Job Title: Senior Principal Specialist or Lead Specialist 
Department: Climate, Land & Natural Resources Practice – Environment Sector 
Reports to: Practice Director – Climate, Land & Natural Resources       
Work Location: Bethesda, Maryland, or Remote in states where DAI is registered*  
 
Position Overview  
The Climate, Land & Natural Resources (CLNR) practice provides technical leadership and implementation support to international field-based USAID programs in the areas of climate change adaptation & mitigation, climate finance, natural resource management (NRM), land tenure and property rights, disaster risk management, biodiversity conservation, and nature-based solutions. Under the leadership of the CLNR Practice Director, the Specialist will lead business development initiatives to grow the CLNR global portfolio and serve as the Technical Lead for up to three ongoing field programs in the CLNR practice area. As a subject matter expert, the Specialist will be responsible for integrating climate/environmental best practice and approaches across other DAI sectors, including Governance, Economic Growth, Digital, and Health. The CLNR practice is seeking an innovative thinker, skilled writer, and proactive problem solver who is energized by working with an ambitious team, all of whom are passionate about integrating climate and environmental objectives into global economic development programming. 
   
This is a full-time permanent position, that requires the ability to travel domestically within in the United States and internationally. This position requires the ability to work in the United States without sponsorship. 
 
Staff located in the DC Metro Area are expected to be able to work from DAI’s Bethesda, MD office at least 2 days per week. If approved to work remotely, the incumbent may be required to travel to DAI’s Bethesda, MD office for meetings and events.  
 
Responsibilities

Program Implementation

Directly support DAI projects with program strategy, work planning, activity implementation, and developing technical tools and solutions that help achieve program objectives; provide quality control on technical deliverables, mentor local staff, and support communications and knowledge management.  Work with USG Business Unit Programs teams to ensure that select projects within the CLNRM practice portfolio are delivered with high quality, on-time deliverables, meeting or exceeding their contractual targets and development objectives.    Engage with project teams to identify, adapt, and refine technologies, tools, solutions, and approaches that advance the project’s goals. These solutions may be both technical or operational. 
Conduct research, synthesize information and evidence, and support development of technical deliverables for DAI’s USAID projects; package and present technical work to diverse and non-expert audiences.  x Serve as a subject matter expert to ensure integration of climate, land, and NRM best practice across programs in other DAI sectors, namely Health, Governance, Digital, and Economic Growth.   

Business Development & Growth 

Lead/support proposal development teams to define a win strategy, conduct in-country capture trips, establish key partnerships, and write high-quality winning technical proposals.  Serve as a lead writer to formulate technical approaches in response to RFP requirements.    Support the Environment sector to develop, assess and pursue a new business pipeline.  Build and expand strategic client relationships, especially with USAID, and grow the CLNR practice’s network of implementation partners both domestically and in priority regions (Africa, Latin America, and Asia) 

Competitive Positioning 

Capture technical achievements, lessons learned, and best practices from program implementation to build on and advance DAI’s reputation as a market leader in the Climate, Land, and Natural Resources technical area.  Enhance DAI’s technical reputation and competitive position through participation in conferences, field-based workshops, events and seminars, and social media. 

Corporate Support 

Participate in DAI corporate activities, including planning, new business forecasting, team-building meetings, cross-business unit initiatives, including DAI Capital initiatives.   Support the Environment Sector and CLNR team in organizing internal retreats, workshops, meeting presentations. 

Market Positioning and Thought Leadership 

Develop practice knowledge products, technical articles, blogs, thought pieces, etc. that highlight DAI experience for dissemination via online and other channels.  Present to USAID and other clients on technical solutions. 
 
Additional responsibilities as deemed necessary.

USG Business Unit Core Competencies 
All staff hired into positions within the USG Business at DAI are expected to demonstrate these competences throughout their work and interactions with others.  
 
