Waterways Infrastructure Expert

Job Description

Project Background

USAID awarded the Private Sector Engagement Support (PSE Support) contract to Washington Business Dynamics (WBD) in September 2019 to operationalize the Agency’s Private Sector Engagement Policy. PSE Support plays a critical role in supporting USAID and its newly established PSE Hub in implementing USAID’s PSE Policy to reduce the cost of development outcomes and contribute to the Agency’s Financing Self-Reliance framework.

USAID’s Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Hub within the Bureau of Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI) supports implementation of the Private Sector Engagement Policy. Private Sector Engagement Support (PSE Support) plays a critical role in supporting the Agency in implementing USAID’s Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR) framework, including Financing Self-Reliance (FSR) frameworks to improve partner countries’ abilities to finance and develop their own economic and social development initiatives. PSE Support provides technical assistance and capacity building to USAID Bureaus and Independent Offices (B/IOs) and USAID Missions in support of PSE. PSE Support delivers proven models of private sector engagement, employs market-based approaches, and effective private capital mobilization to achieve development impact at a greater scale and sustainability. Technical assistance seeks to empower partner countries to finance local development initiatives through training and facilitation, reporting and analysis, short-term and long-term staffing, and communications and conference support.

The Cross-Border Infrastructure and Connectivity (CBIC) project is a buy-in to the PSE Support Mechanism and is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of State Bureau of South and Central Asia (State/SCA) and USAID Bureau for Asia (USAID/Asia) to improve cross-border infrastructure and connectivity in South Asia. CBIC advances the goals of the Infrastructure Transaction and Assistance Network (ITAN) under the Indo-Pacific Strategy by helping Indo-Pacific partners to catalyze private sector investment in sustainable, transparent, and high-quality infrastructure projects.

Buy-In Overview and Objective

The Cross-Border Infrastructure and Connectivity (CBIC) Activity will support the development of sustainable, transparent, and high-quality infrastructure in South Asia to promote regional cohesion and connectivity. To achieve this objective, PSE Support performed a deep-dive analysis to propose the most promising economic development programs that emphasize cross-border trade and intra-regional connectivity. Activities primarily focus on South Asia, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, and other Indo-Pacific partners, including Burma, Laos, and Thailand as they relate to broader regional connectivity.

CBIC activities will align with the following areas of focus:

• Targeted technical assistance to priority infrastructure projects
• Promotion of high-quality cross-border standards and practices in the region
• Reduction of barriers to trade and investment to support greater regional connectivity

To aid in implementation of the identified activities, PSE Support seeks an Infrastructure Expert with inland waterways expertise and with familiarity with the South Asian context.

Roles and Responsibilities

Working to support the development and implementation of a waterways infrastructure project in South Asia, the Waterways Infrastructure Expert can expect to assume the following duties:

• Undertake an engineering study for the construction of a lock, which will include the works needed to construct the lock, development of the approach channel, implementation of traffic guidance systems, and management of the effects on broader water management issues
• Work in close coordination with the key public and private sector stakeholders in India and Bangladesh

Required Experience

• Degree in maritime engineering
• 10+ years of demonstrated experience in waterways infrastructure ideation, development, and construction, preferably in the development of locks
• Experience developing and implementing infrastructure programs in South Asia
• Experience and familiarity developing and utilizing infrastructure assessment and diagnostic tools
• Excellent collaboration, management, and communication skills
• Prior experience working on USAID-funded programs with multiple stakeholders
  
  

Other Required Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• Well-developed analytical and problem solving skills
• Team-oriented, especially in cross-cultural, multilingual settings

About the Organization

Founded in 2012, Washington Business Dynamics (WBD) is a boutique management consulting firm focused on delivering impactful solutions for our broad portfolio of U.S. federal and international customers. We work with our clients as partners to achieve institutional change, enhance operational performance, and build sustainable processes that deliver exceptional results. From our headquarters in Washington D.C. to cities around the world, our experienced team delivers strategic insights by understanding where our clients want to go, and the best way to get there. Our mission is simple: help our clients make better decisions.

Our team comprises top-tier consultants who specialize in:

• Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, and Spend Analysis
• Strategic Advisory and Management Consulting
• Business Process Reengineering and Organizational Design