Global Practice Specialist (GPS) II, Senior GPS I/II, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (4138)

Job Description

Job Title/Grade:

Global Practice Specialist II, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) (Grade 9)

Senior Global Practice Specialist I, GESI (Grade 10)

Senior Global Practice Specialist II, GESI (Grade 11)

Department: Development Results, Technical Services

Reports to: Global Practice Leader, GESI

Date: November 29, 2018

DAI, an employee-owned company, has worked on the frontlines of international development for over 45 years, tackling fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. Currently, DAI is delivering results that matter in some 80 countries. Our development solutions turn ideas into impact by bringing together fresh combinations of expertise and innovation across multiple disciplines. Our clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and national governments.

The Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) global practice builds upon WISE Development’s—a company DAI acquired in 2017—core team of technical specialists and associates that has built a strong reputation for supporting international agencies, Governments, and NGOs to make real progress towards achieving gender equality, and the empowerment of women and adolescent girls. The GESI team is supported by a global network of consultants who are recognised experts in their fields experience global network of consultants specialising in gender, social inclusion and institutional development. The GESI global practice specialist will report to the global practice leader (based in the UK).

Functions of the Position:

The GESI Global Practice Specialist will be responsible for providing gender and social inclusion expertise across project delivery, new business, and knowledge management efforts. S/he will support DAI’s efforts to improve the way gender and socially excluded populations are included in development activities to achieve project outputs, outcomes, and impacts through short term technical assignments, proposal writing, and knowledge management. S/he will be responsible for finalizing gender assessments, coordinating GESI activities with donors and local partners, and build capacity of DAI field staff to manage GESI activities in the future. The GESI Global Practice Specialist will have a focused responsibility to provide technical support to DAI’s main donor projects (USAID, DFID, EU, Global Health, and the Sustainable Business Unit) and corporate initiatives. This is a full-time professional position on the Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) Team within DAI’s USG Business Unit, with UK and international travel up to 50% time. This position will be based in Bethesda.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The following percentage time allocations are notional, and will be tailored based upon individual capacity in key areas and evolving company need.

Technical (40%)

• Work with home office and field staff to support GESI needs during start-up, including participation in rapidly assigned STTA, recruitment of local GESI staff, and managing GESI expectations of the client.
• Support project activities such as gender assessment and advise teams on best practices.
• Develop competencies in new GESI approaches, including gender assessments and integrating GESI into project implementation.

New Business (30%)

• Support business development activities by conducting recons, reviewing GESI requirements in proposal documents, and contributing written content to GESI sections of DAI proposals across all donors.
• Identify and work with GESI partners and subcontractors, as needed.

Knowledge Sharing & Learning (30%)

• Support the development of knowledge management products, approaches, and tools.
• Support the development and maintenance of the WISE network, including the consultants list and network meetings.
• Support the DAI GESI community of practice through GESI thought pieces and information sharing, including the GESI global practice pages, blogs, technical guidance, and thematic approach papers.
• Contribute to corporate initiatives, as required.

Additional responsibilities as deemed necessary.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Grade 11: Minimum of 9 years of professional development experience and a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as as International Development and Gender/Economics and Gender/Social Sciences and Gender or 11 years and a relevant Bachelor’s degree.
• Grade 10: Minimum of 7 years of professional development experience and a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as as International Development and Gender/Economics and Gender/Social Sciences and Gender or 9 years and a relevant Bachelor’s degree.
• Grade 9: Minimum of 5 years of professional development experience and a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as as International Development and Gender/Economics and Gender/Social Sciences and Gender or 7 years and a relevant Bachelor’s degree.

• At least 5 years work experience supporting projects in low and middle income countries in one or more of the following areas of work: Women’s Economic Empowerment; Gender and Governance; Gender Responsive Budgeting; Tackling Gender-based Violence; Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights; and Girls Education.
• Advanced understanding of gender and social inclusion issues and social norm change.
• Understanding of international development sector, of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning practices, and of qualitative research methods.
• Experience in desk research and analysis (literature reviews, evidence reviews, etc.).
• Ability to meet deadlines, take initiative and accomplish work with minimal supervision.
• Strong team working skills.
• Self-starter and able to work using own initiative.
• Excellent communications skills – particularly in writing and relationship building
• Strong critical thinking capabilities with an ability to rapidly assess situational needs, develop problem solving strategies, and implement sustainable solutions.
• Ability to travel to all countries in which DAI implements its projects, barring times when DAI Global security has deemed travel unsafe – (estimated travel requirement 50%).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in supporting donor projects, especially USAID, DFID, and the European Commission.
• Interest in learning and expanding technical skills in GESI.
• Experience in primary data collection and analysis.
• Experience working successfully and respectfully in local communities in developing world setting.
• Understanding of quantitative research methods.
• Fluency in additional language (Arabic, French, Spanish, or Portugese).

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.

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.