Chemonics International шукає Tech and Engineering Industries Senior Specialist

Chemonics International, a global consulting and international development firm, seeks a Tech and Engineering Industries Senior Specialist, long-term position, for the USAID Competitive Economy Program (CEP). CEP is a five-year program funded by the US Agency for International Development. The purpose of CEP is to support startup businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), increase domestic market competition, and support the competitiveness of Ukrainian firms in international markets. CEP achieves these objectives through five components: improve the business-enabling environment and business climate, support emerging industries, promote export capabilities, support WTO participation and compliance, and help lower costs of trade across Ukraine’s borders.

The Tech and Engineering Industries Senior Specialist (the Specialist) will be a part of the Future Industries Team and will be responsible for technical implementation of activities within technology and engineering-related industries, which will include, but will not be limited to ICT (information and communication technologies), hardware and physical tech-enabled production, sectoral technology-enabled industries (fintech, healthtech, agrotech, education tech, etc.), hard and soft engineering (robotics, deep tech, VR/AR, etc.), startups, etc. The sectoral outreach also may reach out to traditional engineering and high-value added innovative products and business, which serve traditional industries and markets or contribute to fast moving consumer markets. The Specialist will lead a wide array of interventions to contribute to the development of mentioned areas, including industry analyses, rebuilding and improving resiliency of respective SMEs and startups, and strengthening the local work force in line with market needs. Under the leadership of the Future Industries Team Lead, and consistent with CEP’s approved annual work plan, the Specialist will work with other technical teams to support improvements that also contribute to the business-enabling environment, access to finance and investments, emerging sectors, export promotion, and trade, as well as with communications and operations staff to proactively manage the successful implementation of all tech and engineering industries activities. Throughout implementation, the Specialist will actively support communications and coordination with USAID, Ministry of Economy (MoE), Ministry of Digital Transformation (MDT), Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office (EEPO), Ukrainian Startup Fund (USF) and other government counterparts, and public and private sector stakeholders involved in work with these industries. The Specialist provides technical assistance and supports recruitment of short-term technical assistance in cooperation with the Operations Team, regular monitoring and reporting on grants in cooperation with the Grants Team, and tracking performance indicators in cooperation with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Team.

The Senior Specialist’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lead the successful implementation of all mentioned industries’ technical activities as defined in the approved annual workplan or its revisions, grant agreements and subcontracts, or as otherwise required.
• Prepare technical scopes of work for short-term consultants, develop requests for applications (RFA) to award grants, and requests for proposals (RFP) to award subcontracts, coordinate and oversee assignments of consultants, grantees, and subcontractors relating to tech and engineering industries.
• In cooperation with other technical staff and short-term technical assistance: provide direct technical assistance to SMEs and startups supported by the program; develop market analysis and assessments; link producers, sellers, and buyers in domestic and foreign markets; evaluate business operations and opportunities; identify challenges, growth barriers, and operational inefficiencies; advise businesses on strategy and growth opportunities; identify needs for additional targeted expertise to address specific gaps and challenges; and support domestic networking opportunities to help facilitate the building of business clusters, alliances, etc.
• Research market trends, SMEs needs, GOU programs and initiatives to timely identify relevant CEP activities to satisfy market development needs.
• Actively liaise with market actors (companies, experts, think tanks, associations, GOU institutions), maintain cordial relations, represent USAID CEP in events and working meetings.
• Define, design, secure funding, launch, supervise, troubleshoot and communicate program activities, related to development of tech and engineering industries in Ukraine as well as support to private sector and GOU actors in the sector.
• Coordinate with other USAID and donor-funded projects working with tech and engineering industries.
• Support training, mentoring, and other capacity-building needs of SMEs and startup working in tech and engineering industries.
• Contribute to the enhancement of the dialogue between the Government of Ukraine, the private sector, and non-governmental entities (think tanks, academia, business sector representatives) in support of development of tech and engineering industries.
• Provide input to CEP’s annual work plans; monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) plans and activities; and daily, weekly, quarterly, and annual reporting and planning as required.
• Travel to support and/or report on project activities, if feasible and when determined to be safe.
• Liaising with assigned grantees to ensure compliance with all terms of their respective grant agreements.
• Other duties as assigned by the COP or as delegated.

The required and/or preferred qualifications for the Senior Specialist position are:

• Bachelor’s degree in a computer science, mathematics, marketing, engineering, economics, business administration or related field required.
• At least four years of relevant work experience required, with demonstrated knowledge and skills, preferably related to IT, startups, engineering or other related industries or areas.
• Proven relationship management skills, effective cross-cultural interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience working with USAID programs or other international donors or organizations is preferable.
• Demonstrated knowledge and capacity to independently lead tech or engineering industries development activities in cooperation with the Government of Ukraine and private sector stakeholders.
• Advanced written and oral communications skills for working in Ukrainian and English required.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks with appropriate problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity.

Application Instructions:

Please send a CV and brief letter of interest in English indicating related experience and achievements by July 29, 2022 to [email protected]. Please include your name and “Tech and Engineering Industries Senior Specialist” in the subject line. Please note the position is open for Ukrainian citizens only. Candidates will be reviewed and interviewed on a rolling basis until position is filled. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.