Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), Future Growth Initiative

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About Palladium:

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.

This Opportunity:

The goal of the USAID funded Enterprises, Employment, and Enabling Environments (E4) activity is to increase employment and jobs through increased private productivity and competitiveness. Over the course of the last four years, under the E4 activity, Palladium has been successfully implementing the Future Growth Initiative (FGI) regional project in all five Central Asian countries. The program has just been extended for another three years with the overarching goal to promote sustainable, broad-based economic growth in Central Asian market systems through increased diversification, inclusivity, and competitiveness within high-potential sectors.

As we’re closing FGI Task Order 1, FGI 2.0 activity will build on the FGI’s success and lessons to increase the competitiveness of high-growth industries through a market systems approach that incentivizes private and public sector behavior change. FGI 2.0 will facilitate regionalization of business advisory and enabling environment ecosystems, harmonize policies and regulations, foster trade, and market linkages, and align skills of women, youth, and vulnerable populations with private sector needs.

FGI 2.0 will take a partnerships-based approach, facilitating firm-level assistance, industry association capacity building, and regulatory reform under:

Objective 1, FGI 2.0, will drive national-level, private sector-led economic growth, and inclusivity in the five Central Asian Republics (CARs).
Objective 2, FGI 2.0, will support competitiveness and job creation in each country, serving as the foundation for regional growth and integration.
Lastly, FGI 2.0 will facilitate domestic and regional PPD, policy reform and harmonization, and investment attraction efforts to support CA integration into the global economy of the future.

Under the supervision of the Chief of Party (COP), the DCOP leads day-to-day technical and administrative project operations in full compliance with USAID and Palladium rules and regulations to achieve project goals and objectives (targets and indicators). At the request of the COP, the DCOP could be asked occasionally to engage with and maintain good relationships with relevant public and private stakeholders including USAID and other donors. The DCOP will provide support to the COP in programmatic, strategic development, and quality control duties. The best candidate for this position shall have depth and breadth of technical expertise and project implementation experience, a solid professional reputation, good interpersonal skills, and professional relationships to fulfill the requirements of the activity. This is a Key Personnel position under the USAID Enterprises, Employment, and Enabling Environments (E4) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) mechanism. Activities performed under this IDIQ covers the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan..

Location:

The position can be based in Palladium’s Almaty, Kazakhstan; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; or Dushanbe, Tajikistan offices.

Reporting Lines:

The DCOP will report directly to the Chief of Party (COP).

Primary Roles and Responsibilities:

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) shall provide support to the COP with the strategic leadership and oversight of the activity, as well as successful management of all administrative and programmatic functions and activities in line with the project’s objectives.
In the COP’s absence, serves as the project representative, liaising directly with USAID, counterpart governments, the Palladium Home Office, local implementing partners, and the local private sector.
Supports the COP in the successful management of all administrative and programmatic
functions and activities in line with the project’s Scope of Work and approved annual work plans.
Manage day-to-day technical activities, ensuring that results are achieved on schedule and in line with USAID expectations.
Serve as a member of the senior leadership team of the program and support the COP in all aspects of implementation, including leadership, technical direction, and management oversight for project activities and results.
Co-lead and oversee programmatic functions and high-quality deliverables, i.e., development of workplans, budgets, quarterly/annual reports, and ensure effective and timely delivery and implementation of program strategy.
Maintain effective and open communication throughout the project with COP, USAID, Project Director, PMU, Country Directors, Private Sector Partnership Specialists, and other project operations teams, and relevant stakeholders.
Work with the COP and other project staff to continuously refine implementation processes by integrating lessons learned and best practices.
Supports the annual work plan process and completion of high-quality deliverables such as quarterly. Annual and final program reports, MDF Grants tracking system, and assists the MEL Regional Director in his work monitoring and tracking key targets and indicators achievement.
Keeps abreast of the projects’ communications and media relations in close coordination with the PR and Communications Regional Director and USAID as required.
Travels throughout Central Asia as needed to ensure successful project implementation

Essential Criteria:

Experience in a relevant field of study, e.g., economics, international development/relations, finance, business, environmental studies/management, etc. with at least 10 years of professional experience (advanced degree in relevant field preferred).
Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible work experience in leading international donor-supported programs (implementation, logistics, budgeting, staffing), involving coordination with multiple implementing partners or institutions.
Knowledge of USAID contract management, policies, procedures, regulations, and reporting requirements.
Evidence of strong communication skills, both interpersonal and written, to fulfil the diverse technical and managerial requirements of the contract.
Extensive experience working with host government officials and participating in key counterpart, and donor coordination meetings.
Prior experience in the development of digital and green economy sub sectors and mobilizing private finance and access to private equity and venture funding.
Experience in market system development, value chain, and private sector enterprise growth programs in developing countries, preferably with experience in one or more of the target economic sectors: light industry, textile, tourism, IT and startup/entrepreneurship support.
Fluency in English is a must.
Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills.
Proven experience developing and finalizing high-quality deliverables.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Desirable Criteria:

Fluency in Russian.
Experience in Central Asia strongly preferred.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion – Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding – We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.