Private Sector Liaison Specialist

Background:

Nathan is a leading provider of analytic and economic consultancy services worldwide. In the past decade, we have implemented more than 120 projects in more than 50 countries leveraging our global presence in Washington DC, London, and India. From improved transparency and deeper stakeholder engagement to more effective policies and more resilient businesses, we deliver results that impact economic growth, human development, and poverty reduction. We are passionate about applying our deep analytical expertise and advanced proprietary tools to generate economic solutions tailored to our clients’ unique challenges. Nathan focuses on a range of economic development subject matter areas including Trade & Logistics; Economic Policy & Governance; Private Sector Development; Women’s Economic Empowerment; and Financial Solutions.

Nathan Associates, with EnCompass LLC and its partners Integrated International (INTEGRATED) and JoWomenomics, are supporting the USAID/Jordan Women’s Economic Empowerment and Leadership Activity (WEELA), which will contribute to increasing women’s access to waged employment and leadership opportunities in Jordan. This will be done through three interlinked and equally important performance objectives:

1. Improve women’s access to jobs in the private sector and leadership opportunities in the private and public sectors
2. Improve supported perceptions, practices, and advocacy; and
3. Stimulate and enforce more equitable, safe, and accessible working environments.

Position Summary:

The Private Sector Liaison Specialist position will primarily support the Senior Private Sector Lead and serve WEELA’s first Objective. The person in this role will support implementation of private sector engagement strategies by developing and maintaining relationships/partnerships with the private sector, business associations, organizations, universities, and other stakeholders with the aim to improve women’s access to jobs and leadership roles in the private sector on WEELA’s targeted sectors (tourism, media/creative industries, and transport/logistics, with digital and environmental as cross-cutting themes), the local business environment, and considerations needed to mainstream gender into private sector policies and practices. This will include identification of sector-specific opportunities to support or enhance gender equality in recruitment and retention practices and/or to improve and advance women’s ascension into leadership roles within the targeted sectors and others.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the establishment and maintenance of relationships/partnerships with champion firms, business groups, organizations, and other stakeholders in order to increase women’s access to jobs and leadership roles in the private sector. Working closely with the Senior Private Sector Lead, assist in the coordination and exchange of experiences, best practices, and other business promotion mechanisms among private sector partners to achieve a sustained market system change inside the businesses. Support the Senior Private Sector Lead, Sector Specialist and project cluster to identify:
  • Challenges and possibilities for adult and young women seeking to enter, remain, and advance in careers in WEELA’s targeted sectors and others (including informal and non-traditional types of work with potential for women’s engagement); trends as well as market-based interventions and incentives to better integrate adult and young women into targeted sectors and others in a way that provides equitable benefits and practices;
• Contribute to the development of a private sector engagement strategy and the implementation of recommended interventions to address barriers to women’s employment in WEELA’s targeted sectors, as well as to make the business case to the private sector for the importance of employing and advancing women employees. Develop and maintain partnerships with universities to support the mentorship and apprenticeship program(s) in collaboration with identified champion firms to support the recruitment and retention of women in employment and leadership within the chosen sectors to support their growth and competitiveness as employees. Coordination of cross-cutting activities with the WEELA team, including collaboration with the Communications Specialist, Senior Gender and Youth Specialist, Senior Community Lead, Senior Government Lead, and MEL Specialist, to ensure that private sector activities effectively contribute to the overall WEELA Objective(s) in a gender-sensitive manner;
• Coordinate between government and private sector companies at national and local community levels;
• Provide technical support on areas of mutual interest between government and private sector; and
• Contribute technically to official discussion and meetings with government, employers’ organizations and chamber of industry and commerce.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Must be based in Jordan;
• Strong understanding of the private sector dynamic and deep familiarity with the identified sectors (tourism, creative industry, and transport/logistics, with cross-cutting digital and environment components);
• Experience working with Government of Jordan;
• Familiarity with women’s workforce development;
• Experience supporting women’s economic empowerment initiatives; and
• At least 3-5 years of relevant work experience and/or in combination with graduate studies in relevant field (preferred).

Nathan is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Nathan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. EOE Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans.