Associate Specialist, Project Management

www.dai.com; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 72,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

DAI seeks an Associate Specialist, Project Management to support the delivery and growth of international development programs, providing operational, financial, contractual, and compliance oversight across the lifecycle. The role collaborates with home office and field teams to ensure high-quality implementation and results.

This full-time position includes business development support, proposal pricing, and cross-country coordination, with authorization to work in the United States and

Qualifications

• 3+ years PM experience on donor-funded programs, incl. 1 year USG-funded.
• 2+ years of business development experience supporting capture and proposals.
• Strong administrative, analytical, and organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Willingness to travel to any country where DAI operates and adjust to different time zones.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Support projects from start-up through closeout.
• Serve as liaison to project teams, providing day-to-day guidance and issue resolution.
• Monitor risks across operational, financial, contractual, and compliance areas.
• Coordinate project staff documentation, procurement requests, and deliverable tracking.
• Process project financial transactions, invoices, and budget modifications.
• Support business development, proposals, and country/client intelligence.
• Build relationships with clients, subcontractors, and stakeholders.
• Share knowledge across projects and provide specialized support as needed.

Skills

Project management

Budget management

Financial analysis

Excel

USG contracting

Proposal support

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

ERP software

Job description

Position Overview

DAI is seeking an Associate Specialist, Project Managementtosupport the successful delivery and growth of a portfolio of international development programs. The Associate specialist will provide operational, financial, contractual, and compliance oversight across the project lifecycle, helping project teams manage risks, solve challenges, monitor performance, and ensure alignment with client requirements and DAI policies. Working closely with home office and field-based colleagues, they will contribute to high-quality project implementation and development results across multiple countries and regions.

In addition to project delivery responsibilities, the Associate Specialist will play an active role in business development by supporting proposal and pricing efforts, contributing country and client intelligence, engaging with partners, and helping position DAI for new opportunities. This role is ideal for a professional who combines strong project management skills with commercial awareness and enjoys working at the intersection of project delivery, portfolio management, and organizational growth.

This is a full-time position, which requires authorization to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

Project Management Support

• Support projects throughout the award lifecycle, from start-up and implementation through closeout.


• Serve as a primary liaison to project teams, providing day-to-day operational guidance, problem-solving support, and timely resolution of project challenges, escalating complex issues and recommended solutions as appropriate.


• Monitor operational, financial, contractual, and compliance risks, proactively identifying issues and recommending mitigation measures.


• Coordinate and oversee project operational and administrative activities, including management of project staff and consultant documentation, procurement requests, deliverable tracking, and ensuring timely completion of project requirements.


• Perform and monitor key project transactions and processes, including requisitions, vendor payments, accounts payable submissions, expense report reviews, and the mobilization and demobilization of staff and consultants for international assignments.


• Conduct reviews and audits of project, grant, subcontract, and operational files to ensure compliance with client requirements, DAI policies and procedures, and record retention standards.


• Build and maintain productive working relationships with project teams, technical staff, corporate services teams, clients, subcontractors, consultants, and other stakeholders.


• Contribute to cross-project and cross-portfolio knowledge sharing and provide specialized project support as needed.

Contract Management

• Draft accurate, complete, and well-written requests for internal and client approvals, coordinate submissions for contract and subcontract modifications, and coordinate all other requests for contract office support.


• Draft routine and advanced contractual documents efficiently using approved templates with limited or no support.


• Identify and synthesize moderately complex contractual issues and propose possible solutions to Portfolio Lead and project team based on a demonstrated, advanced understanding of client (such as USG, FCDO etc) contracting requirements and DAI policies and procedures.


• Monitor compliance with contract and regulations and escape issues with possible solutions, as needed.


• Advise subcontractors and consultants on basic and routine subcontract questions, budget, compliance, and operational issues.

Financial Management

• Review and process project financial transactions and monthly project invoices independently.


• Review and process consultant, subcontractor, and vendor invoices through DAI’s financial management system independently.


• Create and/or maintain project budgeting tool and coordinate data entry from project and home office with infrequent guidance.


• Support monthly financial analysis, quarterly forecasts, risk identification, and ad hoc financial troubleshooting and reporting as requested with limited guidance from the Portfolio Lead.


• Contribute to strategic decisions about project financial performance and draft analysis and recommendations for course corrections, as required or requested.


• Draft budget modifications with limited guidance.

Business Development

• Contribute to the development of a pipeline of opportunities for the portfolio and support capture efforts as needed.


• Serve as Proposal Coordinator or Proposal Pricer for proposals in their portfolio or other portfolios, as needed.


• Share country-specific information around client knowledge, partnering and local staffing.

Additional responsibilities as deemed necessary.

Qualifications & Skills

Minimum Requirements for P4:

• More than 3 years of relevant, professional administrative or professional experience in project management of donor-funded programs, including at least one year of project management experience of USG-funded programs, and a college degree. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.


• More than 2 years of business development experience, supporting capture and proposal development for donor funded projects or corporate clients.


• Strong administrative, analytical, and organizational skills, with demonstrated meticulous attention to detail.


• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and/or sensitive information with discretion.


• Demonstrated ability to manage ambiguity, take initiative and problem solve.


• Demonstrated flexibility in adjusting to changes in demands, new situations, or approaches.


• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including quantitative analysis using Excel.


• Demonstrated understanding of USG and other clients regulatory and management requirements and ability to apply and adhere to those requirements in project management.


• Demonstrated experience supporting U.S. government-funded budget management, such as building and maintaining pipelines and forecasts and supporting financial analysis.


• Experience or familiarity with record retention and administrative file management.


• Ability to work effectively in a team environment with limited direction.


• Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to communicate information clearly and tailor communication style to diverse audiences.


• Experience building and maintaining collaborative, respectful relationships with colleagues and external clients at all levels and from diverse cultures and backgrounds.


• Willingness to adjust work schedule as needed to support teams located in different time zones/countries.


• Willingness to travel to any country where DAI operates and the DAI Global Security team deems it safe for travel.


• Authorization to work in the United States.

Preferred, but not required:

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


• Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software and other data management systems.

Compensation & Benefits:

The full-time equivalent annual base salary for this U.S.-based position is expected to be between $71,667 to $77,991. Actual offers will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, qualifications, relevant education, experience, skills, seniority, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Eligible U.S.-based employees will be able to enroll in medical, dental and vision insurance, plus a 401(k)-retirement plan. Additionally, employees will be eligible for company-paid annual leave (vacation & holidays), sick leave, and parental leave, as well as short- and long-term disability coverage. Detailed information will be provided at the time a formal offer is extended.

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 and its employees are committed to confronting discrimination in all forms, nurturing respect for our interpersonal relationships, 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, ethnicities, 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.