Associate Specialist, Project Management

Organization and Values:

DAI is a global development company committed to shaping a more livable world. We work on the frontlines of global development by transforming ideas into action and action into impact. Our projects tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI has corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide.

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.

Function of the Position:

This position provides support to home office management, financial, and contractual oversight of U.S. Government-funded international development projects. This position will be assigned to a Portfolio and will primarily support project management work in that Portfolio. This position works with field teams to provide operational support for one or more projects. They will be working in a collaborative environment, responsible for helping projects achieve quality programming and development outcomes.

An Associate Specialist, Project Management (P4) will support complex projects with a total contract value of approximately $40+ million.

Roles and Responsibilities:

This position is responsible for the following key functions:

Project Management Support

• Act as a liaison to the field for day-to-day problem solving and support.
• Independently trouble-shoot common problems and escalates more complex issues to the Project Manager and follows up until resolved.
• Provide short-term coverage for traveling Associates.

Project Coordination

• Coordinate the administrative activities of the project including mobilizing and demobilizing staff and international consultants, maintaining project files, requesting purchases for goods and services, ensuring submission of project deliverables and close-down.
• Perform administrative tasks for several projects including mobilization, demobilization, AP adjustments, vendor invoice review, Procure to Pay requisitions, and iExpense auditing.
• Conduct routine auditing of grant and operations files to ensure compliance with USAID and DAI policies and procedures.
• Maintains files and ensures record retention compliance.

Contract Management

• Initiate requests for approvals, coordinates submissions for contract and subcontract modifications and coordinates all other requests for contract office support.
• Draft routine contractual documents using approved templates.
• Identify and synthesize potential issues and present possible solutions to the Project Manager and project team.
• Monitor compliance with contract and regulations and escalates as needed.

Financial Management

• Responsible for ensuring processing and review of project financial transactions and monthly project invoices.
• Review and process invoices and audits iExpense Reports.
• Create and/or maintain project budget tool and coordinates data entry from field and home office into project contract budget.
• Support monthly financial analysis, quarterly forecasts, and ad hoc financial reporting when requested.
• During realignments, identifies and trouble-shoots issues.

Business Development

• Serves as Proposal Pricer for proposals in their portfolio or other portfolios as needed. Associate Specialists are also expected to serve as country-specific information providers around client knowledge, partnering and local staffing.

Additional responsibilities as deemed necessary.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience and a college degree in a related area, such as business administration, management, accounting, or related field. Equivalent combinations of experience and education will be considered.
• Strong administrative skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication.
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office, especially quantitative analysis in Excel.
• Experience developing and managing budgets, such as building and maintaining pipelines and forecasts, and supporting financial analysis.
• Experience or familiarity with record retention and administrative file management.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment with limited direction
• Flexibility to adjust to changes in demands, new situations, or approaches.
• Ability to take initiative, with strong analytical and organizational skills
• Must be able to travel on assignments for DAI projects to all countries in which DAI implements projects

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with US Government project management.
• Proficiency in a second language (French, Spanish, Russian, or Arabic preferred).

Supervisory Requirements: None