POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Deputy Country Director (DCD) for iDE Bangladesh will play a pivotal role in overseeing and enhancing the impact, quality, and strategic direction of iDE’s portfolio in Bangladesh. As a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the DCD will support the Country Director in leading program quality, operational excellence, and strategic partnerships, while also driving initiatives to strengthen the organization’s Market Systems Development (MSD) approach. This role is critical for ensuring that iDE Bangladesh remains at the forefront of innovation in the development sector, advancing women's economic empowerment, and fostering sustainable, market-driven solutions.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategic Leadership and Program Quality
- Support the CD in executing iDE Bangladesh’s strategic plan, ensuring alignment with global goals and MSD principles. Develop, refine, and oversee strategies that foster women’s entrepreneurship and sustainable, market-based solutions.
- Lead efforts to enhance program quality across iDE’s portfolio, establishing robust monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) frameworks. Ensure that programs deliver measurable outcomes and contribute to iDE’s mission.
- Champion and embed MSD approaches across all projects, leveraging the knowledge of MSD to build resilient systems that benefit communities and enhance market participation. Provide mentorship and guidance to teams on best practices in MSD.
- Lead the design and development of annual program strategies relevant to the country program, ensuring equitable participation from internal and external partners and stakeholders.
- Oversee the implementation of 10-year impact strategy focusing on empowering women entrepreneurs and driving community prosperity, aligning country strategies with the goal of impacting 100 million people by 2035.
- Supervise and manage the Program Quality Assurance function, ensuring all programs meet internal and external quality thresholds.
- Coordinate with iDE Global units to secure key technical and management support/services as required by the country program.
- Prepare and implement high-quality strategic solutions that are appropriate and complementary to government and donor development plans, while ensuring alignment with iDE’s Global vision and mission.
- Develop high-quality strategic partnerships relevant to iDE’s portfolios and priorities to augment the impact, reach, and scale of iDE’s programs.
Business Development and Partnerships
- Cultivate and manage relationships with donors, government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and partner organizations. Identify opportunities for strategic alliances that enhance iDE Bangladesh’s program reach and financial stability.
- Support the Business Development team by contributing to proposal development, project design, and donor engagement. Identify and pursue new funding opportunities to strengthen the organization’s portfolio.
- Represent iDE Bangladesh in high-level forums, conferences, and events, positioning iDE as a leader in the development sector and advocating for market-based solutions.
Operational and Financial Oversight
- Oversee program and operational systems to ensure effectiveness, efficiency, and compliance. Drive initiatives to streamline operations and improve project delivery.
- Work closely with the finance and operation unit to ensure strong financial oversight of programs, including budget management, cost optimization, and donor compliance. Support the SMT in implementing strategies to meet financial targets and address funding gaps.
- Identify and mitigate programmatic, financial, and operational risks, ensuring that systems are in place for accountability and transparency across the organization.
Team Development and Capacity Building
- Provide mentorship and coaching to program leaders, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous learning. Strengthen staff capacity in MSD, project management, and leadership.
- Set clear performance objectives and oversee regular assessments for direct reports, ensuring that team members are motivated, well-supported, and aligned with iDE’s mission.
- Lead efforts to enhance the skills and knowledge of the program and operations teams, with a focus on MSD, proposal development, and program management.
Organizational Development and Innovation
- Play a key role in iDE Bangladesh’s strategic planning processes, identifying opportunities for growth, innovation, and impact.
- Promote a learning culture by ensuring that lessons from program implementation are documented and shared across teams. Drive knowledge exchange within iDE Bangladesh and with the iDE Global network.
- Encourage and support innovation across programs, particularly in areas such as digital solutions, women’s empowerment, and climate resilience. Identify and implement pilot initiatives that can scale across projects.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL):
- Ensure that all programs are supported by robust MERL systems, enabling data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.
- Promote a culture of learning within the program teams, encouraging staff to share insights and lessons learned from program implementation.
- Oversee the dissemination of program results and learnings to key stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability.
- influence programming decisions and develop strategic partnerships with local organizations/firms.
Requirements
Skills and Experience:
Qualifications and Experience
- Education: Master’s degree in International Development, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.
- Experience:
- At least 10 years of progressive experience in international development, with 5 years in a senior management role. Significant experience with Market Systems Development (MSD) and women’s economic empowerment programs is essential.
- Expertise in MSD, women’s enterprise development, and program quality frameworks. Proven success in managing complex, multi-sectoral projects.
- Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience overseeing multidisciplinary teams and fostering a collaborative, results-oriented culture.
- Demonstrated success in business development, including proposal writing, donor engagement, and strategic partnerships. Familiarity with major donors such as USAID, UN, SDC, FCDO, and other key funders in the region.
- Strong budget management and financial oversight skills, with experience managing multimillion-dollar projects.
- Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to represent iDE at senior levels and engage a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Ability to work in dynamic environments and adapt to changing contexts. Proven problem-solving skills, with the capacity to make sound decisions under pressure.
- Language: Proficiency in English
BEHAVIOURS & VALUES
- Demonstrates empathy, humility, authenticity, and respect in the workplace
- Willingness to ask questions and seek feedback
- Excellent problem-solving and creative thinking abilities
- Ability to work independently and prioritize effectively
- Desire to work in fast-paced environment and across multiple time zones and languages
- Excellent verbal, intercultural and interpersonal communication skills
- Enthusiastic with a sincere interest in the mission of the organization
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those the employee encounters while performing the functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- Work is performed primarily in an office environment
- Approximately 30% time commitment for domestic and international travel may be required
- Normally required to see at far and close range, and communicate verbally through listening and speaking
Benefits
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary and benefits for this position are competitive and aligned with the national salary scale.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested candidates should submit their resume and a cover letter via Workable by December 20, 2024.
