Job Title:                          Sr. Principal Specialist (P8) / Lead Specialist (P9)

Department:                    Agriculture and Market Systems Practice, Economic Growth Sector 

Reports to:                       Sr. Director/Practice Director, Agriculture and Market Systems, Economic Growth         

Location:                        Bethesda, Maryland, or Remote in states where DAI is registered*

Function of the Position:

The Senior Principal Specialist / Lead Specialist will support the Agriculture and Market Systems (AGMS) Practice within Economic Growth in Development Innovations (DI). The Senior Principal Specialist / Lead Specialist will be responsible for supporting the practice including leading and supporting new business efforts in this thematic area, and capturing learning and technical solutions from our projects that can be synthesized and incorporated into knowledge management and business development efforts, with a primary objective of demonstrating DAI’s thought and technical leadership and increasing sales and marketing.

This role will serve primarily as an in-house AGMS / EG Proposal Champion and contributing writer and as a technical specialist, supporting the AGMS practice with expanding its professional network of external technical experts and strategic partners to provide technical support to DAI globally. Under the leadership of the Practice Director for Agriculture and Market Systems, this position is responsible for delivering superior proposals in the USG and other business units, growing DAI’s market share for development services within the agriculture and market systems sector, and building a network that connects DAI projects, staff, and clients. They will collaborate with other AGMS team members on select technical assignments linked to project and knowledge management deliverables. The Senior Principal Specialist / Lead Specialist will collaborate with other specialists across Development Innovations to create a competitive advantage in delivering Development Innovations to DAI’s donor, government, and corporate clients.

Specifically, the ideal candidate will have Agriculture and Market Systems related business development experience in the following thematic areas: agriculture (crops and livestock), value chain development, market systems, resilience, agribusiness, food security, nutrition, and private sector engagement. Cross cutting areas in Economic Growth include trade, investment promotion, access to capital, business enabling environment, ICT, youth, gender, and grant/partnership fund design.

The Senior Principal Specialist / Lead Specialist is expected to spend approximately a third of their time traveling internationally, primarily for business development efforts.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The time allocations are notional and will be tailored based on individual capacity in key areas and evolving business needs.

Business Development & Growth (80%)

Collaborates with colleagues in USG Business Development, USG Programs, and other business units to identify technical trends and capabilities which guide annual new business plans and technical requirements for proposal support; participate in setting bidding priorities. Prepares for, leads and/or supports new business efforts, including responding to specific Request for Information (RFI), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and/or Requests for Applications (RFA), particularly in the Practice area for which the role is responsible.  Directly support the Practice Director for AGMS in their efforts to submit winning proposals to DAI’s main clients in a range of capacities. Responsible for championing/lead writing a minimum of three proposals per year and supporting or contributing to several other proposals over the course of a calendar year. Serves as a reviewer on bids in the agriculture and market systems area as well as in other technical discipline areas. Supports the EG Sector to develop and maintain a new business pipeline; identifies and develops a network of consultants (especially local consultants) that can provide surge capacity for the sector. Work with the broader Development Innovations team to promote synergies on business development between practices and sectors. Build and grow strategic client relationships with USAID, and supporting colleagues in other DAI offices when needed, particularly those focused on Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) and the European Union/European Commission (EU/EC), and other implementing and donor organizations. Market the Practice’s services and portfolio specifically, but also DAI as a whole. Contribute to the marketing of DAI’s thought leadership specifically, building recognition of DAI’s capabilities, experiences, and results/impacts, by positioning DAI’s brand of quality and value. Support the development of a multi-year, multi-client plans to expand DAI’s work in the practice’s technical areas, focusing on products and services that address the needs of clients in local, national, regional, and international locations. 

Technical Delivery (10%)

Support the development and dissemination of DAI’s thought leadership in the area of agriculture, and market systems, including market systems resilience with the aim of building and advancing DAI’s technical reputation and competitive position through participation in conferences, events and seminars, and through written publications, blogs, and posts on social media. Participate in cross-sector, cross-practice and cross-business unit initiatives that foster and build DAI’s technical leadership, and/or advance process improvements across teams. Undertake select short-term technical assignments (STTAs) providing support to projects including technical reports, assessments, and other deliverables, as requested.

