Director of Policy, Research, and Development- MENA NWC

Job Description

Position: Director of Policy, Research, and Development- MENA NWC

Starts: March 1, 2015

FABRI Funding Ends: March 31, 2016

Network Funding Starts: April 1, 2016

Level of Effort: Full-time

Venue: To Be Determined (Jordan, Oman, or Morocco)

The Middle East and North Africa Network of Water Centers of Excellence (MENA NWC) is an alliance of research and educational centers in the Middle East and North Africa that are working together to (1) address present and future water challenges by creating knowledge and advancing implementation, (2) stimulate economic growth by engaging with businesses and developing products and services, and (3) foster meaningful and sustainable development. MENA NWC is incorporated as a non-profit in Washington, D.C., USA.

The Director of Policy, Research and Development is responsible for working with member Centers and potential stakeholders and beneficiaries, across the region and worldwide, to design and carry out a program that weaves together policy analysis and reform, innovative primary and applied research, and direct outreach and commercialization that stimulates partnerships and alliance building. This seamless program is at the heart of MENA NWC, encouraging participation and yielding tangible results that confirm its added value and is a key justification for continued investment, expansion, and permanence. Ultimately, the Network must demonstrate that its activities lead to improved performance in the water sector with strong links to economic growth and increased employment across the region. In so doing, it will have proven that research can have a significant impact on operations and development.

The Director of Policy, Research, and Development is responsible for the following major tasks:

• Play a strong role in facilitating, coordinating, and stimulating research projects
• Manage all large and small grants programs and other research efforts carried out under the Network’s umbrella
• Develop research directions which are aligned with government demands, private sector interest, and community needs
• Work with the Assembly of Governing Members to articulate and regularly update thematic partnership priorities, including the deletion or addition of technical areas, and help develop them into work plan targets
• Oversee the selection process for all grant applications and other proposals and work directly with member Centers during the process
• Develop, implement, and regularly assess and modify a technical and management capacity building program with the Centers that addresses their priority requirements
• Ensure the consistent, active engagement of a broad base of stakeholders in research efforts, from initial concept development and design through widespread use and adoption
• Develop and maintain a detailed monitoring and evaluation program to track performance and identify implementation issues in advance
• Work with Network-funded researchers on identifying publication opportunities and assist them in the entire publication process
• Work closely with the Directorate’s knowledge exchange team and with Center and partner experts to capture and use Network efforts productively and realistically
• Play a leading role in developing, maintaining, and using the Network’s performance monitoring system
• Identify funding opportunities for Network projects and assemble collaborative teams from the network centers to pursue these opportunities
• Facilitate engagements between Centers and potential donors
• Provide assistance in forging collaborations among Centers, including resolving disputes when they arise
• Identify potential for core research facilities and instrumentation that could be shared among member Centers
• Draft content on the Network’s technical program for the annual work plans and annual reports

Qualifications

• Advanced degree, Masters or preferably Ph.D., in a discipline that can contribute to the advancement and research agenda of the Network
• Evidence of technical excellence in a water-related field
• A minimum of ten years working in research in a water-related institution, including a university, research center, government entity, or NGO
• Experience working with collaboratively with governments on policy and with the private sector on applications or commercialization highly preferable
• Experience working with an international funding agency preferable
• Experience managing designing and managing research projects
• Experience budgeting research project and monitoring
• Record of peer-reviewed publications
• Experience managing staff and working collaboratively
• Record of designing and managing capacity building water-related programs
• High professional competency in English and preferably also in French and Arabic

Personal Characteristics

• Engaging personality, dynamic and energetic
• Organized and thorough in management practices
• Respectful of staff and partners and values collaboration
• Can offer creative approaches to new challenges and problem-solving
• Able to inspire confidence and commitment from staff and partners
• Comfortable in cross-cultural settings and appreciative of differences
• Operates with the highest ethical standards

Supervision

The Director of Policy, Research, and Development will report to the Executive Director of MENA NWC.

Compensation

Competitive compensation package offered.

* To apply, please send CV and cover letter to jobs@menanwc.org. Online application is not necessary *

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.