Technical Director, Rule of Law and Security Sector Strengthening
Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.
**Please note: U.S. work authorization is required for this position.**
Position Summary:
The Technical Director (TD) will serve various functions within MSI’s Rule of Law and Security Sector Strengthening (ROL/SSS) Practice Area depending upon their specific skill set and technical expertise, providing technical guidance for project implementation, proposals, and design, strengthening MSI as an industry leader. The TD will be responsible for ensuring that the solutions we present to our clients are representative of MSI’s approaches for producing quality products and reflect client responsiveness. The preferred location for this role is in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area.
Responsibilities:
Project Management
- Provide technical expertise and oversight from headquarters on all technical issues impacting project design, development, and implementation, in consultation and coordination with the Chief of Party (COP).
- Provide substantial technical input on the financial and operational requirements of the project, including the design and management of the budget as it relates to technical implementation, burn rates, contract/grant reviews, risk management, and corporate level issues that may arise in the project, in consultation with the Project Team and Operations leadership.
- Contribute to and oversee client reporting requirements.
- Ensure all client deliverables and client requests are answered.
- Conduct regular field visits to projects to provide technical expertise as needed, attend high profile events, meet with project staff and local partners, and establish direct relations with key donors including USAID and others, as part of overall technical management and oversight.
- Extract lessons learned, best practices, and tools during project implementation and facilitate transfer of information to MSI staff through its knowledge management system and other internal information-sharing mechanisms.
- Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities to mid-level staff, including Technical Managers, Technical Associates, and Program Managers, in accordance with corporate mentorship initiatives.
Business Development
- Identify and track potential business development pursuits to effectively position and prepare MSI for anticipated bid solicitations.
- Serve as lead technical writer on project bid solicitations within the ROL/SSS Practice Area and ensure effective coordination with MSI’s Business Development Unit during the proposal preparation process.
- Serve as support in bid solicitations to other technical areas in the event there is a business need.
- Conduct field-based reconnaissance, recruitment, and research in support of proposal preparation in the subject country, as needed.
- Provide technical expertise and oversight in the design, development, draft, and review of project proposals.
- Provide mentorship, management, and oversight to mid-level technical staff in designated proposal development tasks and assignments.
Thought Leadership and Professional Development
- Participate in industry conferences, expert panels, committees, and events to develop contacts and foster professional relationships that will raise MSI’s profile in ROL/SSS and across the international development community.
- Prepare publications, such as books, articles, papers, or tools, and/or facilitate events that highlight technical expertise and/or country/regional knowledge that will position MSI as a thought leader on issues relevant to the Governance Practice Area.
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in law, criminal justice, public administration, international development, or related area required.
- Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience supporting donor funded rule of law and/or security sector strengthening related programming including in volatile and/or fragile contexts required. Minimum 15 years of relevant experience preferred.
- Experience in designing and implementing cutting-edge approaches in ROL/SSS fields.
- Experience in winning new work with key donors, including USAID and INL.
- Experience working with diverse teams of technical, operational, and business development staff.
- Ability to lead technical writing for strategic company bids within key ROL/SSS and governance technical areas.
- Ability to travel when required.
- Strong writing, analytical, speaking, and communication ability in English required. Second language skills strongly preferred.
At MSI Tetra Tech, health and safety play a vital role in our success. MSI Tetra Tech’s employees work together to comply with all applicable health & safety practices and protocols, including health orders and regulations related to COVID-19 that are mandated by local, state and federal authorities.
MSI is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We strive to develop and maintain a culture that honors the perspectives and identities of our employees, our communities and those impacted by our work.
We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants’ and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.
MSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities/Veterans Employer.
Pay Transparency Statement:
We are committed to taking a thoughtful, compliant, and equitable approach to employment compensation. We commit to providing a holistic comprehensive salary analysis, including reviews of individual skill sets and compensable factors related to qualifications, business needs, internal compensation data, and industry and labor market surveys. The anticipated pay range for this position is $130,000 to $160,000 USD.
Reasonable Accommodations:
MSI is dedicated to hiring an inclusive workforce. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations during the application process, please visit Tetra Tech’s Disability Assistance Page. Our recruitment team looks forward to engaging in an interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations for candidates.
Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.