Managing Director, Enterprise and Industry Development

Nathan Associates, an international economic development consulting firm, based in Arlington, VA is seeking a managing director for the International Group’s Enterprise and Industry Development unit.  S/he will oversee a portfolio of seven to 10 medium and large overseas projects, manage a staff of 10 people, and guide Nathan’s product and business development work in enterprise development. Reporting to the vice president of the Trade, Business, and Economic Growth (TBEG) practice, the managing director will work closely with the other directors of this practice to coordinate resource use, ensure high-quality management of the firm’s clients, and develop new business opportunities for the firm.

Functions and Responsibilities

The managing director will oversee the management of unit staff, outside resources, and projects. This includes facilitating staff development, ensuring effective and responsive management and communications for projects, leading efforts to develop new products and services, directing proposals, and working with Nathan’s International vice presidents to manage International Group resources.

Business and Product Development

• Direct product development in areas related to enterprise development such as competitiveness, value chains, tourism, ICT, microfinance, and community development
• Oversee new business development for the unit, providing leadership and quality oversight on proposals
• Lead proposal writing for select important opportunities
• Work with staff in the unit as well as throughout the company to ensure adequate resource allocation to new business activities and identification of new business targets

Staff and Resource Management

• Help each team member reach personal development plans
• Coordinate with other technical units and the VP to ensure that sufficient resources are allocated across TBEG for effective project management and implementation, as well as for marketing and proposal preparation
• Review unit workloads quarterly and develop rebalancing proposals, as needed, with the VP
• Identify and develop consulting and subcontracting resources to fill technical gaps and small business subcontracting requirements

Project Management

• Ensure oversight and staffing of projects, monitoring and attending to technical, quality, and financial performance considerations
• Work with team to filter top-priority issues and consolidate project information for weekly senior management meetings
• Make periodic visits to the field to review technical and operational progress, including courtesy calls to USAID missions
• Obtain feedback on client satisfaction on an annual basis

Unit Management

• Establish action and implementation plans for achieving unit’s goals for product development, marketing and proposals, project management, and technical capacity
• Communicate these plans to team and track and report on team performance
• Provide guidance to team members on technical matters, project management, and proposal writing
• Develop methods to share best practices, cross-cutting deliverables, and lessons learned at the technical and contract levels
• Identify and implement management and quality-control tools for the Enterprise and Industry Development unit that will improve tracking and information flows between headquarters and field offices
• Ensure that Enterprise and Industry Development unit marketing materials for print and the web are updated
• Develop knowledge management systems and ensure that home office records for all projects in the unit are kept up to date

Required Qualifications

• At least 12 years of private sector development work, with experience in enterprise and value chain development, business-enabling environment, workforce development, and/or microfinance
• Demonstrated ability to be a technical leader and work with and manage people, and knowledge of best business practices for organizing and growing a portfolio of services
• An advanced degree in a relevant discipline
• English fluency

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 12 years of relevant experience in a developing country context
• Proficiency in Spanish, French, Russian, Portuguese, and/or Arabic
• Master’s of business administration degree

U.S. Work Authorization Required. To apply, send resume and cover letter to nathanhr@nathaninc.com, and reference “Managing Director EID (I-182)”  in subject line. Only finalists will be contacted.

Nathan Associates Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer.