Practice Area Leader, Education at Management Systems International, Inc. in Arlington, Virginia

Job Description:

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.

Position Summary:

The Practice Area Leader (PAL) will lead MSI's Education team and report to the Senior Vice President of Programs. The PAL will work collaboratively with the team's Technical Directors and Technical Managers and liaise with MSI's Operations Division, Business Development Unit (BDU), and other practice areas. In addition, the Education PAL will provide overall management oversight and leadership direction to the Education Practice Area. The position will maintain regular coordination with all Education Practice Area staff and their work to ensure adequate resources are allocated in order to complete deliverables. The position will also provide overall direction for areas of growth within the practice area and coordinate closely with the BDU.

Specifically, the PAL is responsible for (1) overseeing the technical work of field implementation projects and supporting effective operations; (2) ensuring the practice area is innovative and is associated with technical excellence; and (3) helping drive market and business development. The PAL also hires and oversees staff who are "home-based" in the Practice Area and supports their assignments, work quality and professional development. The successful candidate should have strong leadership skills, technical knowledge of and work experience in the international education field and strong analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities :

Overall work planning and execution:

• In partnership with the Senior Vice President, Programs, oversee the development and execution of an annual practice area workplan.
• Keep the Senior Vice President of Programs abreast of progress, problems and other important developments.
• Coordinate the Education practice area team to ensure high staff performance and satisfaction.
• Ensure projects are meeting deliverables and performing high quality work. Assist with problem solving on projects as needed.

Business development:

• In coordination with the practice area's business development focal point,
  
  
  • Develop practice area pursuit plans to effectively position and prepare MSI for anticipated solicitations and/or new areas of growth and new clients.
  • Ensure effective coordination with MSI's BDU in the lead up to and during the proposal preparation process.
  • Support 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 and drafting of proposals.
  • Seek and develop new clients for work in the practice area.
  
  

Thought leadership:

• Keep abreast of technical developments in the international education field.
• Gather market intelligence and apply it in practice area planning.
• Support staff in extracting learning from existing projects in the practice area and ensure learning is shared broadly across the PA and its projects.
• Help market capabilities and experience at conferences, seminars, presentations and in publications.

Team management:

• Support the professional development of staff, including the development of new tools, approaches, and innovations
• Coordinate to share staff resources with other relevant practice areas as needed.
• Support recruitment and hiring of new staff as needed.
• Conduct performance assessments at periodic intervals for staff and supply feedback on performance.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in international comparative education and undergraduate work in elementary and special education required.
• Minimum of ten years' experience working in international education required.
• Minimum of ten years' experience working with donors and partners to design and implement performance measurement assessments in developing countries.
• Experience leading donor funded projects within the education field; experience working with USAID essential and with other clients highly desired.
• Strong understanding of international education and development trends and key technical and financial partners.
• Previous experience working in Africa and the Middle East preferred.
• Experience supervising staff required.
• Ability to travel when required.
• Strong writing, analytical, speaking, and communication ability in English required.
• Strong writing, analytical, speaking and communication ability in French, Spanish or Arabic.

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.

Reasonable Accommodations:

MSI is dedicated to hiring an inclusive workforce. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations during the application process, please email MSI.Dept.HRRecruiting@tetratechinc.onmicrosoft.com with "Reasonable Accommodations" in the title. 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.Accountability, Civil Society, Decentralization, Democracy, Rights and Governance, Peace and Stability

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