Job Description
- Position: Buy-In Operations Specialist, USAID INVEST
- Period of Performance (on/about, from-to): June 1, 2020 through end of project
- Maximum Level of Effort: Full Time
- Base of Operations: Washington, DC
Project Background:
The INVEST Program builds and flexibly deploys a network of experts from an array of organizations to frame and test customized financing solutions that address investment constraints, leverage additional capital, and generate development impacts to create value for USAID missions and operating units. The INVEST Program enables USAID to quickly access relevant expertise from a broad and diverse network of partners, provide tailored, co-created, customer-centric solutions, and drive cross-agency learning and advancement. Designed with a focus on researching, developing, and disseminating best-fit blended finance solutions, the INVEST Program pairs innovative technical approaches with new partnership models, and feeds learning back to USAID to inform its future initiatives in the areas of blended finance and private sector engagement.
The program has a small and dynamic management team based in Washington, DC with multiple field buy-ins. Given the flexible nature of this program, we anticipate this job description will evolve as the program grows.
Role’s Purpose:
The Buy-In Operations Specialist will provide operational and administrative support to INVEST in the following areas: administrative support to the project team and individual buy-in funded activities, compliance, and travel/security logistics. The Buy-In Operations Specialist will directly support one or more buy-in activities, providing day-to-day operational and administrative support to activity implementation. Working with a Strategic Investment Advisor, Activity Managers, and Activity Coordinators, the Buy-In Operations Specialist will identify and mobilize personnel, support technical and operational procurements, and provide administrative backstopping to ensure the successful implementation of buy-in activities under INVEST.
Objectives and Duties:
- Provide administrative support for technical activities by reviewing expense reports from individuals and invoices from consultants and subcontractors; supporting any operational procurements; coordinating meeting logistics (scheduling, notetaking); mobilizing consultants; ensuring submission of project deliverables; and coordinating travel and security logistics.
- Support the maintenance of administrative records by saving and categorizing in a rational, straightforward hierarchy all documentation on shared file servers and project management systems in accordance with the project’s document saving protocol and norms.
- Independently trouble-shoot common problems and escalate more complex issues to the Activity Manager/Activity Coordinator and follow up until resolved.
- Support procurement efforts for the buy-in activity in both technical and operational areas, utilizing DAI procurement systems and compliant with USAID and DAI regulations and systems as well as USAID security vetting protocol.
- Support subcontractors’ deliverable management (tracking, filing, and submitting for payment);
- Draft and file USAID client approval requests and responses.
- Support compliance with contract terms and conditions by ensuring administrative aspects of the contracts, subcontracts, and buy-ins comply with applicable regulations and corporate policy;
- Provide support in areas of data management and reporting.
- Support recruitment lifecycle for activity consultants – develop scopes of work, post positions, review CVs, set up interviews, draft client approval requests, work with Operations Team and Home Office counterparts to finalize agreements.
- Support consultants and short-term employees on DAI systems, timekeeping policies, reviewing time cards and expense reports, troubleshooting other HR issues.
- Provide event and meeting organization support as needed.
- Support and participate in key meetings with rapporteur duties as needed.
Qualifications:
Required
- Minimum of 1-3 years of professional experience and a Bachelor’s degree;
- A self-directed individual with sound administrative skills, analytical ability, and strong operational focus;
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and shift priorities quickly without compromising quality of work;
- Ability to work in a cross-functional team;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
- Experience with Microsoft Office, including Excel;
- Experience providing support to teams and/or executives;
- Experience with data/systems/file management.
Desirable, but not required
- Experience supporting domestic and international travel;
- Experience in event planning;
- Understanding of/experience in the international development field;
- Proficiency in a second language.
About the Organization
DAI is an employee-owned global development company. For 40 years, we have worked on the frontlines of international development, tackling fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governments, and instability. Currently, DAI is delivering results that matter in some 60 countries. Our integrated development solutions turn ideas into impact by bringing together fresh combinations of expertise and innovation across multiple disciplines—crisis mitigation and stability operations, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, HIV/AIDS and disease control, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Our clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and national governments.
