Technical Advisor, Digital Solutions and Informatics 281 views

Technical Advisor, Digital Solutions and Informatics

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 3,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities. 

Palladium Americas

Our Americas’ business team has brilliant and passionate colleagues working in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America as well as the Caribbean, fulfilling projects and assignments for clients from institutions, corporations, governments, and foundations based in the Americas. We have offices in Washington, DC, New York City, and Raleigh-Durham, NC.

This Opportunity

The Data, Informatics and Analytical Solutions
Practice (DIAS) is a dynamic and innovative group with talented and passionate
members working toward the goal of improving informed decision making and
effectiveness of international development projects. Our vision is to improve
development investments and outcomes by harnessing the power of digital
solutions to strengthen information systems, governance, local capacity, and
ownership to use quality data in real time for positive impact. To do this,
DIAS takes a systems approach that combines expertise across monitoring and
evaluation and research; effective data use; information and communication
technology (ICT); and data governance to help governments and development
partners throughout the world to design, implement, and evaluate projects that
create positive impact.

The Digital Solutions and Informatics Technical
Advisor, is a critical member of the DIAS Community, and has cross-cutting
responsibilities for helping to grow the business, manage client work, and
develop and implement pathbreaking approaches to transform the world through digital
solutions. 

Our Technical Advisors are problem-solvers and
facilitators; they support and manage client projects across the globe for a
variety of clients such as USAID and Global Fund. They manage client and
corporate relationships (with senior Project Directors and with colleagues in
other global offices).  They mentor, train,
and inspire junior team members.  They
also may provide business development support, technical project management
inputs, and subject matter expertise to these projects as needed.  
The role reports to the Technology &
Innovation Senior Technical Advisor, within the DIAS Practice.  As needed, the role will support other
portfolios or other communities of practice, such as Health, Economic Growth,
Education and Supply Chain/Logistics, among others. We have a positive,
team-oriented culture that encourages collaboration across disciplines and
geographies.

You and Your Career

If you are a passionate technologist, who is
driven to problem-solve, collaborate, and put solutions into action, we’re
interested in hearing from you. In this role, you will design, develop, and
implement technology solutions that help solve the world’s most pressing
challenges.

As an experienced technical expert, you will
have opportunities to travel for either technical project implementation or
business development activities, as well as to support other units within the
firm in our collaborative and agile environment. You will have many
opportunities for exposure and growth, across a number of technical and sector
areas, applying innovation technology solutions. 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!

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The Technical Advisor will provide
technical expertise to design, develop and implement digital solutions, in
addition to overseeing software design, development, and implementation for
projects across a wide array of programmatic and thematic international
development areas.

Technical Assistance in Digital Design
and Implementation:

• Research and test emerging digital technology trends in international development, such as Internet of Things (IoT), AI-enabled information systems, and blockchain, and identify opportunities for implementation within the portfolio activities.
• Work with activity managers to support the analysis, design, and implementation of various client-facing digital technologies and tools across sectors like health, education, child protection and agriculture. Conduct requirements analysis, information systems design, and resource planning to develop and implement information systems. Support implementation activities, including stakeholder engagement, user acceptance testing, capacity building, and documentation.
• Oversee software development teams to ensure the quality of applications before implementation. Provide guidance and technical support on software frameworks and components, including databases and software packages and software development cybersecurity best practices.
• Identify, analyze, implement, experiment, and advise on the use of technology platforms, especially global digital goods. This activity will require researching software architecture, technology stack, source code quality, and licensing schemes.
• Provide technical assistance to in-country counterparts and global partners in analyzing, designing, and implementing enterprise architecture components, including transactional and business intelligence information systems.
• Advise project staff on the application of Principles for Digital Development.
• Conduct information system assessments to evaluate and audit its effectiveness and performance to make recommendations for system optimization. These assignments will require meeting with clients, stakeholders, and users and testing software to analyze and document data flow, usability, source code efficiency, scalability, software engineer standards, database optimization, computer networks requirements, and local context capabilities.

Project
Management and Implementation Support:

• Provide technical input into project work planning, resource planning, budgeting, progress and financial reporting
• Interface with clients and other project stakeholders to advise, plan, implement, review and report on projects as needed.
• Lead software development and information technology operations (DevOps) processes following corporate Global ICT policies.

Business
Development:

• Prepare capability statements/expressions of interest, and contribute to technical and financial proposals
• Support the development of new and maintenance of existing client relationships through interactions with clients at a technical level
• Represent Palladium at international meetings, global technical working groups, and ministry level events, sharing information and updates.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Reporting requirements

 The role reports to the Digital Technology
and Innovation Senior Technical Advisor. Reporting requirements include:

• Attendance at all weekly and/or management team meetings
• Regular updates with manager
• Monthly submission of activity reports
• Quarterly updates to management on project’s performance and revenue as well as any other areas of concern
• Inputs into the Business Unit’s Quarterly reports as required
• Other reports requested by the manager

Relationships

• The role will form part
  of the International Development portfolio, Americas Region
•  The role will be required to liaise closely with Team Leaders, Senior Managers, other employees, Professional Service Providers, and Donor Agencies.

Authority levels

• Compliance with corporate delegated authorities
•  Appropriate consultation with manager regarding important decisions involving your areas of responsibility
•  Formulation of sound, evidence-based recommendations relevant in your areas of responsibility to the Digital Technology and Innovation Senior Manager and other staff.

Minimum experience required

• Experience implementing information systems implementation and software development projects.
  Experience working to apply digital solutions within a developing country in education, economic growth, agriculture, and other related international development areas.

Key competencies and professional expertise required

•  Knowledge of implementation of software development, mobile apps, diverse databases, and software architecture components required. Knowledge of information systems and global goods used in the development sector is a plus.
• Experience designing, developing, testing, and implementing digital technologies and tools, including mobile applications, transactional systems, and business intelligence platforms.
• Understanding of analytical tools and enterprise architecture components, such as data warehouses, data lakes, interoperability layers, etc.
• Experience managing software projects using tools to facilitate the DevOps process. Knowledge of Atlassian tools is a plus.
• Possess technical writing skills and ability to develop information systems planning and design products such as Terms of Reference, Use Cases, Detailed Functional Requirements, Detailed Design Specifications, and Software Requirement Specifications.
• Understanding of data privacy and cybersecurity best practices.
• Knowledge and experience applying the Principles for Digital Development.
• Experience implementing emerging digital technologies, such as IoT, blockchain, AI-enabled information systems, connectivity in low-resource settings and biometric solutions, is a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Willingness to travel and work abroad 30% of the time in developing countries and elsewhere

Core competencies

• Detail-oriented and deadline-driven with strong organizational skills
• Highly self-motivated and able to work independently as well as in team settings
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a member of a fast-moving and multicultural team while maintaining a client-centered focus
• Sound problem solving and decision-making skills
• Inquisitive mindset, creative, and desire to take the initiative to learn new systems, technologies, and skills pertinent to the DIAS Practice and other areas of Palladium.

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.