Engines of Growth (EoG) Activity Lead, CATALYZE
Project Overview and Role:
USAID CATALYZE is a global project designed to facilitate partnerships and craft solutions to mobilize $2 billion in blended private sector and other financing to USAID partner countries. The program can work in any development sector or region, enabling USAID Bureaus and Missions around the world to efficiently facilitate investment solutions that respond to the needs of specific sectors, issues, and geographies and leverage private sector financing to achieve development objectives.
Palladium seeks an Activity Team Lead for the USAID/Engines of Growth (EoG) Activity, a buy-in program under USAID’s global CATALYZE Blended Finance Mechanism. The purpose of the EoG Activity is to facilitate Western Balkan[1] small and medium enterprise (SME) growth and productivity by improving their access to and utilization of finance. EoG will help mobilize capital to SMEs in order to sustain viable SMEs and jobs in the wake of COVID 19, and later to ensure growth financing to SMEs in the long term.
The Team Lead will be responsible for the technical implementation and the effective and compliant management of the EoG activity, in close coordination with the Palladium Home Office Activity Manager. S/he will be the senior in-country representative of Palladium on the activity, with overall responsibility for supervising project activities, staff and managing day-to-day relations with stakeholders in the private sector, Government, and donor community.
[1]For the purposes of this activity, the eligible area includes Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Specific responsibilities of EoG’s Activity Team Lead include, but are not limited to:
Manage all administrative and programmatic functions and activities in line with the activity’s Scope of Work and approved annual work plans
Lead technical discussions and strategy development for implementation of the EoG activity, and ensure an integrated vision across countries in the region
Serve as the EoG’s local representative, acting as the principal liaison with the Palladium Home Office, local implementing partners and subcontractors, and private sector
Support the development strategic partnerships with stakeholders in the private sector, Government, and donor community to facilitate capital mobilization to SMEs
Ensure judicious use of USG resources, on-time delivery of activity reports and partner deliverables, and overall compliance with USAID regulations and Palladium policies and procedures
Lead ongoing recruitment efforts as needed and provide oversight of local activity staff, human resource matters, and teambuilding.
Identify issues and risks related to program implementation in a timely manner, and suggest appropriate program adjustments
Ensure safety and security of activity personnel and resources across the region
The position of Activity Team Lead requires significant coordination skills, broad general and technical knowledge, experience in international development, and the ability to ensure coherence and consistency while under urgent deadlines. The minimum qualifications are as follows:
Masters’ degree or equivalent in business, economics, international development, or other relevant fields
10+ years’ experience managing projects in economic growth, SME development, access to finance, investment, livelihoods, market systems strengthening, or related fields
Demonstrated leadership in the administration of similarly sized international donor support programs with skills in strategic planning, management, supervision and budgeting. Prior USAID experience preferred
Proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams
Experience utilizing pay-for-performance incentives to achieve program objectives a plus
Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills, as well as negotiation skills in English
Prior relevant professional and regional experience preferred
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.
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.
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