Overview

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 Governance to increase the company’s reputation as a pre-eminent expert, service provider with thematic and technical acumen programmatically and operationally in this area. The STA will bring expertise in public financial management, anti-corruption, local governance, accountability, civil society strengthening, and/or civic engagement. 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 for CIT projects and proposals and contribute to CIT and the governance practice areas’ strategic planning processes. They spend a significant percentage of time on business development, monitoring market trends and business opportunities on governance 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 Governance will provide superior technical leadership on issues, concepts, and practices relevant to the Governance 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 governance (or governance sub-technical sector) leader in Washington DC circles and leverage their global network inside and outside of Washington, DC, contributing to the latest thinking on governance technically and in program implementation. The STA will exercise considerable entrepreneurism and independence in expanding governance and sub-technical sector credentials on the company's behalf.

Qualifications

Reporting & Supervision:

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

Primary Responsibilities:

• Serves as an SME for governance 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 to ensure technical quality and alignment with strategy
• Provides thought leadership on governance sub-technical areas 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 governance, supports practice area on capture missions at HQ with travel to the field as needed.
• 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 and governance issues with field staff, DCOPs and COPs.
• Works closely and collegially with CIT practice area directors and colleagues across the company, building out technical program offerings.
• Coordinates with M&E and Knowledge Management (KM) colleagues to strengthen and expand learning, knowledge, and Creative signature approaches in governance, based on evidence and lessons.
• Provides technical and strategic input to company-wide initiatives leveraging his/her technical expertise to increase Creative’s share of market opportunities, including providing management oversight to research and evaluations for Creative publications and working papers.

 Minimum Skills & Qualifications:                                                                             

• 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 governance technical areas.
• Prior work with key clients – USAID, DoS, and/or FCDO and demonstrated knowledge of client priorities, frameworks, and strategic goals related to governance.
• Experience in working with senior leaders from government, civil society, donors, and other stakeholders at HQ and the field in areas related to governance.
• 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 governance technical areas.
• 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.
• 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.

Desired Skills and Qualifications

• Fluency in a second language (Arabic, French, and/or Spanish).

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-IB  

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