development
Serve as Capture Manager in the development of winning proposals, effectively managing and quality controlling inputs from technical writers, recruiters, proposal coordinator, pricing, and other team members as required
Actively participate in, and contribute to, strategy setting and business development efforts at the practice, Americas, and global level, including cross-sector efforts

Technical Leadership:

Provide technical leadership and oversight of projects in the portfolio and practice area
Through written communications and participation in industry events, build and maintain Palladium’s thought leadership and technical eminence in one or more sectors included in the inclusive growth portfolio
Deliver short-term technical assignments in areas of (or adjacent to) technical expertise
Maintain strong and mutually respectful relationships with implementing partners and consultants that can provide technical expertise to Palladium-managed projects

Project Management:

Serve as Project Director on one or more large-scale USAID projects, with technical, operational, and compliance oversight and quality control responsibilities
For assigned portfolio projects, interface with clients and other project stakeholders to plan, implement, review, report, and address implementation challenges as needed
Provide guidance and support to project work planning, budgeting, and progress/financial reporting
Manage partner organizations (such as subcontractors) in the contractually compliant delivery of agreed inputs and achievement of agreed outputs and outcomes

Relationships:

Work with all parts of the company and actively support and collaborate with other portfolios, Practices, Regional Business Units, and business support services
Actively build and maintain client and consultant relationships
Work with colleagues across the company, portfolio leads and consultants to develop Palladium’s intellectual property
Supervise, coach, and mentor colleagues, including designated Chief(s) of Party, Project Managers/Associates, and proposal team members

Leadership/Other:

Contribute to efforts at the portfolio level to build team cohesiveness, lead, mentor, train, and motivate staff to ensure cooperation, project efficiency, and boost morale
Lead teams to implement new work including assignment and management of staff to new activities, initiatives or projects
Act as main point of contact for regular communication for all relevant technical subject matter stakeholders, both internal and external to Palladium
Perform other duties as assigned

Key Competencies and Experience Required:

Fluency in written and spoken English
Current and up-to-date understanding of USAID programs, operating environment, and policies
Significant experience leading the conceptualization and writing of successful proposals for USAID opportunities
Broad and deep familiarity with developing country contexts, in particular issues and approaches to improve food security, access to finance, strengthen market & food systems, and improve rural incomes and resilience
Experience developing theories of change, results frameworks, logic models, and other elements of adaptive programming for impact
Experience managing and motivating staff and colleagues, working across bureaucratic and geographic management units
Extensive client project management experience with government clients, and/or business development experience
Proven experience facilitating the professional development of junior staff
Formulates partnerships and collaborations with organizations and networks for strategic growth including representing Palladium to governments, donors, partners and other stakeholders, through thought leadership at international meetings, ministry-level events, technical working groups, and internal technical teams
Demonstrates rigorous project management capabilities and a track record of experience overseeing USAID projects of $10 million or greater, preferably overseas, and preferably involving subawards/grants/subcontracts
Sound problem-solving and decision-making skills demonstrated in challenging or fluid circumstances
Thorough and up-to-date understanding of USAID programs, development objectives, model approaches, and policies
Extensive experience matching programmatic objectives/work plans to costs/budgets
Demonstrated experience interpreting and analyzing project financial reports and making or evaluating financial forecasts

Professional Expertise/Competencies Preferred:

Extensive relevant work experience in several or all of the following topics in developing economy contexts: private sector development, competitiveness, finance, trade, investment, enabling environment/policy reform, market system development, and inclusive growth
Experience with the development of private sector partnerships that create shared commercial, social, and environmental value
Experience working in a developing country or in a project-based environmentProficiency in one or more of the following languages: Spanish, French, or Arabic

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.