Technical Unit Director, Education At Creative Associates International

Overview

Background:

Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, governance and post-crisis stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.

Position Summary:

Creative seeks a dynamic, technical talent to lead the Education Division’s Technical Unit. We seek an experienced professional, with deep understanding of the challenges, opportunities and evolving evidence-based solutions existing in today’s global context to expand access and quality of basic education to some of the world’s most vulnerable children and youth. We seek a positive, energetic, and collaborative individual who can lead a team of other technically talented individuals, including the broader set of division members, to build together technical solutions that address the educational needs of today and anticipate those on the horizon. We seek an individual that will assist the division in taking stock of applied interventions and draw upon their knowledge and experiences to advance them further for our proposed designs and project implementation strategies. We believe in the contribution that should come from across our entire team – from our most senior staff with years immersed in field implementation to the most junior of staff who see the challenges and opportunities with a fresh perspective and unique knowledge that can modernize and innovate solutions. We seek an individual that prides themselves in their ability to foster positive team collaboration, grow capacity, nurture talent and inspire confidence of individuals that are manifested in enhanced engagement within the Division and across the company.

As Director of the Technical Unit responsibilities also include monitoring market trends and business opportunities in the education sector, developing and implementing innovative and state-of-the-art programmatic solutions, writing technical components of proposals, and working with COPs and DCOPs to advance organizational learning in the technical area. Work assignments include resolving issues to assure successful programs, and leading technical representation in the field, HQ, and with strategic partners and clients. As a leader on the HQ team, this Director is a seasoned networker supporting all aspects of technical program capture and implementation and manages the technical team as they carry out similar responsibilities to support business development and projects. This position travels internationally to perform many of the responsibilities of the role.

Reporting & Supervision:

The Director, Technical Unit reports to the Divisional Vice President. The Director will supervise Senior Technical Advisors and/or (Sr.) Technical Managers.

NOTE: Different company initiatives require different levels of technical management leadership skills based on their strategic importance, complexity, specificity, scope, and geographic location. Creative formally sanctions, and reserves the right to modify, the skill and position level(s) needed for each initiative.

Expected Outcomes:

Leadership

Provides superior technical leadership guidance and management support. Leads expert level contributions to programming, business development and resources in basic education that results in successfully implemented field programs. Provides technical area leadership across the Education Division that helps position Creative as a thought leader and expert implementer by clients in the education sector. Ensures field perspectives and client strategy are reflected in technical activities across all proposals and projects. Honors all aspects of programmatic compliance.

Technical Leadership

Positions Creative as a leader with expert level research and contributions to technical resources, serving as a subject matter expert helping to expand the company’s portfolio in basic education. Leads the representation of the Division in managing client relations and in positioning and expanding the company’s technical depth. Brings field expertise into discussions on corporate strategy in education, assuring that cross-cutting themes relative to education delivery are included in each geographical area and sector strategy. Facilitates leadership in emerging themes in basic education for both conflict and post-conflict contexts, enabling staff to access the latest technical policy and best practice materials.

New Business Development

Positions Creative as a top implementer in education by actively leading capture activities and contributing technical expertise on new business development efforts and writing strong, winning proposals. Key leader in annual work planning at the global and country level in identifying bid opportunities in education. Bring an entrepreneurial spirit, seizing opportunities in the local marketplace, creating and nurturing opportunities for new business generation, and visibly represents the company with stakeholders. Plans and executes new business pursuits with technical insight and intellectual curiosity.

Learning & Adaptation

Contributes significantly to Creative’s visibility and excellence in the education sector by actively participating in external networks and communities of practice, providing short-term technical assistance to field programs and leading capacity building efforts locally. Develops and cultivates networks of technical and functional experts to access for learning and adaptation across the business. Improves technical and operational capacity through implementation of best practices, promoting all avenues of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing. Helps lead M&E plans that track and document progress towards technical learning and innovation. Participates in Pause-and-Reflect events to capture salient technical learning or replication or scale up.

Staff Management**

The Director of the Technical Unit will supervise the technical team members, to include Senior Technical Advisors and Technical Managers technically and professionally; and that their professional objectives and personal needs are well understood.

Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities:

Serves as subject matter expert globally in a specific technical area, representing the company’s technical leadership expertise in education;
Leads and articulates the company’s values, principles and methodological approaches and identifies relevant market trends in education; helps identify and seize discrete market opportunities;
Serves in a technical leadership role with capture, programmatic, representational, operational, and supervisory duties for a program (or programs) in a technical area (and technical sub-areas) to assure continued portfolio development within the Education Division;
Serves as a technical relationship manager, representing the company with clients, key partners, stakeholders and facilitates strategic alliances and global knowledge sharing in education;
Provides technical subject matter leadership to the COP or relevant project personnel, COR and project management staff as part of the program activity cycle to successful execution of the program design;
Works closely with practice area directors and others in building out technical program offerings globally with an array of funding organizations; adapt technical methodologies and approaches to further develop the technical scope;
Provides technical input to company-wide initiatives and cross functional teams; monitors impact of technical activities and provides guidance as required;
Leads selected, high-priority business development efforts, including competitive strategy formulations, proposal development and partnerships for education;
Serves in a lead technical advisor for program implementation; and
Develops and maintains strong working relationships with partner and/or donor organizations as well as developing a network of technical experts.**Qualifications**

Minimum Skills & Qualifications:

NOTE: Your job title is based on the role you perform and you must meet the minimum qualifications for that job title. Greater (higher) education and experience than minimum qualifications do not automatically classify you into a higher-level job title/position.

Master’s degree in Education preferred, or another relevant field of study, and fifteen years of relevant experience;
Experience serving in a technical advisory role and/or field research role as a Senior Advisor, with technical responsibilities as an LTTA or STTA totaling at a minimum two years of field time;
Experience in working with COPs and project teams in the implementation of technical programs to achieve project objectives through a technical support and enable approach;
Expert skill and experience with USAID compliance requirements and their relationship to project designs, costing structures, operational delivery mechanism, that guide implementation;
Experience in leading the development and operationalization of innovative, state-of-the-art programmatic solutions in basic education provision, in establishing technical networks, local partner relationships, and leading technical experts;
Expert skill and experience in leading project design and proposal development for USAID, Department of State and/or other donor programs including articulating theory of change, developing results frameworks, and constructing program strategy and activities;
Experience in quickly demonstrating the ability to produce results on specific assignments in diverse country and program contexts;
Expert skill in interacting with client representatives and other project stakeholders;
Excellent organizational, and analytical skills;
Excellent skills in team-building, collaboration, mentoring and coaching;
Skill in managing teams, decisive evidence-based decision-making, handling tight deadlines; ability to travel internationally on short notice;
Excellent oral and written communication skills to include, experience in making formal presentations to clients, peers and other groups; and,
Comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, MS Project, etc.).