Technical Program Officer

JOB TITLE:                                    Technical Program Officer

REPORTS TO:                                Country Director

LOCATION:                                    Pristina, Kosovo

DATE:                                              Immediately

LEVEL OF EFFORT:                       Full-Time Employee (40 hours/week)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:       August 2023 to December 2024, with possibility of extension

ORGANIZATION & VALUES

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work.  DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

POSITION OVERVIEW

DAI seeks a Technical Program Officer to support the implementation of a five-year USAID-funded Critical Infrastructure Digitalization and Resilience (CIDR) program. The Technical Program Officer will support CIDR activities in Kosovo working closely with stakeholders in Kosovo, and regionally as requested.

CIDR supports the Governments of Europe and Eurasia countries (including the Western Balkans, Black Sea region, and Caucasus region) in assisting critical infrastructure entities to incorporate cybersecurity best practices into organizational operations, planning, and procurement; prioritize cybersecurity investment needs; select appropriate mandatory or voluntary standards and corresponding security controls; and establish the basis for region-wide cybersecurity information sharing. Through a regional approach targeting improved policies and legislation, information sharing, workforce development, and capacity-building, the program targets sectors such as energy (electric, natural gas, oil, district heating), water (transmission, distribution), transport, healthcare, finance, and telecommunications.

The Technical Program Officer will be responsible for supporting the day-to-day technical implementation of the CIDR activities in Kosovo. He/she will act as a bridge between DAI and project stakeholders in-country and be the primary point of contact for arranging meetings, activities, and forums in Kosovo.

The position requires a strong background in the administration and execution of donor-funded activities. Some familiarity with cybersecurity and broader issues related to ICT will be an advantage to applicants for this position. Essential to this role are excellent communication and coordination skills, experience in working with stakeholders of all levels of seniority and professional backgrounds, and an ability to ensure coherence and consistency of work in a challenging environment. The Technical Program Officer will work closely with other members of the team throughout the region and the United States.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Technical Assistance:The Technical Program Officer will support CIDR/Kosovo efforts to establish necessary cybersecurity policies, frameworks, and bodies. This includes overseeing consultants and partner resources by aiding in conducting entity-level cybersecurity audits, developing sectoral cybersecurity improvement roadmaps, capacity-building efforts, and drafting cybersecurity bylaws. The Program Officer will be the primary coordinator and facilitator for the Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Working Group (CICWG) meetings and will manage the preparation of meeting agendas and relevant materials, identify, and engage experts, and ensure effective collaboration with stakeholders.
• Procurement:The Technical Program Officer will collaborate closely with the program team to manage procurement processes aligned with the CIDR Kosovo work plan. This role includes identifying and engaging appropriate partners for technical assistance, capacity building, training, and infrastructure upgrades. This will require overseeing the technical deliverables of consultants and/ or partner resources during implementation. 
• Stakeholder Engagement:The Technical Program Manager will engage with stakeholders, including government agencies, critical infrastructure operators, donors, and other relevant parties, to ensure buy-in and support for the program. This will include assisting in organizing meetings, workshops, conferences, and other events to communicate the program’s objectives, progress, and challenges. 

OTHER TASKS

• Serve as point of contact for some local stakeholders, consultants, and partners working in Kosovo.
• Attend stakeholder meeting sessions relevant to CIDR, taking detailed notes for activities in Kosovo.
• Support and oversee the successful organization, coordination, and facilitation of the Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Working Group (CICWG) meeting sessions.
• Participate in event planning at various levels, may include agenda design, speaker engagement, logistical planning, meeting follow-up, etc.
• Support the drafting and development of program reports, workplans, monitoring and evaluation plans, and communications materials.
• Keep abreast of cybersecurity trends including existing and emerging cybersecurity projects, campaigns, or tools being used to combat threats.
• Other tasks as directed.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s or higher degree in information technology, international development, cybersecurity, or social sciences.
• At least five years of experience working in the ICT sector.
• At least two years of experience implementing donor-funded programs in Kosovo.
• Substantial experience working effectively with counterparts at various levels of government, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and other key stakeholders in implementation of international development assistance projects.
• Flexibility and willingness to support various activities in various capacities to ensure success of activities implemented by a small team. This may include administrative and operational duties.
• Experience in all stages of project management.
• Excellent communications skills (written and spoken) in English and Albanian.
• Ability to work with stakeholders of various cultural, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.

Preferred

• Experience operating complex programs in a dynamic working environment, with multiple partners and teams and U.S. Government-funded project experience.
• Existing working relationships with government entities, private sector cybersecurity operators, and/or other bilateral donors.
• Experience implementing cybersecurity technical aspects within international development programming.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• When needed, travel to countries in Europe and Eurasia will be required.

Submission Guidelines

Candidates should follow the below link to apply.