Dexis is a professional services firm that solves the most pressing social challenges in complex environments, paving the way for a more secure and prosperous world.
Dexis embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to build and maintain a safe environment where we celebrate diverse backgrounds, treat everyone with respect, and value the unique lived experiences each person brings based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, military or veteran status, national origin, age, marital status or family status and related conditions.
At Dexis, you will experience a corporate culture of inclusiveness, fairness, and trust. You will be given the means and mentorship needed to succeed, and your creativity will be rewarded.
About the Project
Through the Private Sector Engagement Modernization Contract (PSEMC), Dexis supports the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Hub to expand and deepen collaboration with the private sector to achieve greater development outcomes. The PSE Hub’s mission is to create the institutional conditions, operating infrastructure, and capacity necessary to expand engagement with the private sector in the United States and partner countries. The PSE Hub works to transform and modernize how USAID does development by institutionalizing USAID’s PSE policy and delivering capacity- and systems-building support for PSE across all sectors, operating units, and countries where USAID operates. PSEMC provides technical assistance and capacity building to USAID Missions, Bureaus, and Independent Offices in support of PSE.
About the Position
In May 2023, the White House launched the U.S. Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology (the “Strategy”). The Strategy recognizes that the United States faces challenges to its global leadership on international standardization and that the core principles of the international standardization system are under threat by strategic competitors that seek to influence it. Competitors’ efforts are mainly focused on critical and emerging technologies (CETs) and are aimed at advancing their military-industrial policies and autocratic objectives. The Strategy sets four strategic objectives that the U.S. Government should pursue under which eight Lines of Effort (LOE) flow down. Under LOE #8, USAID has been called to support the development of a diverse and inclusive workforce of standards professionals:
We will support the development of a diverse and inclusive generation of emerging economy standards professionals who can effectively participate in international standards development and promote the adoption of international standards. In partnership with the U.S. academic and private sectors, we will look to engage with influential emerging economy academic institutions or other related organizations to ensure longer-term sustainability and identify opportunities for additional training on coalition building, including through programming from the U.S. Agency for International Development. (Emphasis added.) We will foster participation of small and medium enterprises, including from like-minded countries, and further advance the design and implementation of technical assistance programs to enable broad and inclusive participation in international standards organizations.
The USAID/EMD/Trade team supports a multiyear effort (the Project) to strengthen partner countries' understanding of the core principles applicable to international standards development.
In addition, the IPI/EMD/Trade team manages a number of mechanisms that support economic growth world wide, including the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation and the Alliance for eTrade Development.
The Center for Economics and Market Development (EMD) is seeking an Partnership Advisor who would support the Trade Team to implement it’s portfolio. The position would advise in USG, private sector, and USAID operations, public policy to help EMD navigate complex challenges, make informed decisions, achieve its strategic goals, and map the Project’s next steps. The AM may also consult with USG interagency partners under the AOR’s direction as it relates to the project implementation.
Successful team members work collaboratively, seek opportunities, demonstrate persistence, are risk-takers, set goals and see them through, systematically plan, and work under the direction and oversight of the AOR.
This is a telework-eligible position requiring occasional international travel (about 15%). Washington DC is the duty station.
Responsibilities
Strategic Advice and Planning
- Provides strategic guidance, approaches, and tactics for initiatives with the IPI/EMD/Trade team under the supervision of the team lead and AORs, including commencing implementation of the project.
- Provides strategies, plans, and approaches in managing the Project’s resources.
- Updates and advises EMD’s trade team lead, AORs, and other stakeholders regarding the Project’s planning, activities and results.
- In addition to the duties and responsibilities listed below, the incumbent will be responsible for serving as a technical resource for Trade Capacity building issues; serving as an agency expert and coordinator in providing intellectual leadership and focus to initiate dialogue; generate policy recommendations, interventions, and agency mechanisms and providing advice, guidance and expert technical leadership and policy guidance on the most complex TCB program and how they interact with USG trade policy, private sector needs and sophisticated world-wide markets.
Research and Analysis
- Effectively assists in identifying solutions to critical operational and internal/external challenges that may involve considerable risk and/or based on new and experimental approaches and methodologies.
