Head of Economic Growth

Head of Economic Growth

City/Country Location Details: London, UK; Apsley, UK

Employment Status: Full-Time Regular

Job Type: Corporate

Due to the recent win of the £100M (FCDO) COAST program, we are redesigning our team and recruiting a new Head of Economic Growth.

This role will champion DAI’s position as market leader in Economic Growth and will oversee a large and growing practice of 16 staff and currently 12 mid-large projects spread across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East (FCDO, SDC, World Bank, and BII).

We have a very strong track record of delivery and an average score of A’s across our FCDO Annual Reviews, so you will inherit a skilled and committed team, overseeing a very impressive portfolio of programs working with different clients that are reaching millions of beneficiaries around the world.

The role will also include membership of the UK Senior Management Team, enabling scope to impact the future of the wider UK business, drive business unit strategy, and build business performance. This position can be based in our London or Apsley Offices.

We are hoping to attract a thought leader within Economic Growth and someone who has deep technical knowledge of policy reform, business enabling environment, private sector development, access to finance and financial services, and green and inclusive growth. The role requires someone who can build partnerships and networks, leveraging DAI’s credentials across Economic Growth technical areas and bring technical expertise to our projects and proposals.

Suitable applicants will be technical specialists and experts in the winning and delivery of large Economic Growth programs worldwide. You will have relevant experience managing similarly sized teams and program portfolios and finally a vision of how to become the market leaders in this field.

Core duties

Business Development: Position DAI as a supplier and partner of choice for Economic Growth areas through targeted branding and communications. Actively contribute to wider EG business growth opportunities across all technical areas to ensure synergies and learning.

1. Stay abreast of FCDO (and wider HMG) opportunities, presenting DAI’s qualifications; identifying and pursuing new opportunities in collaboration with the wider EG and Climate teams.
2. Build robust client, consultant, and partner networks to support pre-positioning, teaming, bid development, and project delivery including building networks and collaboration across DAI.
3. Identify high priority bids; develop clear capture strategies ensuring resources, planning, and partnering approaches are defined, understood by the wider bid team, and effectively delivered; oversee the development and delivery of bids as lead writer, leading on technical strategy, teaming, and partnering – ensuring the bid is competitive and compliant.

Program Delivery: Oversee the implementation of a portfolio of complex, multi-country projects and contracts to ensure effective and efficient business delivery and achievement of project outcomes.

1. Serve as project director to allocated projects to ensure projects are delivered to the highest technical standards, prepositioning DAI for ongoing or future work; oversee client relationships, ensure clear lines of reporting and communications between client and DAI – leading on troubleshooting, risk escalation, and achievement of KPIs.

Leadership: Provide management and leadership expertise to achieve DAI’s team and business unit targets and ambition:

1. As Head of EG, lead a successful and dynamic team ensuring the team is motivated, effectively resourced, and has a joined-up and shared vision of success.
2. As a member of the Senior Leadership for DAI Global UK, provide leadership insights, champion cross-department collaboration, and leverage your client and partner networks to achieve business targets and growth.

About you

A great leader passionate about International Development through Economic Growth.

A broad and successful background in International Development program delivery.

Great networks and up to date with current trends and future priorities.

A track record of winning new business through competitive tenders.

Experience of managing and inspiring a cohesive and effective team; experience of building coalitions and collaborating effectively across teams and departments.

An experienced team manager able to motivate, facilitate, and delegate to a range of professionals within the team.

Skilled in commercial matters regarding BD and delivery.

DAI

DAI works on the frontlines of global development, transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more liveable world. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, weak governance, and instability. We work with a wide range of clients, including national and local governments, bilateral and multilateral donors, and the private sector.

In support of this mission, DAI’s UK Business Unit primarily services the UK Government in delivering its international development objectives. Additionally, we service other select international bilateral and multilateral development agencies.

Within the UK Business Unit, the Heads of our Technical Teams are responsible for leading a team in expanding the portfolio of projects and ensuring the successful delivery of programmes. The Head of Economic Growth is expected to be dynamic and entrepreneurial in being able to define and execute on a strategy, strengthen our brand and relationships, manage financial targets, work collaboratively, motivate team members, and develop talent.

The salary offered will be commensurate with relevant experience. DAI offers a generous benefits package and there are several day-to-day perks of working at DAI that help keep us happy and motivated!

There is no closing date for applications, and interviews will be held progressively. We are recruiting for these vacancies on a rolling basis, meaning there is no fixed deadline and applications will be assessed as they are received, and the vacancies will remain open until they are filled.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the location the role is based within the UK without the need for sponsorship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, age, religion, sex, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

This job description details the key elements of the role and is not an exhaustive list of duties. Job roles evolve over time, and job-holders may be required to complete additional tasks in line with business needs.

You will be pleased to know that we strive to uphold the highest ethical standards and that we are working with our clients to reduce the opportunity for people who are known to have breached ethical standards to work in our field. Any staff and/or consultant contract with DAI, therefore, will be subject to satisfactory reference checking and vetting.

If you require any adjustments to the interview or recruitment process, please contact (Please do not send applications directly to this inbox).

If this role sounds interesting and you would like to be part of DAI’s growing business, bidding for and managing donor-funded projects around the world, we look forward to hearing from you.

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