Project Description: The Feed the Future Market Systems and Partnerships (MSP) Activity is advancing learning and good practice in market systems development (MSD) and private sector engagement (PSE) within USAID (Washington and Missions), USAID implementing partners, and market actors. A flexible, demand-driven mechanism, MSP supports USAID in bringing about a major cultural transformation by integrating PSE across all activities, while at the same time deepening MSD and facilitative approaches across the program cycle to lead to inclusive and resilient economic growth, improved food security and nutrition, and increased incomes for the poor.

 

MSP will achieve this goal by facilitating transformational private sector partnerships; providing analytical and other on-demand services for design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) of MSD and PSE activities; building capacity of USAID and implementers in these areas; and generating knowledge and learning on PSE and MSD. A Learning Agenda informs MSP’s work across objectives, with a focus on five core priority areas: Transformational PSE; Practical Application of MSD; Market Systems Resilience (MSR); Social Inclusion; and Monitoring, Evaluation and Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (M&E and CLA). These are critical priorities that form discrete but complementary streams across PSE and MSD. 

 

Overview of the Employee’s Tasks and Responsibilities:  The Associate Engagement Manager will report to the Senior PSE Advisor and is responsible for managing the successful implementation of designated MSP engagements. They will provide the oversight needed to ensure technical excellence and operational efficiency on MSP PSE and MSD engagements, under the technical guidance of one of MSP’s senior advisors. The Associate Engagement Manager will primarily fulfill the role of project manager and may also offer some technical support on each assigned buy-in activity.

 

 

Responsibilities:

• Serve as designated manager for assigned engagements, managing implementation including developing and managing timelines, managing the performance of and supporting consultants, subcontractors and sub-awardees, and updating and raising awareness of issues that need additional support from others in the MSP team.
• With technical direction and guidance from a senior advisor, provide coordination and quality assurance of all technical deliverables of the assigned engagements by editing, reviewing, and checking compliance of reports and other deliverables submitted by subcontractors and consultants. Manage the process flow of internal and external reviews of activity deliverables, operational documentation, and learning products.
• Serve as the key point of contact for MSP with the USAID Activity Manager, maintaining regular communication providing routine updates on technical progress and funding levels of the assigned engagements; alerting supervisor to any risks and/or feedback from the client in real-time.
• Work closely with the operations team to develop and manage engagement budgets, monitoring funding levels for assigned buy-in activities and preparing and managing budget projections on a monthly basis; maintain updated partner/collaborator profiles to feed into the MSP CRM system or for other reporting purposes as required.
• Serve as the technical lead for consultant recruitment, procurement, and grants; responsible for developing SOWs, leading candidate/partner sourcing, and providing input into candidate/partner selection with guidance from the Senior Manager assigned to the engagement.
• Undertake field visits and other travel[1] as needed to provide technical and managerial oversight during implementation, working directly with the USAID Activity Manager and buy-in consultants and subcontractors.
• In collaboration with the senior advisor assigned to the engagement, identify learning opportunities in assigned engagements aligned with the MSP Learning Agenda and incorporate them into the SOWs; ensure learning capture in each engagement; contribute to regular client reporting. Participate in pause-and-reflect sessions to improve and adapt project processes, workflows, and/or approaches in coordination with other MSP team members.
• Support Senior Learning Advisor, Communications Specialist, subcontractors, and others to develop learning products and identify and implement opportunities to promote uptake of learning.
• Play a supportive role during consultations for potential new engagements including managing the process to support their advancement and drafting buy-in scopes of work (SOWs), arranging, and participating in technical and management discussions with the client.
• In accordance with the MSP MEL plan, ensure that required indicator data for each assigned engagement is collected and reported to the MSP MEL team; support MEL quality assurance and reporting. Liaise with the MEL team to elevate issues related to data collection, data quality, and reporting in order to troubleshoot and identify solutions.
• Other responsibilities, as needed, as new responsibilities may be determined by future buy-in activities.

 

Place of Performance:

 

Remote, East Coast US or UK.

 

 

International Travel:

 

The Associate Engagement Manager shall be available to travel up to 20% of time.

 

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree and 2-4 years’ relevant experience or Bachelor’s degree and 4-6 years’ relevant full-time experience in related field.
• Exceptional client management, project management, and budget skills with an ability to multi-task to meet established deadlines and within accepted quality standards.
• Demonstrated experience designing, managing, and implementing shared value partnerships (or broad-based alliances or coalitions) with the private sector and/or market systems development programs, adopting a systemic approach to resolving underlying issues, ideally in the agriculture sector.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated experience originating documents, editing varying quality of inputs from internal and external stakeholders, and packaging final deliverables ready for client and stakeholder review. Ability to present to clients and stakeholders in a number of settings including formal client meetings and public events.  
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders, such as host country governments, national level ministries, business associations, civil society organizations, and NGOs.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work collaboratively with members of a complex team, pulling in resources and expertise as needed to address challenges and identify solutions as a team when needed.
• Ability to prioritize effectively in an environment where prudent judgement is essential.

 

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience overseeing and/or providing technical contributions to research studies and evaluations
• Prior experience working in the USAID ecosystem.

 

 

DAI Organization and Values

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.

DAI is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a commitment to diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.