Lead GG, Investment, Private Sector Development & Finance

The Lead focused on Investment private sector development and finance opportunities provides strategic leadership to expand DAIs portfolio in these sectors. The role is responsible for developing and pursuing a pipeline of private sector development investment and finance opportunities expanding DAIs network of partners and consultants strengthening DAIs market position and raising DAIs profile with key clients and stakeholders. The Lead will drive early pre-positioning and business growth efforts foster strategic relationships and contribute to the development of innovative and competitive solutions.

Alongside business development responsibilities the role provides operational leadership across priority opportunities ensuring high-quality outputs effective resource management financial sustainability and achievement of organisational objectives. The Lead will work closely with bid technical and implementation teams to support successful project delivery and contribute to DAIs continued growth and performance.

This is a full-time permanent position. This position requires the ability to work in Bulgaria without sponsorship.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement the sector related strategy.
• Align to DAI Business Development objectives with organizational priorities and business goals.
• Identify growth opportunities partnerships and new business initiatives supporting consortium development and partnering strategies.
• Monitor sector trends and provide strategic recommendations to the Lead Public Sector Clients EU.

Operational Management

• Hands on day-to-day operations and ensure efficient pre-positioning proposal preparation and quality review of the final product.
• Establish performance targets and monitor progress against agreed objectives.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies contractual requirements and quality standards.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation within the Unit and beyond.
• Provide strategic and technical support the project implementation team helping to strengthen delivery and quality project outcomes.

People Management

• Lead motivate and provide support to the development teammates.
• Set performance objectives and conduct performance reviews when necessary.
• Support workforce planning recruitment and onboarding.
• Foster a collaborative inclusive and high-performing team culture.

Market Positioning & Partnerships

• Develop and maintain a network of specialist partners consultants and technical experts across the investment private sector and finance sectors including donors and government counterparts
• Raise DAIs visibility and reputation within the investment private sector finance and infrastructure.
• Build strategic intelligence on client priorities procurement trends competitor activity and market developments undertaking missions in the field when necessary.
• Represent DAI at industry events working groups and conferences.
• Develop thought leadership and knowledge products showcasing DAIs experience and capabilities
• Identify partnership opportunities that strengthen DAIs technical and commercial competitiveness.

Quality and Risk Management

• Ensure delivery of high-quality outputs and services.
• Identify and mitigate operational financial and reputational risks.
• Promote adherence to quality assurance and compliance frameworks.
• Able and willing to adjust work schedule as needed to support teams located in different time zones/countries.

Other

• Able and willing to travel to any country where DAI currently operates or may wish to operate barring times when DAI Global Security has deemed travel unsafe.
• Able to regularly work from DAIs Sofia office.
• Additional responsibilities as deemed necessary.

• Minimum of 15 years of relevant professional experience including substantial experience working with the EU and other donors on business development proposal development and strategic positioning. Masters degree in business administration Economics Finance International Development Public Policy Engineering or a related field. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• Strong understanding of the EU Global Gateway strategy and its relevance to investment private sector and finance and international development programming.
• Established professional network across EU institutions international financial institutions development agencies sector partners and relevant technical experts.
• Demonstrated experience developing winning proposals consortiums and technical solutions for complex donor-funded opportunities preferably within the investment private sector and finance infrastructure or public-sector development sectors.
• At least 10 years experience in a leadership or management role including responsibility for teams workplans delivery quality and performance management.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets multidisciplinary teams and complex programmes or projects in dynamic multi-stakeholder environments.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement client relationship management partnership development and business development skills.
• Outstanding communication leadership influencing and negotiation skills with the ability to represent the organisation effectively at senior levels.
• Strategic thinking.
• Leadership and people development.
• Financial acumen.
• Decision-making and problem-solving.
• Stakeholder management.
• Results orientation.
• Project and portfolio management.
• Communication and influencing skills.

• Professional working proficiency in a second language (Spanish or French preferred).

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability age or status as a protected veteran.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation abuse and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.