Deputy Director, Strategy & Design

DI - Democracy International

Bethesda, MD, United States

Essential Responsibilities:

As the Deputy Director, Strategy & Design, you'll play a crucial role in shaping the democracy, human rights, and governance technical space, tracking, designing, and managing new business proposal efforts, and collaborating with cross-discipline teams. Your responsibilities will include:

Thought Leadership: Influence the democracy, governance, human rights, and peacebuilding fields by developing cutting-edge approaches and applying evidence-based strategies.
Program Design: Utilize your programmatic expertise in one or more of DI's practice areas to design innovative, multi-year international development programs, addressing complex challenges and ensure high-quality, timely bids for new projects.
Partnerships: Foster relationships with existing and new partners and clients, maintaining business relationships and exploring new opportunities.
Process Execution: Be the proactive leader who takes charge of our processes, deploying iterative problem solving and executing whatever tasks are necessary to ensure their successful completion and outstanding quality.
Collaborative Teambuilding: Exercise your leadership and management skills to foster team success, ensure high quality communications and mentor and coach staff for professional development.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

Master's degree in social sciences preferred (e.g., international affairs, political science, conflict resolution).
6-9 years of relevant professional experience.
Experience managing/leading winning competitive proposals for democracy, human rights, and governance programs funded by USAID.
Proficiency in tailoring content to specifics of proposal and audience as well as proven ability to effectively convey complex ideas in a clear and concise manner.
Exceptional communication and negotiation skills with local and international partners.
Strong team collaboration, and analytical skills.
3+ years of experience managing the full-cycle proposal process for clients including USAID, ensuring submission of high-quality, compliant, and competitive proposals.
Experience serving in line roles on proposal efforts including but not limited to conducting opportunity capture, identifying partners and leading negotiations, reviewing technical and cost volumes for compliance, assisting with section writing, copy-editing, formatting, and recruitment as needed.
Experience designing or managing democracy, human rights, or governance programs overseas is strongly preferred.
Familiarity with non-USG funding mechanisms is desirable.
Knowledge of a second language is preferred but not required.