Big Infrastructure Specialist

The USAID Ukraine Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) implemented by DAI Global LLC. was designed to strengthen the economy and improve the resilience of businesses and communities in eastern Ukraine following Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and the seizure of territory in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts by Russian backed separatists.

The further Economic Resilience Activity’s work will be centered on three pillars: 

1. Stabilization and Inclusion: building the capabilities of vulnerable populations to be able to capitalize on entrepreneurial and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) economic opportunities; 
2. Business Revival: helping MSMEs relocate and rebuild marketing and supply chains; and
3. New Economy: working with coalitions and leaders to build confidence in the sustainable Ukrainian state, articulate a vision for the future, and put in place the building blocks for a modern, diverse, and MSME-friendly economy post-war. 

About the job

The Big Infrastructure Specialist is responsible for promotion of reconstruction and repairing of the big infrastructure objects including but not limited to general logistics facilities, grain railway logistics facilities, trans-border crossing infrastructure, seaport infrastructure. The Big Infrastructure Specialist also coordinates USAID ERA’s efforts to support Ukrainian government and local government authorities to get external funding for infrastructure projects from international financial institutions (IFIs) to address critical infrastructure needs connected with economic recovery and transformation. The Big Infrastructure Specialist is based in Ukraine (hybrid/remote work) and reports to Big Infrastructure Lead. 

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Big Infrastructure Support:

• Coordinate ERA activities to support governmental and private partners in improving export capacity of Ukrainian Agriculture commodities. 
• Monitor IFI funding programs and prepare projects’ concepts to be communicated to oblast administrations, municipalities and consolidated communities.
• Coordinate with IFIs (including but not limited to World Bank, European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, DANIDA) and other donors (including but not limited to EU, Canada) to understand requirements of programs and define the potential role of USAID ERA in attracting this financing to infrastructure projects.
• Provide support to public sector partners to prepare quality applications for IFIs and donor funding.
• Prepare Scope of Work for independent consultants to prepare specific technical document for public and private sector partners; and oversee work of independent consultants.
• Organize public events, reports, and other communication efforts to raise awareness of critical infrastructure needs.  

Procurement and Grants Management:

• Coordinate gathering information for grant design, procurement, monitoring and Environmental Assessments of ERA program activities related to energy production and efficiency.
• in coordination with Procurement teamwork monitor procurement technical assistance progress and ensure that activities are aligned with the USAID ERA plans and performance indicators.
• manage procurement for infrastructure projects, including coordination with suppliers/contractors engaged and collection of match documentation.

Monitoring & Evaluation:

• support and conduct necessary data collection in order to report against Activity performance indicators.
• support beneficiaries in design of monitoring and evaluation plan for the proposed project.
• monitor implementation of direct interventions and grant activities.
• provide required information and data for M&E reporting in required format. 

Communication:

• introduce Big Infrastructure program to relevant stakeholders including government authorities, local business owners, and business service providers. Foster ongoing positive cooperation with these stakeholders.
• represent ERA in a professional manner in coordination with Communication team.
• other related tasks as requested by agency management staff. 

Reporting:

• Produce reporting documents on Big Infrastructure activities and performance results.
• prepare accurate and timely field reports and other project documentation as required; maintain project files.
• keep respective activity records in DAI corporate system (TAMIS).

About you

• MA degree and 5 years of experience in a relevant filed.
• Demonstrated technical experience in the preparation of big infrastructure projects, including but not limited to general logistics facilities, grain railway logistics facilities, trans-border crossing infrastructure, seaport infrastructure social infrastructure reconstruction, building or repairing of highways, WASH infrastructure.
• Proven experience of infrastructure projects development and implementation on the local, national and international level. 
• Proven understanding of the IFIs requirements for preparation and administration of the project. 
• Excellent professional communications and negotiations skills and who can relate to people at all levels of an organization.
• Ability to work independently and in close cooperation with a team remotely. 
• An energetic, thinking-forward and creative individual with high ethical standards and appropriate professional image.
• An extremely well organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus.
• Fluency in English and Ukrainian is required.

In this position, you are expected to share the DAI's four core values: 

• Integrity: commit to civil and ethical behavior, play by the rules, and do the right thing; 
• Responsibility: Be accountable to clients, partners, grant recipients, beneficiaries, colleagues, and communities where we work. If you fall short, you own up, fix the problem, and get it right the next time;
• Excellence: adhere to the highest technical and professional standards in innovation, learning, and service;
• Global Citizenship: respect cultural diversity and treat everyone everywhere with professionalism and dignity to make the world a better place.  

We offer:

Contract length: 12 months with possible extension

Designation of Duty Location: remote work

Start date: March 1, 2023 

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with USAID ERA Terms of Employment and the Ukrainian Labor Code. 

Application process

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English to Отправить резюме . Only selected candidates with relevant experience will be contacted for an interview. 

Closing date for applications: February 9, 2023 

For further information about the USAID ERA implemented by DAI Global LLC, please consult our website: https://era-ukraine.org.ua/.