Job Title: Sr. Principal Specialist (P8) / Lead Specialist (P9), Agriculture and Market Systems
Department: Development Innovations, Economic Growth Sector
Reports to: Sr. Director/Practice Director, Agriculture and Market Systems, Economic Growth
Location: Bethesda, Maryland/ Remote US
Function of the Position:
The Senior Principal Specialist / Lead Specialist will support the Agriculture and Market Systems (AGMS) Practice within Economic Growth in Development Innovations (DI). The Senior Principal Specialist / Lead Specialist will be responsible for supporting the practice including leading and supporting new business efforts in this thematic area, and capturing learning and technical solutions from our projects that can be synthesized and incorporated into knowledge management and business development efforts, with a primary objective of demonstrating DAI’s thought and technical leadership and increasing sales and marketing.
This role will serve primarily as an in-house AGMS / EG Proposal Champion and contributing writer and as a technical specialist, supporting the AGMS practice with expanding its professional network of external technical experts and strategic partners to provide technical support to DAI globally. Under the leadership of the Practice Director for Agriculture and Market Systems, this position is responsible for delivering superior proposals in the USG and other business units, growing DAI’s market share for development services within the agriculture and market systems sector, and building a network that connects DAI projects, staff, and clients. They will collaborate with other AGMS team members on select technical assignments linked to project and knowledge management deliverables. The Senior Principal Specialist / Lead Specialist will collaborate with other specialists across Development Innovations to create a competitive advantage in delivering Development Innovations to DAI’s donor, government, and corporate clients.
Specifically, the ideal candidate will have Agriculture and Market Systems related business development experience in the following thematic areas: agriculture (crops and livestock), value chain development, market systems, resilience, agribusiness, food security, nutrition, and private sector engagement. Cross cutting areas in Economic Growth include trade, investment promotion, access to capital, business enabling environment, ICT, youth, gender, and grant/partnership fund design.
The Senior Principal Specialist / Lead Specialist is expected to spend approximately a third of their time traveling internationally, primarily for business development efforts.
Roles and Responsibilities:
The time allocations are notional and will be tailored based on individual capacity in key areas and evolving business needs.
Business Development & Growth (80%)
Technical Delivery (10%)
Strategic Marketing & Thought Leadership (10%)
Additional responsibilities as deemed necessary.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
Grade P8: Minimum of 9 years of relevant professional experience and a college degree. Considered highly knowledgeable in their assigned area and has begun to demonstrate the ability to apply that knowledge in innovative or strategic ways; Has ability to work independently and provide basic leadership and management, or highly advanced and specialized technical support to the team; May oversee less complex projects with mentorship from others; Has the ability to contribute to new business efforts and/or technical scopes of work.
Grade P9: Minimum of 11 years of relevant professional experience and a college degree. Considered an expert in a specialist field or discipline; Has ability to work independently and provides technical expertise or considered an advisor on the management to a functional area; May be asked to contribute to key organization or business unit initiatives; May oversee/lead complex projects in collaboration with others; Has the ability the lead new business efforts and/or technical scopes of work.
Preferred Qualifications:
FLSA Status: Exempt
Grade 8: For employees working the United States, the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to be between $136,406 to $167,743.
Grade 9: For employees working the United States, the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to be between $155,946 to $190,600.
Salary for part-time employees will be prorated based on actual hours worked. Actual offers will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, qualifications, relevant education, experience, skills, seniority, performance, and business or organizational needs.
Eligible U.S. based employees, will be able to enroll in medical, dental and vision insurance, plus a 401(k)-retirement plan with a company match. Additionally, employees will be eligible for company-paid annual leave (vacation & holidays), sick leave, parental leave; as well as short- and long-term disability coverage. Detailed information will be provided at the time a formal offer is extended.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.
DAI and its employees are committed to confronting discrimination in all forms, nurturing respect for our interpersonal relationships, 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, ethnicities, 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 our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.