Collaborates Effectively:  Recognizes the benefit of working with others from multicultural backgrounds; believes collaboration can lead to better and stronger contributions to USG; views relationships as long-term and meaningful; Communicates with empathy to cross-cultural audiences. 
Champions Inclusion: Treats others with honesty, respect, and consideration; promotes cross-cultural understanding and inclusion throughout the organization; demonstrates appreciation for the complex environments in which DAI works. 
Performs with Excellence: Thrives in all aspects of your role and fosters an open and energizing environment that motivates self and peers to contribute their personal best and is reflective of USG’s vision and mission. 
Creates Innovative Solutions: Problem solves and broadens perspectives, while overcoming biases to find solutions to complex challenges; seeks opportunities to experiment with new approaches and grow/develop the skills of oneself and others. 
Drives Growth: Able to weigh the costs and benefits of actions both internally and externally and their impact on diverse markets and stakeholders; Understands priorities and behaviors necessary for personal and organizational growth. 
Navigates Risk: Integrates risk considerations into all aspects of work and planning; understands benchmarks for escalation of a risk-related issue or concern; makes decisions by gathering input from others and displaying trust of their recommendations, while also taking accountability for outcomes. 

Qualifications & Skills 
Minimum Requirements: 
Grade 8: Minimum of 9 years of relevant professional experience and a bachelor’s degree.  
Grade 9: Minimum of 12 years of relevant professional experience and a bachelor’s degree.

Relevant professional experience includes work for an organization engaged in emerging or developing markets in one or more of the following areas: NRM, climate adaptation / mitigation, land tenure and property rights, disaster risk management, biodiversity conservation, water resource management, environmental governance, countering wildlife trafficking, nature-based solutions, climate finance, nature positive investment, or other relevant area.   Demonstrated familiarity with a wide range of USAID and other donor / multilateral policies, strategies and technologies related to NRM, climate adaptation / mitigation, land tenure and property rights, disaster risk management, biodiversity conservation, water resource management, environmental governance, countering wildlife trafficking, nature-based solutions, climate finance, nature positive investment, or other relevant area.  Demonstrated ability to work with and lead teams for winning new business for USAID or other international donor clients, including designing technical solutions, building consortiums, writing technical sections and/or leading proposal development. Ability to take on both leadership and support roles in the development of plans, proposals and in carrying out field work.  Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical information in a clear and concise manner to diverse and often non-expert audiences.   
Ability to travel an estimated 25% of the time for proposal capture trips and provision of technical support to projects.  Able to work as part of a decentralized team with minimal oversight.  Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, with the ability to communicate clearly and professionally with internal and external clients, and tailor communication style to diverse audiences.  Able to build and maintain excellent working relationships with staff at all levels of the organization and external clients from diverse backgrounds.  Able and willing to travel to any country where DAI currently operates, or may wish to operate, barring times when DAI Global Security has deemed travel unsafe.  Authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.  *Based in one of the following U.S. locations where DAI is registered: District of Columbia, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington.    
 
Preferred, but not required:  Experience working in climate finance and confidence working with finance experts from the private and public sectors to mobilize capital that contributes to building country resilience to climate change and mitigating land-based carbon emissions.   Professional working proficiency or fluency in a second language such as Spanish, French, or Arabic.

Compensation & Benefits: 
For employees working at the P8 level in the United States, the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to be between $136,406 to $167,743. 
 
For employees at the P9 level working the United States, the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to be between $155,946 to $190,600.

Salary for part-time employees will be prorated based on actual hours worked. Actual offers will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, qualifications, relevant education, experience, skills, seniority, performance, and business or organizational needs.  
  
Eligible U.S. based employees, will be able to enroll in medical, dental and vision insurance, plus a 401(k)-retirement plan with a company match. Additionally, employees will be eligible for company-paid annual leave (vacation & holidays), sick leave, parental leave; as well as short- and long-term disability coverage. Detailed information will be provided at the time a formal offer is extended. 
  
For employees working outside of the United States, compensation and benefits will vary based on location. 
  
Equal Employment Opportunity 
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran. 
 
DAI and its employees are committed to confronting discrimination in all forms, nurturing respect for our interpersonal relationships, and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work.  DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner. 
 
DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks. 

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