Cyber Pathways for Women (CPW) Manager

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Critical Infrastructure Digitalization and Resilience (CIDR) program is a five-year initiative managed by DAI Global LLC on behalf of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Bureau for Europe and Eurasia. CIDR focuses on enhancing cybersecurity resilience in the Western Balkans, Black Sea region, and South Caucasus, areas that have experienced increasingly diverse and sophisticated cyberattacks targeting sectors such as energy, telecommunications, and government services.

CIDR collaborates with partner governments and key stakeholders to identify cybersecurity gaps, establish priorities, and develop actionable strategies to bolster cybersecurity across critical infrastructure and key institutions.

Currently operating in Albania, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, CIDR provides comprehensive development assistance. This includes assistance for cybersecurity education and workforce development, cybersecurity assessments, governance frameworks, and facilitating information sharing on cyber threats, attacks, and mitigation strategies. The overarching goal of CIDR is to elevate the cybersecurity standards of the region through country-led initiatives. By strengthening the defense mechanisms of critical infrastructure and key institutions, CIDR aims to ensure the continuity of essential services for citizens while enhancing overall resilience against cyber threats.

POSITION OVERVIEW

DAI seeks a Cyber Pathways for Women Manager with a particular focus on increasing women’s engagement in cyber, critical infrastructure, and technology careers in Eastern Europe. This position will support the implementation of CIDR’s Cyber Pathways for Women (CPW) activity, which will address the demand of and supply side inhibitors to attract more women across the selected Eastern Europe countries into cybersecurity careers. This activity will support CIDR’s workforce development objective: accelerate the development of the workforce among critical infrastructure entities to protect against and respond to threats from malign actors, particularly cyberattacks. Accelerating women’s participation and contribution to cybersecurity will greatly deepen the talent pool that Eastern Europe can bring to bear against cyberattacks and for cyber-defense.

The CPW Manager will provide subject matter expertise and project management to ensure the successful implementation of CPW as described above. This will include maintaining comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of workforce development and human capacity building related to cybersecurity in Eastern Europe: awareness of public sector education cybersecurity/ICT programs, private sector skills development cybersecurity/ICT training programs, and public policy related to cybersecurity/ICT workforce development. Knowledge of international standards and best practices for cybersecurity education, certification, and professional development will help Eastern European countries to build a competitive cadre of women skills to enter the cybersecurity workforce. Familiarity with Eastern Europe cybersecurity, ICT, or critical infrastructure workforce would be an additional asset for this role. The Gender Workforce Development Manager will execute the work plan, as well as coordinate closely with the TPMs to ensure successful coordination and efficient use of resources.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide leadership and guidance to the workforce team to implement CIDR’s Cyber Pathways for Women (CPW) activity.
• Engage relevant Eastern Europe public sector and private sector stakeholders, local universities, and other relevant entities in expert-level discussions on cybersecurity workforce development.
• Monitor developments in Eastern Europe, and globally, as related to cybersecurity professional development and the inclusion of women.
• Build relationships with universities and professional training programs to facilitate curriculum updates including aligning programs with market needs and encouraging women students.
• Build relationships with the private sector for engagement in internship and mentorship opportunities for women entering cybersecurity careers.
• Work with stakeholders to develop behavior change campaigns to increase the visibility of women in cybersecurity careers.
• Engage in public private dialogues and/or policy dialogues promoting changes in priority reforms that will address expanding females in the technology and cybersecurity workforce.
• Work with other donor organizations and implementers focused on ICT/cybersecurity workforce development to ensure that we are leveraging best-practices, knowledge, and program(s) to build off of what is currently being done in the field.
• Ensure CIDR achieves its technical objectives for CPW activity. Manage and ensure deliverables are met and quarterly reports are completed on time and high quality.
• Participate in the design of evolving CIDR activities, to ensure that any relevant workforce development issues are included in the dialogue with clients.
• Provide written periodic progress reports to the Program Director on the CPW activities.
• Organize and lead periodic seminars on women’s pathways into cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, or ICT careers (as appropriate).
• Prepare and plan for short-term technical assistance (e.g., consultants or partners), as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in public policy or administration, economics, business, computer science, information systems, or another related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in workforce development or related area with focus on ICT, cybersecurity, infrastructure or technology.
• Experience serving in a technical leadership position, preferably with donor-funded activities.
• Exceptional writing, editing and verbal communication skills
  • Strong ability to draft quarterly and annual reports in English for different audiences.
  • Confident, articulate and professional speaking capabilities and excellent presentation skills in Serbian.

Note: Compensation for this position does not include allowances or relocation expenses.

Note: This position may require some travel to Eastern European countries