About Us
We are International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI), a global consulting firm working some of the most complex and impactful development problems worldwide. We work on programs that help government agencies, private companies and donors improve the lives of others. At IBTCI you will be part of an inclusive team that provides expert solutions and advice to understand and address critical problems while giving you opportunities to succeed and grow.
Job Title: Transaction Advisor – USAID/Prosper Africa
Department/Location: Washington DC, hybrid home working (2 days in USAID’s office per week)
Reports To: Project Manager, Institutional Support & Program Implementation
Type: Regular Full-Time, 1 year contract, embedded into USAID
Overview:
The Prosper Africa Initiative is a whole-of-U.S. Government effort to substantially increase trade and investment between the United States and Africa. Prosper Africa will mobilize and coordinate the U.S. Government’s full range of capabilities, influence, and assistance to substantially increase trade and investment while supporting jobs at home and abroad. The Initiative aims to improve the U.S. Government’s ability to encourage and facilitate engagement by U.S. businesses in Africa, accelerate African economic competitiveness and the growth of the continent’s middle class, and improve the business environment in promising African economies. Importantly, while Prosper Africa is a strategic investment by the U.S. Government, it will be responsive to the interests and direction of the private sector.
On behalf of the Prosper Africa Executive Secretariat (PAES), supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), IBTCI seeks a Transaction Advisor to provide support for the PAES as it coordinates, synchronizes, convenes, monitors, and reports on interagency members’ Prosper Africa-related trade and investment efforts to substantially increase two-way trade between the United States and African countries.
The Transaction Advisor, under the guidance of the Senior Communications Advisor, will support PAES with a range of program and operational tasks, most importantly the triage and management of inquiries to the Initiative from the private sector and other internal and external audiences. The Transaction Advisor will work closely with the U.S. Government interagency in order to efficiently and effectively advise U.S. and African businesses and connect them with the appropriate trade and investment support services and resources.
The individual must develop a working knowledge of USG and USAID communications systems and applications; USG interagency programming and resources, particularly focused on trade and investment in the United States and in African countries; a range of USG programmatic and management processes and procedures related to materials development, inter- and intra-agency clearances; planning and conducting high-level events, meetings, and other activities for senior USG and African government and non-government officials and executives.
Responsibilities
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to:
- Analyze trade and investment transactions to determine eligibility for U.S. Government tools and services.
- Track pipelines of prospective transactions and communicate with U.S. agencies and companies to advance the transactions.
- Develop and implement business development strategies for trade and investment.
- Advise companies and organizations on U.S. Government and private sector tools for doing business between Africa and the United States
- Monitor and manage private sector and other public inquiries, connecting them with the requested information, contacts, and resources; advising them based on trade and investment expertise; and ensuring that they receive timely, accurate, and useful responses.
- Independently research, analyze and synthesize information on commercial and policy topics related to African markets.
- Draft and/or edit reports, briefing papers, talking points, blogs, newsletter articles, journal articles, and social media input as needed.
- Prepare presentations (in PowerPoint and other presentation applications) for senior officials for meetings and events for a wide range of internal USG and external audiences.
- Help develop and continuously update timeline with key actions necessary for developing and implementing Prosper Africa strategy, operational, and implementation plans, taking into account funding, staffing and Administration/Interagency priorities. Key actions should include stocktaking to identify information gaps and review processes.
- As needed, support implementation of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for Prosper Africa as directed by the COR and in coordination with the Prosper Regional Environmental Advisor (REA).
Qualifications
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE SKILLS, EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
- A master’s degree or two years of graduate-level coursework is required in business, marketing, economics, finance, or a related field (equivalent years of relevant experience may be substituted) and a minimum of four years of specialized work experience related to trade and investment.
- Experience marketing or evaluating international trade and investment transactions.
- Experience with business development or relationship management.
- Experience working with culturally diverse business, government, and policy professionals.
- Experience drafting responses to public inquiries on behalf of an organization.
- Experience working and collaborating with U.S. Government agencies and private sector organizations, including officials with international organizations, foreign and domestic government officials, and development partners.
- Knowledge of US foreign and commercial policy issues related to African countries.
- Knowledge of services and resources that the U.S. Government offers to U.S. and/or African private sectors to support trade and investment.
- Knowledge of relevant disciplines including trade, private sector development, and investment required.
- Experience in written and oral communication involving coordinating, negotiating and motivating individuals to take action.
- Demonstrated ability to work with teams, often with high pressure and time constraints.
- Proficient in Google (Docs, Drive, etc.) and Microsoft (MS Word, Excel, etc.) applications, as well as database applications
- Strong written and oral communication skills; skilled at presenting information through reports and discussions to effectively support senior level officials responsible for providing guidance and direction across the interagency and to work across teams and with various levels of leadership.
- Ability to work collaboratively with team members as well as inter-agency colleagues in the United States and Africa, U.S. and African government officials, donors, private sector officials, and implementing partners.
- U.S. Citizenship required with the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
Working Environment: Work is typically performed in an office environment. This position will be embedded within USAID/Prosper Africa Offices in Washington, D.C.
COVID Vaccine status: As a condition of employment, IBTCI requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Candidates should be prepared to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon hire or request for an accommodation with HR that is consistent with our COVID-19 safety protocols and policies.
Physical Requirements: This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear, see, and lift small objects up to 20 lbs.
Supervisory Responsibility: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.
Travel: International travel may be required and may include travel to fragile and/or conflict-prone zones.
Work Authorization: Candidate must be authorized to work in the United States. Must be a U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
About the Organization:
IBTCI has been in business since 1987. We specialize in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL), Institutional Support (IS), Financial & Risk Management (FRM), Supply Chain Management & Procurement (SCMP); Social & Behavior Change (SBC) and Capacity Building. We provide these services across many sectors including, but not limited to, agriculture, resilience & food security, conflict & crisis, democracy & governance, economic growth & trade, education, energy & Infrastructure, environment & climate change, global health & WASH and humanitarian and disaster assistance. At IBTCI, our colleagues are encouraged to collaborate and be part of the solution while getting the tools and guidance needed to grow and support our clients’ missions.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
IBTCI is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identification, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran, or any other classification protected by applicable anti-discrimination laws. We prohibit and do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability, or unable to use the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact the Talent Acquisition team at TalentAcquisition@ibtci.com (Do not send your resume to this account, for consideration please apply in our career page).