Deputy Field Team Lead (PSD, Sri Lanka) 98 views

Deputy Field Team Lead (PSD, Sri Lanka)

Company Overview:

About Palladium – Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value.  We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people’s lives. 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – 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, 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 any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com

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.

Project Overview and Role:

Palladium?seeks?a Deputy Field?Team Lead?for?the USAID/Sri Lanka Private Sector Development (PSD) Activity, a 5-year, $12 million buy-in program under USAID’s global CATALYZE Blended Finance Mechanism. PSD?will strengthen SME?competitiveness?in high-growth sectors?that also have strong potential to effectively engage women as business owners and employees.?Both directly and through business advisory service (BAS) providers, PSD will support SMEs to access blended finance opportunities, generate demand, and more effectively engage women in their operations.?The project will initially focus on five target sectors: tourism, information and communication technology, commercial care, apparel, and food processing.? Given the?overwhelming impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Sri Lankan public health and the local economy, PSD will also support economic relief to SMEs to boost their long-term resilience and adaptation through the pandemic. 

The?PSD?activity is?organized under these?primary objectives:?? 

• Capacity and Competitiveness of MSMEs Increased? 
• Access to Finance for MSMEs Increased? 
• COVID-19 Relief and Adaptation? 

 Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Deputy Field Team Lead will join the team in a dual technical and management leadership role, supporting the Field Team Lead to effectively implement the PSD program and achieve program results. Specific responsibilities include: 

• Oversee staff and activities under Objective 1: Capacity and Competitiveness of MSMEs Increased and Objective 2: Access to Finance for MSMEs Increased  
• Provide strategic leadership for private sector partnership development designed to achieve program results related to mobilizing investment, creating jobs, and boosting revenue of MSMEs in target sectors. 
• Support development and implementation of annual project workplans that define activities executed under the buy-in, assist in drafting of regular reporting, assist in finalization of other main contractual and technical deliverables. 
• Build PSD network and collaboration with key Sri Lankan business and institutional stakeholders to bolster the scale and impact of interventions.  
• Ensure that program implementation is done in accordance with USAID and Palladium rules and regulations, ensure effective use of resources, and on-time delivery of high-quality staff and partner deliverables.  
• Support competitive and transparent procurement processes across program implementation  
• Coordinate across PSD team to facilitate seamless integration of program activities  
• Participate in and support client communications and management
• In absence of the Field Team Lead, serve as Acting Field Team Lead 

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree or higher in International Development, Business, Economics, or another related field. 
• 8+ years of experience managing programs related to sector development, competitiveness, financial inclusion, business advisory services, private sector partnership development, and inclusive growth models.  
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing partnerships with businesses and financial institutions to expand business growth opportunities for MSMEs 
• 5+ years of experience supervising and managing teams of at least 6 people in size 
• Experience with USAID or USG-funded international projects highly desirable, including grant-based programming
• Demonstrated understanding of the Sri Lankan business environment, experience working in banking and investment, and in any of PSD’s target sectors
• In-depth experience related to the business case for women’s inclusion in the workforce and as business owners
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
• Excellent English skills
• This is a local/non-expat position; no expat benefits are associated with this position. Sri Lankan nationals or those authorized to work in Sri Lanka are strongly encouraged to apply

Reporting 

•  The Deputy Field Team Lead will report directly to the Field Team Lead.