Export Development Specialist At DAI Global

Background:

DAI has been awarded a contract by USAID to implement the five-year Trade Central Asia activity. The goal of USAID’s Trade Central Asia activity is to improve region-wide trade connectivity and harmonization to accelerate economic growth and increase economic opportunity in Central Asia through: harmonization of customs and border procedures, increasing public-private dialogue on cross-border trade and investment; and improving cross-border firm-to-firm connectivity; addressing gender-relevant trade issues. The Activity will be implemented in the five Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.

DAI is seeking the national Export Development Specialist in Kazakhstan.

Summary of Primary Duties:

The Export Development Specialist is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of TCA’s business support activities to improve small and medium enterprises (SME) international trade and marketing skills across the Central Asian region. The incumbent will work with the Regional Trade Development Lead to help design and implement TCA activities. He/she will also provide the TCA country office teams with methodological and organizational support to identify and implement trade development activities at the right level.

Responsibilities:

The Export Development Specialist will primarily be responsible for working with local institutional partners (export agencies, chamber of commerce and enterprise, business associations) and beneficiaries (exporters and consultants) that are involved in the implementation of the TCA’s SME export development (trade promotion service providers initiative, etc.) and promotion (trade acceleration) activities. This role includes the following tasks:

• Coordinate the implementation of TCA-led technical assistance (TA) activities to SMEs, inter alia, but not limited to:
  • Selection of TA beneficiaries based on TCA procedures and SMEs’ applications.
  • Plan annual training courses, masterclasses, and business networking events for TCA beneficiaries based on pre-event market reviews and beneficiary needs assessment surveys.
  • Coordinate the conclusion of relevant agreements with beneficiaries, including their proper clearance and filing.
  • Monitor the TA implementation progress by preparing regular reports.
  • Maintain ongoing communication with TCA beneficiaries via corporate outreach channels to keep them informed about TA-related procedures and TCA activities.
• The main operations within the functional duties, coordinated by the Regional Trade Development Lead, shall include consulting with USAID, national counterparts, private sector stakeholders and obtaining the support of TCA staff, as appropriate, to undertake the following:
  • Research and prepare concept notes and other documents in support of the design of proposed activities.
  • Prepare scopes of work, identify, actively manage, and monitor the work of consultants and other vendors.
  • Liaise with TCA beneficiaries and counterparts from the private and public sectors as needed to develop activities and achieve the goals and objectives of TCA.
  • Review and manage vendor/consultant deliverables.
  • Contribute to obtaining all necessary approvals from DAI, USAID, and host governments to develop and implement activities.
  • Procure and monitor the delivery of any goods and services that may be required to plan and implement activities.
• Contribute to developing the TCA annual work plan, any specific action plans and strategies, etc., relating to providing donor-funded support to export-oriented SMEs’ business.
• Contribute to conducting regular market reviews on trade tendencies in Central Asia and export opportunities in global markets (the Middle East, Caucasus, Southeast Asia, etc.) that are used for designing TCA’s technical assistance activities.
• Contribute to organizing study tours, national and regional meetings, and other events as may be required, etc.
• Coordinate with TCA management, the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, and the Communications Manager to prepare and update statistics and descriptions of activity results as may be requested or required for TCA reporting requirements, e.g. monitoring and evaluation system; success stories; monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
• Coordinate with the TCA Communications Manager to draft webpages, briefing documents, Official Information press releases, marketing material, brochures, etc., for USAID, the media, and other relevant counterparts on TCA activities.
• Travel to each Central Asian country as necessary to support the planning and implementation of activities.
• Establish and maintain a wide range of contacts within the trade community and other related industries and government agencies in their country and across Central Asia.
• Support other TCA staff and other activities, depending on the project’s relative staff workload.
• Comply with all DAI and USAID policies, rules, and regulations.
• Support other activities as requested by the Team Leads, Chief of Party, and Deputy Chief of Party.

Qualifications:

• At least three years of experience in export (trade) promotion projects/departments engaged in all implementation phases – initiation, planning, implementation, and reporting.
• Experience in organizing business networking/matchmaking events (trade missions, B2B meetings, fairs, etc.).
• Knowledge of global trade intelligence sources (TRADEMAP, etc.) and ability to conduct baseline market research.
• Work experience in multitasking environments, including document development and event management.
• Master’s or bachelor’s degree in marketing, international relations, or economics.
• Fluency in English and Russian languages.
• Previous experience with USAID projects is desired but not mandatory.

Reporting:

The Export Development Specialist shall report to the Regional Trade Development Lead.

Location:

Almaty, Kazakhstan.