Job Title/Grade: Senior Principal Specialist / Lead Specialist Water Security, Sanitation, and Hygiene (P8-P9)
Department: USG, Development Innovations, Environment Sector
Reports to: Water and Energy Senior Practice Director
DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social, environmental, and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.
Position Overview
DAI is a Water Security, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WSSH) sector leader with a dedicated technical team in DAI headquarters and flagship USAID programs in Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Lebanon, Nepal, and the Philippines. We have additional significant WSSH activities under our governance programs in Guatemala, Iraq, and Mozambique, among others. Our experience is comprehensive – encompassing the upstream protection and management of water resources, climate change adaptation and water security, water for productive uses, regulatory and monitoring systems, utility reform, development of sanitation markets, rural service delivery models, and more. We recognize that societies get the greatest health and economic benefits from water and sanitation when we leverage benefits within and across sectors (and across our projects) and when local stakeholders are at the center of the decision-making process and part of a collaborative implementation approach. WSSH is part of DAI’s Water and Energy Practice, facilitating synergies with clean energy and circular economies, in particular. The WE Practice is within the Environment Sector at DAI providing further linkages to DAI’s broader climate finance, mitigation, and adaptation work, natural resources management, and land reform.
The Senior Principal Specialist/Lead Specialist, WSSH will be a critical part of the team leading business development and implementation of DAI’s USAID WSSH projects. The Senior Principal Specialist/Lead Specialist will provide WSSH thought leadership and knowledge management, including representing DAI in domestic and international sector events, and connecting knowledge efforts among DAI projects. The Senior Principal Specialist/Lead Specialist will bring his/her technical expertise to bear as a lead in developing compelling proposals and in providing technical assistance and other support to DAI’s diverse WSSH projects. The Senior Principal Specialist/Lead Specialist will expand and maintain a network of WSSH clients, experts, and partners on behalf of DAI and serve as a cross-cutting resource within the Environment Sector team, collaborating with specialists across the organization to contribute to successful integration of WSSH activities into Environment, Economic Growth, Governance, Digital, and Health projects and proposals. DAI would look favorably upon candidates with engineering experience managing infrastructure projects in emerging economies.
The Specialist/ Sr. Specialist may spend up to 20% of their time traveling internationally to support business development efforts and projects around the world.
This is a full-time, permanent position. U.S. work authorization is required.
Program Implementation
• Serve as a DAI subject matter expert in WSSH, supporting project excellence and undertaking short-term technical assignments (STTA).
• As applicable, serve as DAI subject matter expert in infrastructure activities, particularly WSSH-related, but potentially including other program areas.
• Directly support DAI projects with work planning, activity implementation, and development of technical tools and solutions that help achieve program objectives; provide quality control on technical deliverable and supports 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.
• Identify new sector trends and ensure integration of WSSH across programs in Environment, Economic Growth, Governance, Digital, and Health.
• Leverage, develop, maintain and expand a strong working relationship with clients and partners.
Business Development and Growth
• Contribute to DAI’s thought leadership agenda, aligning to DAI’s Environment Sector business development priorities and longer-term market positioning.
• Lead/support proposal development teams to define winning capture strategies, conduct in-country capture trips, establish key partnerships, and write high-quality winning technical approaches.
• Contribute to research, analysis and strategy in support of the development and implementation of the WSSH new business pipeline.
• Support identification and recruitment of experts and partners for bids and projects.
• Build and expand strategic client relationships, especially with USAID, and grow the WSSH network of implementation partners both domestically and internationally.
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 WSSH and other Environment Sector technical areas.
• Facilitate cross-project learning.
• 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, working groups, and cross-business unit initiatives.
• Contribute to publications, presentations, event participation, etc. to enhance DAI’s reputation and brand with our key clients.
• Support the Environment Sector, WE Practice, and WSSH team in organizing internal retreats, workshops, and meeting presentations.
• Stay abreast of client and international development trends in assigned area.
Additional responsibilities as deemed necessary.
Minimum Qualifications
• Grade 8: Minimum of 9+ years of related experience and a College Degree
• Grade 9: Minimum of 11+ years of related experience and a College Degree
• Demonstrated experience with WSSH programs in complex contexts and developing collaborative working relationships with external stakeholders, such as NGOs, other contractors and international organizations, civil society, governments and donors.
• Experience supporting USAID or other donor-funded new business efforts, including serving as a proposal champion, manager, technical writer, and/or capture lead.
• Experience supporting thought leadership, including writing about and/or presenting findings to diverse stakeholders to encourage uptake.
• Demonstrated experience in leading activities independently and efficiently, with minimal oversight.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, able to prioritize assignments and manage multiple deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
• Able to build and maintain good working relationships with teams at all levels of the organization, including project teams, and external clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical information clearly, and tailor communication style to diverse audiences.
• Ability and willingness to travel to any country where DAI operates or may wish to operate barring times when DAI Global Security has deemed travel unsafe.
• Authorized to work in the United States.
• Willing and able to adjust work schedule, if needed, to support teams located in different time zones/countries.
Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Strongly Preferred Qualifications
• Engineering Degree. Licensing as a professional engineer (PE) is not required but is desirable.
• Experience living and working overseas
• Demonstrated ability to work across sectors and in other environment practice areas.
• Experience with humanitarian WSSH and water security issues in conflict or fragile states.
• Experience working in developing countries including conflict and fragile states.
• Proficiency in French, Spanish, or other relevant language.
Supervisory Requirements: None.
Compensation & Benefits:
Grade 8: For employees working in the United States, the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to be between $136,406 to $167,743.
Grade 9: For employees working in the United States, the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to be between $155,946 to $190,600.
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, Grade level, 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 OpportunityAll 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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