Technical Director, Economic Growth (Agriculture, Food Security and Resilience) 250 views

Technical Director, Economic Growth (Agriculture, Food Security and Resilience)

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 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 agriculture, food security, resilience,
climate-smart production methods, market linkages, supply chain development,
and finance. 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 agriculture and agribusiness.

This Technical Director will be part of our Market Systems
& Inclusive portfolio, one of four technical portfolios in the Economic
Growth practice. Directors in the firm work extensively and collaboratively
with others in the company (including in other practices 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.

You and
Your Career

If you are
a problem-solver, collaborator, and doer, and you have expertise in
agriculture, food security and resilience, we are interested in hearing from
you. 

 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 Responsibilities

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 practice, Americas, and global level, including cross-sector efforts
  

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 agriculture, food security, and resilience
  
• 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
  

Project Management:

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

Relationships

• Reports to the America’s Regional Partnership through the Market Systems and Inclusive Growth Portfolio Lead and Vice President, Economic Growth
  
• 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

• Fluency in written and spoken English
  
• Current and up-to-date understanding of USAID programs, operating environment, and policies
  
• Broad and deep familiarity with developing country contexts, in particular issues and approaches to improve food security, strengthen food systems, and improve rural incomes and resilience
  
• Extensive USAID project management and/or business development experience
  
• Experience conceptualizing and writing successful USAID proposals
  
• Experience overseeing implementation of USAID-funded projects for impact, ensuring compliance, client satisfaction, sustainability, and financial soundness
  
• Financial acumen and the ability to interpret and analyze financial reports
  
• Sound problem-solving and decision-making as demonstrated by experience
  

Professional Expertise
Preferred

• Extensive relevant work experience in several or all of the following topics in developing economy contexts: private sector development, competitiveness, finance, trade, investment, enabling environment/policy reform, market system development, and inclusive growth
  
• Experience with the development of private sector partnerships that create shared commercial, social, and environmental value
  
• Experience working in a developing country or in a project-based environment
  
• Proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Spanish, French, or Arabic