Strategic Marketing & Thought Leadership (10%)

In concert with the Practice Director, enhance DAI’s brand to our main clients, USAID, HMG (United Kingdom), and the European Union (EC)/ European Commission (EC).  Produce content for the DAI website, internal and external publications including blogs, articles, reports, videos, presentations and other multi-media forms, and internal business development resources from DAI’s work in the technical area to enhance proposal quality. Support projects as requested by USG Programs to ensure a high standard of technical excellence in delivery of results according to client expectations. Actively participate across practices and regions to integrate with other core DAI competencies. Work closely with USG Programs, and other business units to capture technical achievements, lessons learned, and best practices to build on and advance DAI’s reputation as a thought leader in this technical area.

Additional responsibilities as deemed necessary.

USG Business Unit Core Competencies 
All staff hired into positions within the USG Business at DAI are expected to demonstrate these competences throughout their work and interactions with others.  
 
Collaborates Effectively:  Recognizes the benefit of working with others from multicultural backgrounds; believes collaboration can lead to better and stronger contributions to USG; views relationships as long-term and meaningful; Communicates with empathy to cross-cultural audiences. 

Champions Inclusion: Treats others with honesty, respect, and consideration; promotes cross-cultural understanding and inclusion throughout the organization; demonstrates appreciation for the complex environments in which DAI works.

Performs with Excellence: Thrives in all aspects of your role and fosters an open and energizing environment that motivates self and peers to contribute their personal best and is reflective of USG’s vision and mission. 

Creates Innovative Solutions: Problem solves and broadens perspectives, while overcoming biases to find solutions to complex challenges; seeks opportunities to experiment with new approaches and grow/develop the skills of oneself and others.

Drives Growth: Able to weigh the costs and benefits of actions both internally and externally and their impact on diverse markets and stakeholders; Understands priorities and behaviors necessary for personal and organizational growth.

Navigates Risk: Integrates risk considerations into all aspects of work and planning; understands benchmarks for escalation of a risk-related issue or concern; makes decisions by gathering input from others and displaying trust of their recommendations, while also taking accountability for outcomes. 

 

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Grade P8: Minimum of 9 years of relevant professional experience and a college degree. 

Grade P9: Minimum of 11 years of relevant professional experience and a college degree. 

Demonstrated experience writing strong technical proposals for USAID and/or other international donor clients. Has the ability to lead new business efforts and / or technical scope of work.  Demonstrated experience supporting, designing, leading and/or evaluating projects related to agricultural economic growth in one of the following areas: market systems and value chain development, market systems resilience, private sector engagement, production (crops/livestock), food security, nutrition, and agribusiness. Technical knowledge and skills, as evidenced by project results, publications, reports and/or public presentations.  Demonstrated ability to work with and lead teams to win new business, and delivery excellent results to clients.  Able to work independently and as part of a team. Particularly the ability to transition between leadership and support roles in developing plans, proposals and executing technical work. Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex or technical information clearly, and tailor communication style to diverse audiences. Able to build and maintain strong working relationships with staff at all levels of the organization and external clients from diverse backgrounds.  Able and willing to travel to any country where DAI currently operates or may wish to operate barring times when DAI Global Security has deemed travel unsafe. Willing and able to adjust work schedule, if needed, to support teams located in different time zones/countries. Authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.  *Based in one of the following U.S. locations where DAI is registered: District of Columbia, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington.

Preferred Qualifications:

Prior experience managing USAID and/or FCDO-funded projects a plus. Education and/or work experience directly related to agriculture, animal sciences and/or agriculture economics. Demonstrated knowledge related to market systems, resilience, and/or market system resilience programming, design, and implementation (especially in fragile states). Demonstrated knowledge related to one or more of the cross-cutting areas of trade, investment promotion, access to capital, business enabling environments, ICT, youth, gender, and/or grant/partnership fund design.  Demonstrated new business success with DAI’s primary clients: USAID and FCDO. Professional working proficiency or fluency in a second language (Spanish or French preferred).

Compensation & Benefits:

Grade 8: For employees working 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 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, 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.

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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