Objective 2 Lead, Advancing Digital Democracy Job Listing at Tetra Tech in Washington, DC (Job ID 2-39447)

Description

Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of digital development; monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically as well. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.

Proposal Summary:   

MSI is pursuing the USAID Advancing Digital Democracy program. The purpose of this activity is to foster open, secure, and inclusive digital democracies in which data-driven technologies advance, rather than undermine, democratic values and respect for human rights. It will offer to support and strengthen country-level and global multi-stakeholder coalitions that can identify opportunities for productive engagement, leverage incentive structures, and create shared language for tackling the most pressing issues in the digital age.

The program will provide support for partner-country stakeholders to spur rights-respecting digital innovation while addressing potential adverse impacts of technology and data across the digital ecosystem. The program will operate in politically closed spaces and robust emerging economies and will engage civic and private actors while tailoring support to leverage existing opportunities and address specific needs in particular countries. 

• Objective 1: Governments implement legal and regulatory frameworks related to technology data, and information that align with and fulfill their international human rights and democratic commitments.
• Objective 2: Respect for human rights and democratic values are embedded in the development and design of digital technology and data management.
• Objective 3: Civil society and citizens more effectively engage in democracy and human rights issues involving technology.
• Cross Cutting Objectives: (1) Engagement between diverse stakeholders and sectors is fostered and self-sustained; (2) Collaborative CLA feedback loops created and used to adapt the program.

Position Summary:  

In targeted countries, the Objective Two Lead will spearhead the technical direction for activities supporting businesses with the embedding of human rights and democratic values into digital technology development and design. This includes supporting actors adopting novel and innovative designs and business models along with transforming existing technologies into rights-respecting formats. They will also direct evaluations and assessments of existing digital practices across public and private sectors while supporting collaborative learning and adapting (CLA) feedback loops. 

Responsibilities:  

• Lead team of technical experts supporting activities increasing democratic and human rights elements within private and public sector technology sectors.
• Support local actors including universities to develop or strengthen curricula for ethical and rights respecting technology and business models.
• Support actors that adopt innovative new designs for rights-respecting technology and business models that embed human rights and democratic values into the product development life cycle and subsequent product management.
• Collaborate with local innovation hubs, local and regional technology companies, venture capitalists and related organizations to foster increased rights-respecting tech investing.
• Develop training programs for marginalized groups to gain skills and participation within technological design and development.
• Incorporate adaptive management into the design and implementation of activities including the application of lessons learned.
• Manage the project budget, including expenditures and allocation and/or reallocation of funds as necessary for the accomplishment of project goals.
• Ensure timely delivery of program inputs, deliverables and reports.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, computer science, science technology, international relations, political science, economics or a related interdisciplinary field with minimum of eight (8) years of experience supporting development activities (USAID-funded activities preferred). Master's degree preferred.
• Experience managing dynamic, flexible teams, preferably on global projects.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships across technical sectors including technology, cybersecurity and digitalization, in both the public and private sectors, to improve democratic practices and adherence to human rights standards worldwide.
• Experience with Collaborative Learning and Adapting (CLA) approaches and interventions, preferred.
• Experience in and knowledge of one or more technology industries, including telecommunications, cybersecurity, digital governance/democracy, digital finance, data ecosystems, and emerging technologies, in a public or private sector capacity, preferred.

At MSI Tetra Tech, health and safety play a vital role in our success. MSI Tetra Tech's employees work together to comply with all applicable health & safety practices and protocols, including health orders and regulations related to COVID-19 that are mandated by local, state and federal authorities.

MSI is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We strive to develop and maintain a culture that honors the perspectives and identities of our employees, our communities and those impacted by our work.  

We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.

MSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities/Veterans Employer.

Reasonable Accommodations: 

MSI is dedicated to hiring an inclusive workforce. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations during the application process, please visit Tetra Tech's Disability Assistance Page. Our recruitment team looks forward to engaging in an interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations for candidates.

Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

• Organization: 216 MSI