Creative Associates International is a dynamic, global development company that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions, and stabilization. Based in Chevy Chase, MD (metro Washington, D.C. area), Creative has programs in more than 30 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Founded in 1977, Creative is a minority-owned, mission-driven organization that has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.

We value diversity — in backgrounds and in experiences. We are deliberate and self-reflective about the kind of team and culture that we are building, seeking staff that are not only strong in their own aptitudes but care deeply about supporting each other's growth. Our success depends on all our employees' points of view, and the principle that inclusion is everyone's responsibility. 

Responsibilities:

Creative seeks a Senior Technical Advisor (STA) for Conflict Prevention & Stabilization (CPS) to increase the company’s reputation as a pre-eminent expert, service provider with thematic and technical acumen programmatically and operationally in this area. Key elements of this role include cross divisional collaboration to Economic Growth (EG) and Education for Development (ED) Divisions and support across Practice Areas (PAs) within the Communities in Transition (CIT) division. As a subject matter expert (SME), the STA will adopt an outward facing role championing thought leadership and positioning the company with relevant USAID Missions to secure increasing business in these areas. They will contribute to regular business development and work planning as a member of CIT’s senior management team. They spend a significant percentage of time on business development, monitoring market trends and business opportunities on CPS issues, in close collaboration with the CIT Business Development (BD) team and across Creative, serving as Technical Lead, or Lead Writer on relevant proposals. The STA will serve as Acting Practice Area Director (PAD) when designated by the PAD or the VP CIT. 

The STA for CPS will provide superior technical leadership on issues, concepts, and practices relevant to the CPS practice through expert level contributions to programming, and program design and delivery enhancement within the company and to external stakeholders and clients. The STA will serve as Technical Lead, Lead Writer, or Subject Matter Expert (SME) for relevant proposals; write and/or review proposals; and provide strategic expertise to forecasted and live opportunities including supporting new opportunity analysis, identification, capture, and delivery. The STA will enhance Creative’s reputation as a CPS leader in Washington DC. circles and leverage their global network inside and outside of Washington, D.C, contributing to the latest thinking on CPS in the areas of operational support, and program implementation. The STA will exercise considerable entrepreneurism and independence in expanding CPS and CPS-adjacent credentials on the company's behalf.  

Reporting & Supervision: 

The STA for CPS reports to the Practice Area Director (PAD) for CPS.  While the position does not envision a supervisory role for staff, the STA for CPS may be called upon as required to supervise home office or field staff in an acting capacity. 

• Serves as an SME for CPS at HQ, and globally, representing the company’s interests and technical leadership expertise. 

• Supports BD efforts through strategy formulation, serving as technical lead, lead writer, contributing writer, reviewer and/or SME, partnership development, etc.  

• Provides supervisory duties for programs, research, evaluations and thought leadership on CPS to ensure 

• Provides thought leadership on an expansive view of CPS – and how it aligns with other CIT areas such as stabilization, political transitions, and governance -- in line with trends in USAID thinking; incorporates this new thinking into proposals and builds capacity of Creative staff in these areas. 

• Forecasts trends, identifies, and seizes discrete business opportunities in CPS, supports Practice Areas on capture missions at HQ with travel to the field as needed. 

•  Continued portfolio development. 

• Represents Creative to clients in DC, e.g., USAID, DoS, and with non-USG stakeholders like the UN; represents Creative to USAID Missions and looks to expand the company’s geographic footprint; facilitates strategic alliances with centers of excellence, academic institutions and think tanks in the US and abroad; and develops a network of technical experts. 

• Maintains a strong client focus, cultivating professional relations as a point of contact on research, CPS issues with field staff, DCOPs and COPs. 

• Works closely and collegially with CIT PADs and colleagues across EG and ED, building out technical program offerings. 

• Coordinates with M&E and Knowledge Management (KM) colleagues to strengthen and expand learning, knowledge, and Creative signature approaches to CPS, based on lessons learned. 

• Provides technical and strategic input to company-wide initiatives leveraging his/her technical expertise in CPS to increase Creative’s share of market opportunities, including providing management oversight to research and evaluations for Creative publications and working papers. 

• Master’s degree related to international relations, international administration, or development studies and ten years of relevant experience; or bachelor’s degree in one of the aforementioned areas and 15 years of relevant experience. 
• Experience serving in a technical advisory role and/or field research role as a Senior Technical Advisor, COP, Lead Field Researcher, or related function, especially in CPS. 

• Prior work with key clients – USAID, DoS, and/or FCDO and demonstrated knowledge of client priorities, frameworks, and strategic goals related to CPS. 

• Experience in working with senior leaders from government, civil society, donors, and other stakeholders at HQ and the field in areas related to CPS. 

• Strong writing and editing skills particularly for technical pieces and proposals; excellent communication, organizational, and analytical skills with a track record in research, evaluations including publications and public speaking with excellent facilitation and presentations skills. 

• Ability to collaborate with stakeholders and colleagues within Creative and with client representatives in a professional and collegial manner at all levels. 

• Experience in leading innovative, state-of-the-art programmatic research, assessments and evaluation in CPS. 

• Capacity to deliver high quality, timely results against stated objectives. Ability to innovate as a self-starter. 

• Demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit by 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 pursuits with technical insight and intellectual curiosity. 

Preferred Skills & Qualifications:

• Preferred Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and/or Indo-European language proficiency. 

EEOC Statement: Creative is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics. Military veterans, Ameri-Corps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

Accessibility Notice: If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to Ireneb@creativedc.com. Please view Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here. 

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision: Creative will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation. #LI-IB1

Only finalists will be contacted.  No phone calls, please.