Technical Director, Private Sector Development/Private Sector Engagement (Economic Growth) 103 views

Technical Director, Private Sector Development/Private Sector Engagement (Economic Growth)

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 many religions, cultures, ethnicities, races,
languages, and gender identities.

Palladium Americas

Our Americas’ business team has brilliant
and passionate colleagues working in around the world, serving US government
and corporate clients through projects in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle
East, and Latin America and the Caribbean. We have offices in Washington, DC,
New York City, and Raleigh-Durham, NC.

This Opportunity

The Economic Growth Practice is seeking a
seasoned development professional to join us as a Technical Director. As a
senior leader in the portfolio, the Technical Director will bring extensive
technical expertise and project management experience to both business
development and project delivery in areas related to private sector
development, private sector engagement, enterprise development,
competitiveness, market linkages, e-commerce, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
As a senior member of the firm, the Technical Director will contribute to
Palladium Americas’ growth, impact, and thought leadership around the world in
areas related to private sector development and private sector engagement.

This Technical Director will be part of our
Private Sector Development portfolio, one of four technical portfolios in the
Economic Growth practice (along with Economic Policy, Market Systems &
Inclusive Growth, and Finance & Investment.) Directors in the firm work
extensively and collaboratively with others in the company (including in other
practices/portfolios and in other regions) to advance firm-level growth and
impact goals; build relationships and visibility; develop innovative approaches
and methodologies; and manage effective, dynamic teams.

The position is based in Palladium’s
Washington, D.C. office. Remote work options on Eastern Standard Time hours may
be considered for exceptional candidates. The position will entail significant
overseas travel, dependent on COVID-19 restrictions and safety/security
considerations.

Purpose of Position

• Lead and support Palladium projects across the globe—principally financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)—with private sector development/engagement, trade and investment, e-commerce, agriculture/food security, market systems development, or inclusive growth goals and objectives
  
• Lead and support business development efforts, including strategic capture planning, proposal development, and networking/recruitment
  

Primary Responsibilities

Technical Leadership:

• Provide technical leadership and oversight of projects in the portfolio and practice area
  
• Through written communications and participation in industry events, build and maintain Palladium’s thought leadership and technical eminence in private sector development, e-commerce, digital economy, and private sector engagement
  
• Deliver short-term technical assignments in areas of (or adjacent to) technical expertise
  
• Maintain strong and mutually respectful relationships with implementing partners and consultants that can provide technical expertise to Palladium-managed projects
  

Business Development:

• Build and maintain relationship with corporate and donor (especially USAID) clients, other thought leaders, and potential implementing partners
  
• Identify and assess new business opportunities, developing and advancing the business cases for investment of resources
  Lead positioning, teaming, and strategy development for new business opportunities
  
• Serve as the technical “architect” of proposal responses, developing responsive, effective theories of change, technical approaches, and other inputs to guide all aspects of proposal development
  
• Serve as capture manager in the development of winning proposals, effectively managing and quality controlling inputs from technical writers, recruiters, proposal coordinator, pricing, and other team members as required
  
• Actively participate in, and contribute to, strategy setting and business development efforts at the portfolio/practice, Americas, and global level, including cross-sectoral and multi-functional efforts
  

Project Management:

• Serve as Project Director on one or more large-scale USAID projects, with technical, operational, and compliance oversight and quality control responsibilities
  
• Manage partner organizations (such as subcontractors) in the contractually compliant delivery of agreed inputs and achievement of agreed outputs and outcomes
  
• For assigned projects, interface with clients and other project stakeholders to plan, implement, review, and report on projects as needed and requested
  
• Provide guidance and support to project work planning, budgeting, and progress/financial reporting
  

Relationships

•  Reports to the America’s Regional Partnership through the Private Sector Development Portfolio
• Works with all parts of the company and will actively support and collaborate with other portfolios, Practices, Regional Business Units, and business support services
• Actively builds and maintains client and consultant relationships
• Supervises, coaches, and mentors colleagues, including designated Chief(s) of Party, Project Managers/Associates, and proposal team colleagues

Key Competencies Required

• Excellent written and oral communication skills (in English); demonstrated effectiveness in communicating complex economic development topics to non-expert audiences
  
• Extensive work experience in several of the following topics: enterprise growth, competitiveness/ private sector development, trade, investment, e-commerce, and/or access to finance
  
• Current and up-to-date understanding of USAID programs, operating environment, and policies, including the USAID Private Sector Engagement Policy, the Digital Development Policy, Principles for Digital Development, and the USAID 2021 Economic Growth Policy
  
• Experience overseeing implementation of USAID-funded projects for impact, ensuring compliance, client satisfaction, sustainability, and financial soundness; resolving issues directly with USAID counterpart
  
• Experience conceptualizing and writing successful USAID proposals
  
• Financial acumen and the ability to interpret/analyze financial reports, as well as experience doing so
• Sound problem-solving and decision-making skills, as demonstrated in real-life situations and experiences

Professional
Expertise Preferred:

• Proven experience with the development of private sector partnerships that create shared commercial, social, and environmental value
  
• Proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Spanish, French, or Arabic

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.