Activity Team Lead, CATALYZE A2F

Project Overview and Role:

CATALYZE is a $250 million 8-year program, designed to mobilize $2 billion in private capital, especially to underfinanced social sectors (such as education) and higher risk countries (especially low-income and post-conflict countries) around the globe, complemented by a cross-cutting inclusion of gender-lens investing. CATALYZE serves as a “platform of platforms” that provides services to many missions and bureaus that “buy in” to tap the CATALYZE investment and pay-for-results project management expertise. Our aim is for investors to explore and find commercially viable opportunities and approaches to creating jobs, developing sustainable social services, tightening, and rationalizing supply chains, and advancing inclusive growth – ultimately, reducing the need for development institutions to provide donor funding.

The CATALYZE Access to Finance (A2F) program is designed to increase access to finance to Iraqi small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and increase youth employment. The approach which USAID intends to take to meet this challenge has two elements. First, it will provide small incentive payments to participating Iraqi financial institutions to provide loans to Iraqi SMEs (loans which are considered “additional” based on the CATALYZE definition). The expectation is that these incentive payments will make these loans more attractive to those financial institutions. Second, it will support Iraqi Transaction Advisors to identify SME financing opportunities and support the SMEs in obtaining financing. The expectation is that ‘crowding in’ a pipeline of well-presented financing opportunities will result in more loan requests receiving financing. Particular attention will be paid to supporting loans which will result in employment of youth.

The drivers of this activity are:

An incentive fund which will provide payments to participating financial institutions, based upon evidence of loan disbursement and or loan commitment.
A network of Iraqi financial institutions who are interested in participating in this program and increasing additional lending to SMEs.
A network of Transaction Advisors who will operate independently and on a commercial basis to identify and help close loans that are considered “additional” based on the CATALYZE definition, with their compensation primarily based upon success in closing loans.

PURPOSE OF POSITION

Palladium seeks an Activity Team Lead for the CATALYZE A2F Activity. The Activity Team Lead will be responsible for the technical implementation and the effective and compliant management of the CATALYZE A2F activity in close coordination with the Palladium Home Office Activity Management Unit. S/he will be the senior in-country representative of Palladium on the activity, with overall responsibility for supervising project activities and staff and managing day-to-day relations with stakeholders in the private sector, Government, and donor community.

LOCATION

The position is intended for Iraqi nationals based in Iraq.

REPORTING AND WORK STYLE REQUIREMENTS

The Activity Team Lead will be embedded into the CATALYZE A2F local Subcontractor team. S/he will have a dual reporting line – they will report to local leadership of the Subcontractor, and technically they will report directly to the Palladium Catalyze Iraq Activity Lead in Washington, DC. The Activity Team Lead role requires self-motivation, and ability to work both independently and collaboratively while providing leadership and strategic direction across technical and administrative areas. The position requires high client-centric ability to work with numerous Palladium home office staff as well as external clients and stakeholders with a particular focus on SMEs, Financial Intermediaries and Financial Institutions.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide overall strategic direction for the project across all functional areas such as technical approach, monitoring, evaluation and learning, finance, and operations
Responsible for the successful management of all administrative and programmatic functions and activities in line with the project’s Scope of Work and approved annual work plans.
Oversee project management and implementation to ensure stated goals, objectives, and deliverables are met.
Ensure integration of project components through effective work planning and budgeting, project management, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning
Ensure all activities conform to project requirements, including cost, schedule and quality
Serve as the project’s local representative, acting as the principal liaison with USAID, the Government of Iraq, Palladium headquarters, Iraqi implementing partners and the Iraqi private sector actors.
Provide technical expertise to inform and guide the development and implementation of the CATALYZE A2F technical approach.
Support the development strategic partnerships with stakeholders in the private sector, Government, and donor community to facilitate capital mobilization to SMEs.
Develop high-quality communications materials ensuring alignment with the overall, approved CATALYZE communications strategy and Branding and Marking plan.
Ensure judicious use of USG resources, on-time delivery of activity reports and partner deliverables, and overall compliance with USAID regulations and Palladium policies and procedures
Supervise project staff and provide oversight of human resources matters, including ongoing performance reviews, recruitments, and teambuilding
Ensure safety and security of project personnel and resources
Identify issues and risks related to program implementation in a timely manner, and suggest appropriate program adjustments
Ensure agile program implementation in line with monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) findings through leadership of a collaborate, learn, and adapt (CLA) approach
Represent the project with key stakeholders and participants at public events
Manage technical and administrative staff, as well as implementing partners in support of project outcomes
Maintain close coordination with the Palladium Washington DC office, providing regular updates on the project’s progress and direction
Other duties as required

The position requires broad general and technical knowledge, significant coordination skills, experience in Iraq, and the ability to ensure coherence and consistency while under urgent deadlines.

Required Qualifications:

10+ years’ experience managing projects in economic growth, SME development, access to finance, investment, blended finance, market systems strengthening, public and private sector engagement or related fields
An advanced graduate degree in business, economics, international development, or other relevant fields
Demonstrated leadership in the administration of similarly sized international donor support programs with skills in strategic planning, management, supervision and budgeting. Prior USAID experience preferred
Evidence of strong skills in strategic planning, management of complex processes, supervision, budgeting, organizational learning, monitoring, evaluation and learning for adaptive management, facilitation, and/or communications and knowledge management
Proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams.
Evidence of strong communication skills, both interpersonal and written, to fulfill the diverse technical and managerial requirements of the contract.
Proven knowledge of Iraqi private sector, SME development, and blended finance
Knowledge of USAID programming, approaches, and policy, including terminology, processes, and tools
Strong ability to communicate effectively and professionally in Arabic and English

Company Overview:

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.

About Palladium - Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people's lives.