Background:
This position is located in the U.S. Global Development Lab’s (Lab) Center for Digital Development. The Lab is an organization established to harness the power of Science, Technology, Innovation and Partnership (STIP) to significantly accelerate the achievement of foreign policy and development goals. The Lab’s two part mission is: 1) produce breakthrough development innovations; and 2) accelerate the transformation of the U.S. development enterprise. The Digital Inclusion Advisor position is located in the Lab’s Center for Digital Development (LAB/CDD), with the goal of increasing Internet connectivity to disadvantaged and underserved communities. Increased connectivity provides the foundation for the digital tools and applications necessary in improving sustainable development outcomes.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent Digital Inclusion Advisor’s specific duties include, but are not limited to:
- Create greater inclusion and access to modern information and communications technology for those who are currently un- or under- connected to the Internet.
- Provide guidance to partner governments, USAID Missions, and other relevant stakeholders on the use of Agency resources in preparing laws, regulations, and national policies that support a safe, secure, open, and reliable information and communication technology (ICT) sector in emerging markets.
- Promote concepts around ICT related competition and investment while ensuring access and service reliability and quality for Agency beneficiaries.
- Advocate for a multi-stakeholder system of Internet governance and participation in global Internet institutions like the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) among USAID partner countries.
- Encourage participation in international standards bodies, and the adoption of inclusive international telecommunications standards.
- Lead private sector engagement efforts to foster and maintain digital inclusion and broadband connectivity cooperation, and move those partnerships from the awareness building stage to the operational stage through program cost share arrangements and other methods.
- Work with Mission and Bureau staff and implementing partners to successfully incorporate digital inclusion solutions into programs including identifying and facilitating the use of appropriate implementing mechanisms that best meet program needs, managing field support for such programs, and evaluating their implementation against stated objectives.
- Proactively provide expert guidance and resolve complex problems that arise during the design and implementation of digital inclusion programs, which may include the provision of technical assistance, embedded technical experts, industry association support, trainings, and/or workshops through USAID implementing partners.
- Advise USAID Mission and host country connectivity and last mile stakeholders on new innovation and technologies that bridge digital and gender divide.
- Meet regularly with Agency staff and partners to develop a deep understanding of their needs, interests, and experiences with digital inclusion programs and solutions.
- Participate in decisions to fund applied research about Digital Inclusion
- Incorporate findings from research and analysis into program and policy development.
- Identify and design new ways to leverage existing technologies and processes to further USAID development objectives including facilitating best practices for deployment and adoption of new connectivity technologies.
- Convene and participate in working groups with internal and external stakeholders to address issues with internet connectivity standards and processes.
- Build capacity within USAID countries of presence at the local level to support National Broadband Plan implementation in a sustained way. This might include, for instance, facilitating training and knowledge sharing at the state or regional level.
- Representing the LAB/CDD team in U.S. Government interagency collaborations on internet access.
- Support USAID Missions, LAB/CDD, and other USAID operating units with the implementation of USAID’s new Digital Strategy.
Required Qualification, Education and/or Experience:
- Requires a Master’s Degree and a minimum of 7-10 years of relevant experience.
- Must possess the ability to obtain a current "Secret" clearance.
Strong Skill-sets Needed:
- Listening
- Writing
- Editing
- Verbal Communications
- Teamwork
- Multitasking
- Organizing and Planning
- Project Management
- Cultivate and manage complex, multi-stakeholder partnerships
- Effectively communicate with diverse audiences including the technology community, policy-makers across government, and development practitioners and civil society
- Deep understanding of current and emerging internet technology solutions as well as related policy considerations
- Creative problem-solving capacity and desire to work in small, fast-moving team while also adept at navigating large, government agency
- Ability to plan, organize, and implement programs, projects, and activities involving substantial Agency resources, or that require extensive changes in established procedures
- Proven track record leading cross-functional teams across sectors and geographic regions
- The ability to influence and lead without authority are key to the success of this role
- Evidence of problem-solving skills and initiative
Place of Performance:
Washington, DC - Ronald Reagan Building (RRB). On-site support with limited telework.
Travel - Limited International and Domestic Travel
Here at The Kaizen Company, we find strength in our diversity. We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive working environment in which everyone has an equal opportunity to fulfill their potential. We know that we can only do development differently if we are open to and inclusive of new and unique perspectives. We encourage candidates of all abilities, ages, gender identities and expressions, national origins, races and ethnicities, religious beliefs, and sexual orientations to apply. Further, we urge parents and non-parents, married and unmarried, those from different or non-traditional educational backgrounds, and persons of all other diverse identities or experiences to apply. The Kaizen Company is an equal opportunity employer.