- Conducts or oversees research and analysis to support program implementation and timely delivery of those activities.
Operations
- Provides expert advice and assistance related to project implementation, ensuring that they are executed efficiently and are non-duplicative. This involves coordinating resources with multiple programs and Agencies, managing budgets, and tracking progress.
- Provides direct support (virtual or TDY) to USAID Missions within backstop expertise/area to advance critical initiatives, bilateral/regional development objectives and/or operational targets and goals.
Relationships
- Builds and maintains relationships with key stakeholders, including USG Agencies (USTR, DOC, DOS, NIST, EPA, DOE), implementing partners, foreign government agencies, and industry groups to further the international standards project’s development goals and objectives.
- Coordinates programs and activities with other USAID Bureaus and Independent Offices, the Department of State, other USG agencies, and the private sector. Assists in managing special cross-cutting initiatives and task-force groups to accomplish programmatic goals; groups may review specific programs of the organization or develop new initiatives in various program areas.
Performs other related duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Master’s Degree (or higher) with 8 or more years of work experience, Bachelor’s degree and 10 years of work experience, or 15+ years equivalent relevant work experience in private sector engagement.
- Three years of experience applying international trade expertise.
- Knowledge and deep contextual understanding of regulatory environments, international trade agreements, trade capacity building and trade disciplines (technical barriers to trade).
- Two years of work experience involving US interagency coordination processes.
- Experience with USAID program cycle and project design; experience working with/within USAID.
- Ease with reporting out and collaborating with senior-level leaders.
- Ability to coordinate and collaborate effectively with a varied array of actors, principals, and subject matter experts.
- Experience with resource and budget planning and management.
- Ability to attain and maintain a Secret-level clearance.
- Good writing and communication skills.
Preferred
- Two years of work experience with issues related to the digital environment.
- Current holder of an active Secret-level security clearance
All applicants are measured on how they foster a climate of respect in interactions with others, value differing perspectives, and treat others in a fair, equitable, and culturally sensitive manner. All employees and consultants are expected to value diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in performing everyday duties and responsibilities.
Min. Salary
$85,000—$110,000 USD
Dexis is on a mission to help solve today’s most pressing global political, social, and economic challenges and create a world where all people are safe and prosperous. As a Dexis employee, you will be challenged, empowered, and mentored. Our motto is “find a way or make a way” — that’s how Dexis goes “all in.” How will you?
If you are passionate about this opportunity, apply now!
Only those applicants who meet the above criteria will be contacted for interview.
Dexis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, pregnancy, disability, age, genetic information, military service, veteran status, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, childbirth and related medical conditions, including lactation, or any other protected class under applicable law.
As part of a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, Dexis provides healthcare insurance in addition to other staff welfare benefits and perks.
If you are hired for a position that is paid from the Dexis home office, you will be required to submit proof that you have received the COVID-19 vaccine unless you qualify for a legally recognized medical or religious exception to the vaccine requirement. This does not apply to AL, AZ, FL, KS, MT, NH, ND, or TX residents.
What We Do
Dexis is a professional services firm that solves the most pressing social challenges in complex environments, paving the way for a more secure and prosperous world.
We advance the mission of leading global engagement agencies, including USAID, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. We specialize in stabilization and conflict mitigation, security sector assistance, rule of law, anti-corruption, and inclusive economic growth.
Our staff of over 500 full-time employees maintain an active presence across 80 countries. Our ISO 9001-certified quality management system (QMS) makes us a reliable partner with our clients.
Established in 2001, Dexis has grown at double-digit rates for over a decade and is now a solidly middle-market company, a feat demonstrated by 2.5% of small government services firms. Dexis’ agile, digital-forward workforce and robust business platforms ensure adaptive management is built into everything we do.
As a minority-owned company, we are committed to diversity and inclusion as the foundation of our corporate culture. Women make up seventy percent of staff and half of our executive leadership team. Forty percent of our staff and leadership team are from minority or historically under-represented communities.
We are an active member of the communities where we work and provide matching donations to employee-driven social causes. Our employees have top ranked Dexis in Glassdoor as a company with the best growth prospects among its peers.
