BACKGROUND
The USAID Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) activity is designed to bolster the U.S. Government’s ability to boost trade and investment to, from, and within the African continent. The continent-wide program is USAID’s flagship effort in support of the Prosper Africa initiative and will expand and accelerate two-way trade and investment between African nations and the United States.
Driven by market demand, ATI embraces innovative approaches to achieve its goals. ATI is designed as a small, core set of centrally coordinated technical and institutional support activities, and a large, flexible performance-based subcontracting and grants under contract facility designed to support the needs and opportunities that USAID Missions and the private sector identify.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Senior Activity Specialist will be responsible for managing several large multi-year buy-in activities with significant labor and/or field presence, with support from technical advisors and the ATI team. Responsibilities include providing technical and management support to buy-in activities, working with the technical and operational teams to identify and mobilize resources in support of implementation, and supporting USAID clients. The Senior Activity Specialist is also responsible for buy-in activity budget management and financial forecasting, in close coordination with the Operations/Finance team and with support from other team members. The Senior Activity Specialist will also be responsible for generating buy-in activity scopes of work, supporting the design of procurements and grants programs, and tracking budgets across ATI’s portfolio. In addition, s/he will provide surge procurement and operational support to existing ATI staff as needed.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Manage and track buy-in activity implementation progress by personnel, consultants and subcontractors, ensure it adheres to the approved workplan and deliverable schedule, and troubleshoot deviations.
- Support development and review of technical deliverables and contribute to subsequent learning.
- Manage relationship with client, implementing partners and serve as a project point of contact for the duration of the assigned buy-in activities.
- Manage relationship with government institutions and support to achieve results required by the buy in.
- Lead on all matters related to the buy-in, including but not limited to contractual, operational, MEL, reporting, and financial matters.
- Ensure assigned buy-in activities are managed in accordance with USAID regulations and DAI Procurement policies.
- Liaise with implementing parties to ensure proper M&E data capture and data quality to contribute to overall ATI project M&E reporting; and
- In tandem with relevant technical staff, generate buy-in scopes of work and budgets as needed.
- Support the Communications team to ensure visibility of project achievements.
- Contribute to reports-weekly, monthly and quarterly.
- Support and mentor Activity Specialists in various activities, focusing on grant package development ensuring USAID regulations and DAI Procurement policies are followed and transition into smooth implementation of grants.
- As needed, support the project’s procurement and operational staff.
- Travel to regional offices as required.
REPORTING
The Senior Activity Specialist will report to the West Africa Regional Director.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Agriculture, Agribusiness, International Development, or related field
- 10+ years of experience working in/with the private sector facilitating trade and or investment or managing projects supporting firms to scale their capacity and operations. Demonstrated experience in managing complex budgets and multi-year programs preferred as well as managing budget, operations, and project management.
- Significant experience in budget, operational, and process management or more general project and business process management experience relevant to USG program implementation.
- Proven project management, communications, writing, and interpersonal skills including strong experience with client management.
- An extremely well-organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus.
- Ability to work in a fast-moving, fluid team setting with multiple stakeholders.
- Fluency in spoken and written English required.
Preferred:
- Fluency in French will be an asset.
ABOUT DAI
DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.
DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism 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 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 of our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Select the position in which you are interested in applying, fill out the required information, and upload your CV. Please indicate what location you are applying for. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as interviews will be conducted soon. Please note, due to the volume of applications that we receive and the urgency to fill up positions, only shortlisted applicants will receive notification on the next steps.
