USAID IDEA Technical Lead

Why Black and Veatch

Recognized by Glassdoor as a 2023 Top 100 place to work, Black & Veatch allows you to lend your talent and perspective to humanity’s biggest challenges in a flexible environment where you are empowered to grow and explore new possibilities. We offer competitive compensation; 401K match and benefits that start day 1. Our hybrid environment allows you to balance your work and personal life. 

At Black & Veatch, you own your career with purpose and meaning. You are empowered to grow and explore new possibilities at every step of your career journey. Bring your big ideas knowing you are safe to be who you are and speak up with concerns or questions and put your diverse talents and perspectives to use. 

The Opportunity

As the USAID IDEA Technical Lead, you will have the opportunity to:

• Assist partner countries to improve regional energy supply security, reliability, and efficiency  
• Advance energy sector investments in all segments of energy and water supply infrastructures 
• Support bankable projects in energy by providing technical assistance such as feasibility studies and transaction assistance to help them achieve commercial close
• Provide commissioning support (e.g., owners engineer) services (may be added by client if needed)

The Team

BV’s Governments & Environment business works to provide innovative solutions and integrated planning, design and construction support for mission-critical facilities, as well as threat reduction and environmental services support worldwide. By joining our business, you will be able to provide infrastructure for community benefit through regulated utilities and government agencies. 

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the technical aspects of the project, provide technical vision and, as a member of the Project Management Unit (PMU), provide guidance to the PMU on identification and proposed resolutions to project technical issues, challenges, and risks and providing technical recommendations to advance proposed projects from one task level to a higher level (e.g., pre-feasibility to full feasibility study). 
• Supervise BV technical staff responsible for diverse technical activities across multiple technical specialties and simultaneous project activities ensuring the Project meets all required targets and anticipated results. 
• Organize teams to develop, maintain, and report progress for all technical project schedules where the proposed project has advanced beyond the scoping phase (i.e., pre-feasibility, feasibility, transaction assistance, and commissioning support). 

Preferred Qualifications

• 20 years of relevant management experience in energy sector activities with a substantial portion related to project scoping, technical feasibility assessments, and commissioning support (owners engineer) for large (>$100M) , medium-size ($>20-100M) and small ($10 – 20M) capital investment projects
• Experience with managing large donor-funded technical assistance teams for energy sector projects (renewable power generation, combined heat and power, battery storage, transmission, distribution, cross boarder power exchange, and water resources) of similar scope, magnitude, and complexity, preferably on USAID projects
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical oversight and guidance on multiple projects in varying stages of development simultaneously across a diverse regional landscape
• Ability to travel for short-term periods to provide in country project technical assessments, progress monitoring, and attend team meetings and project events throughout the countries in the project scope
• Skilled at developing reports/presentations that clearly communicate technically complex ideas, concepts and recommendations for non-technical client meetings, stakeholder workshops and investor transaction support events
• Direct supervisory experience, including direct supervision of professional staff and building and effectively supervising a diverse team of employees and subcontractors  
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to hold technical staff accountable for quality outputs and results, communication with external stakeholders such as government officials, donors, etc.  
• Demonstrated organizational skills and strong track record in meeting deliverables and deadlines
• Demonstrated team building and management skills
• Competent with written communications, priority setting, planning, making presentations, delegation, directing others, informing, listening, dealing with ambiguity, customer focus, and building effective teams 
• Advanced degree in engineering or related field. Professional or Chartered engineer preferred. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• All applicants must be able to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (if selected) which may include any/all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.

Salary Plan

Job Grade