Lead - Investment, Private Sector Development & Finance

The Lead focused on Global Gateway, investment, private sector development and finance opportunities provides strategic leadership to expand DAI's portfolio in these sectors. The role is responsible for developing and pursuing a pipeline of energy and climate opportunities, expanding DAI's network of partners and consultants, strengthening DAI's market position, and raising DAI's profile with key clients and stakeholders. The Lead will drive early pre-positioning and business growth efforts, foster strategic relationships, and contribute to the development of innovative and competitive solutions.

Alongside business development responsibilities, the role provides operational leadership across priority opportunities, ensuring high-quality outputs, effective resource management, financial sustainability, and achievement of organisational objectives. The Lead will work closely with bid, technical and implementation teams to support successful project delivery and contribute to DAI's continued growth and performance.

This is a full-time permanent position. This position requires the ability to work in Serbia without sponsorship.

Responsibilities 

 Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement the sector related strategy. 
• Align to DAI Business Development objectives with organizational priorities and business goals.
• Identify growth opportunities, partnerships, and new business initiatives, supporting consortium development and partnering strategies.
• Monitor sector trends and provide strategic recommendations to the Lead, Public Sector Clients, EU.

 Operational Management

• Hands on day-to-day operations and ensure efficient pre-positioning, proposal preparation and quality review of the final product.
• Establish performance targets and monitor progress against agreed objectives.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, contractual requirements, and quality standards.
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation within the Unit and beyond.
• Provide strategic and technical support the project implementation team, helping to strengthen delivery and quality project outcomes.

 People Management

• Lead, motivate, and provide support to the development teammates.
• Set performance objectives and conduct performance reviews when necessary.
• Support workforce planning, recruitment, and onboarding.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.

 Market Positioning & Partnerships

• Develop and maintain a network of specialist partners, consultants and technical experts across the energy and climate sectors, including donors and government counterparts 
• Raise DAI's visibility and reputation within the energy and climate sector.
• Build strategic intelligence on client priorities, procurement trends, competitor activity and market developments, undertaking missions in the field when necessary.
• Represent DAI at industry events, working groups and conferences.
• Develop thought leadership and knowledge products showcasing DAI's experience and capabilities
• Identify partnership opportunities that strengthen DAI's technical and commercial competitiveness.

Quality and Risk Management

• Ensure delivery of high-quality outputs and services.
• Identify and mitigate operational, financial, and reputational risks.
• Promote adherence to quality assurance and compliance frameworks.
• Able and willing to adjust work schedule, as needed, to support teams located in different time zones/countries.

Other

• Able and willing to travel to any country where DAI currently operates, or may wish to operate, barring times when DAI Global Security has deemed travel unsafe.
• Able to regularly work from DAI’s Belgrade office.
• Additional responsibilities as deemed necessary.

Qualifications & Skills

Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum of 15 years of relevant professional experience, including substantial experience working with the EU and other donors on business development, proposal development, and strategic positioning. Master’s degree in business administration, Economics, Finance, International Development, Public Policy, Engineering, or a related field. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• Strong understanding of the EU Global Gateway strategy and its relevance to energy, climate, infrastructure, and international development programming.
• Established professional network across EU institutions, international financial institutions, development agencies, sector partners and relevant technical experts.
• Demonstrated experience developing winning proposals, consortiums and technical solutions for complex donor-funded opportunities, preferably within the energy, climate, infrastructure or public-sector development sectors.
• At least 10 years’ experience in a leadership or management role, including responsibility for teams, workplans, delivery quality, and performance management.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets, multidisciplinary teams, and complex programmes or projects in dynamic, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, client relationship management, partnership development, and business development skills.
• Outstanding communication, leadership, influencing, and negotiation skills, with the ability to represent the organisation effectively at senior levels.
• Strategic thinking.
• Leadership and people development.
• Financial acumen.
• Decision-making and problem-solving.
• Stakeholder management.
• Results orientation.
• Project and portfolio management.
• Communication and influencing skills.

Preferred, but not required:

• Professional working proficiency in a second language (Spanish or French preferred).

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.

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.