Knowledge Management Specialist, USAID LEARN

Job Description

Since 2001, Dexis has provided innovative management solutions for a secure and prosperous world. In the last three years alone, Dexis has worked in 90 countries supporting critical missions of agencies in the global development and security assistance space. With triple digit growth in recent years, Dexis was ranked in the top 10 consulting firms by funding at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in FY16 and FY17. Dexis was also among the highest rated employers on Glassdoor, where many of its 250-plus employees cited a people-centered leadership and culture as the main drivers to its success.

The purpose of the Learning and Knowledge Management (LEARN) contract, funded by USAID, is to institutionalize collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) throughout the Program Cycle to improve the effectiveness of USAID programs in achieving significant development results and influence interventions pursued by implementing partners (IPs) and other development actors. This goal will be achieved by building the capacity of the Agency to incorporate the principles of CLA throughout the Program Cycle with products and services that support intentional collaboration, strategic learning, and adaptive management.

The Division of Economic Growth, Environment and Agriculture (EGEA), within the Office of Sustainable Development (SD), in USAID’s Africa Bureau (AFR) conducts technical analysis, develops technical knowledge products, and provides technical assistance to Missions in the Africa region. The objectives of EGEA’s buy-in activity with the LEARN contract are to 1) better understand the factors and approaches necessary for sustainable and inclusive economic growth and develop an EGEA strategy for facilitating the implementation of these approaches, 2) improve how EGEA works by building capacity in project management, knowledge management (KM), communications and integrating CLA to achieve objectives, and 3) develop and implement innovative cross-sectoral collaboration that improves the effectiveness and efficiency of multi-sectoral efforts.

The KM Specialist will provide expertise in the development of tools, guidance and platforms to support EGEA in Washington and the field to address challenges in all four components of the Knowledge Cycle: Creation, Capture and Translation, Dissemination and Sharing, and Application.

• Conduct a rapid assessment and validation of knowledge management needs of the EGEA team
• Review KM needs within EGEA for collecting, storing, and accessing reliable and timely programmatic, and operational, and tacit information
• Draft a KM work plan, develop priorities, draft a change management plan, and provide and provide ongoing support and capacity building to EGEA staff
• Explore, develop, and promote collaborative tools, including CoPs and peer assists, to facilitate sharing of ideas and work among EGEA staff in Washington and the field
• Help to stand up and support the management of an Economic Growth office director’s cohort and Community of Practice
• Provide KM technical assistance to EGEA and missions to improve their knowledge sharing and collaboration
• Design and conduct KM training modules to build capacity among EGEA staff on KM best practices and methodologies
• Provide knowledge capture support at EGEA knowledge sharing events, including synthesizing information and writing and designing draft written deliverables
• Support the creation of a research and learning agenda with learning questions clearly linked to the division’s strategic objectives, including how to foster greater cross-sectoral collaboration and drive towards a facilitative role in the field and with other bureaus
• Help to establish practices to manage EGEA’s internal knowledge sharing tools and champion best practices among staff

• Bachelors and 6 years experience OR Masters and 4 years experience OR PhD and 2 years of experience in in their specialized area of knowledge
• Experience with a range of KM activities, including knowledge management, capture, communications, online learning, and capacity building
• Understanding of and experience with designing and facilitating communities of practice, both online and in-person
• Familiarity with international development and organizational development preferred
• Demonstrated management, and organizational skills; ability to be responsive to client needs and to meet short deadlines; a professional demeanor
• Excellent communication and writing skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team
• Knowledge of USAID and their operations preferred, as well as an understanding of the unique environment in which USAID projects operate; experience with other international development institutions is also helpful
• Ability to maintain routine communications with the LEARN team and client to ensure the project is implemented smoothly
• Professional references commenting on work style
• Ability to obtain USG facilities clearance

Dexis is an equal opportunity employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental handicap, or status as a disabled or Vietnam Era veteran of the US Armed Forces.