Senior Practice Director, Climate, Land and Natural Resources

Job Title: Senior Practice Director, Climate, Land and Natural Resources

Grade: P10

Department: USG, Development Innovations

Reports to: Sector Vice President, Environment

Function of the Position:

The Senior Director is based in the Environment Sector and support USG to provide strategic vision and leadership in delivering DAI’s USAID projects, expanding the DAI portfolio of USAID CLNR projects, and advancing DAI’s market position. The Senior Director CLNR will manage CLNR Practice staff, ensuring technical excellence, exceeding targets for new business and direct utilization, mentoring staff, and adhering to DAI principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. As a key member of the Environment Sector, the Senior Director, CLNR will coordinate and collaborate across DAI sectors and practices globally. In supporting project delivery, the Senior Director, CLNR will provide technical assistance to national, regional, and local government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. The Director/Senior Director, CLNR will lead new business efforts for climate, land and natural resources projects by leveraging global capabilities across DAI business units, including ongoing project work for USAID, UK, EU and other international donors. The Senior Director, CLNR will expand DAI’s global partner network and raise DAI’s profile in climate resilience, land and natural resources forums.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The Senior Director, CLNR will undertake responsibilities in four main areas of project delivery, new business development, staff management, and market positioning and knowledge sharing. The Senior Director, CLNR will build a network of staff from across the company’s business units to leverage project experience and build a broad base of expertise that can be used for technical assignments, proposals and marketing.

Business Development and Growth – 35%

• Support implementation of the Environment Sector growth strategy focusing on USAID and other US government agencies by creating a robust pipeline of CLNR opportunities.
• Lead the development of competitive proposals that leverage DAI’s global capabilities. Serve as a lead or contributing writer to formulate technical approaches in response to RFP requirements.
• Collaborate across DAI sectors and practices both in the U.S. and globally to leverage synergies and capabilities and strengthen DAI’s technical offering.
• Identify and develop a network of CLNR consultants, including local consultants, that can support proposal development efforts.
• Strengthen and expand strategic client relationships with USAID and other development agencies and organizations to enable better access to information on planned projects and procurements.

Program Implementation – 25%

• Work with DAI’s project US Government Business Unit Delivery teams to ensure the CLNR project portfolio are delivering high quality, on-time deliverables, meeting or exceeding their contractual targets and development objectives.
• Lead or support delivery of DAI projects by providing specialized technical assistance in climate adaptation, land and natural resources.
• Ensure that client ratings for technical and managerial performance of projects within the CLNR purview are exceptional.
• Engage with project teams to identify, adapt, and refine technologies, tools, solutions, and approaches that advance the project’s goals. These solutions may be both technical or operational.
• Participate in cross-sector initiatives that builds DAI’s technical leadership.

Staff Management – 20%

• Manage a team of full- and part-time specialists responsible for new business growth, supporting projects, and expanding DAI’s market position with clients and counterparts.
• Lead talent and performance management within the CLNR practice.
• Recruit and onboard employees with skills necessary to achieve CLNR growth and project support.

Market Positioning and Knowledge Sharing – 15%

• Raise DAI’s profile and reputation as a leader in climate, land and natural resources implementation.
• Establish linkages with international CLNR initiatives, industry networks, and knowledge sharing platforms and participate in events either in-person or virtually that provide strategic opportunities to showcase DAI’s experience and raise DAI’s profile internationally.
• Develop practice knowledge products, technical articles, blogs, thought pieces, etc. that highlight DAI experience for dissemination via online and other channels.

Additional responsibilities as deemed necessary.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• P10: Minimum of 15 years of relevant professional and technical experience and a college degree. Equivalent combinations of experience and education will be considered.
• Demonstrated familiarity with a wide range of USAID CLNR policies, strategies and technologies, including their appropriateness in various types of development settings.
• Demonstrated experience developing winning technical proposals for USAID or other international donor clients, including designing technical solutions, building consortiums, writing technical sections and/or leading proposal development.
• Must have highly developed interpersonal, team facilitation, and presentation skills, and a demonstrated track record of motivating and managing teams.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex or technical information clearly, and tailor communication style to diverse audiences.
• Able to build and maintain excellent working relationships with staff at all levels of the organization and external clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Able and willing to travel to any country where DAI currently operates or may wish to operate, barring times when DAI Global Security has deemed travel unsafe.
• Possess technical knowledge and skills as evidenced by project results, publications, reports, proposals, and/or public presentations

Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to work with and lead teams for winning new business and delivering excellent results to clients.
• Demonstrated, related new business success with DAI’s primary client base- USAID and FCDO.
• Proficiency in a second language (French, Spanish, Russian, or Arabic preferred).

Supervisory Requirements: None.

DAI is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a commitment to diversity. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply. EOE – Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans