Education Finance Specialist, USAID, Center for Education

Dexis Professional Services is currently recruiting for an Education Finance Specialist under the Education Support Initiative II (ESI II) Institutional Support Contract (ISC). This position will be embedded within USAID's Center for Education in the Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships, and Innovation (IPI).

The Education Finance Specialist will provide technical support, manage education finance activities, and provide support in developing strategic partnership efforts of key internal and external stakeholders. The Specialist will work on key education finance priorities, developing a work plan aligned with the education finance strategy and in close collaboration with the Sr. Education Finance Lead. Additionally, he/she will closely collaborate with colleagues to deliver effective and efficient services to USAID regional bureaus and Missions through strategic guidance, training and programmatic support.

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET level security clearance.

Strategic Partnership Development and External Engagement Support

With guidance from the Sr. Education Finance Specialist:

• Liaise with the EDU specialists to expand internal and external collaborators' knowledge of noteworthy tools, knowledge products, dialogues, exchanges, professional development opportunities, and policy developments that can enhance and inform the successful implementation of financial sustainability in education programs.
• Support management of the Education Finance Network, a community of practice for diverse education stakeholders.
• Lead the development of strategic partnerships and alliances with relevant Center colleagues to develop, compile/stage, and promote education finance-related knowledge products and events that will increase the use of research and evidence in the design and implementation of USAID's education programs.
• Foster relationships with international partners (including GPE, ECW, NORRAG, WB, EOF, academic institutions, bilateral agencies, foundations, the private sector, researchers, and implementing partners) on the implementation of key education finance studies and initiatives, as appropriate, and in coordination with Center for Education colleagues.
• Lead strategic partnerships to bring together diverse stakeholders, including financial institutions, social impact investors, Family Offices, multilateral and bilateral donors, the Ministry of Education, and other key actors, to drive collaboration and innovation in education finance. Spearhead efforts to increase investment in non-state education sector by raising awareness of the challenges and opportunities within the sector.
• Participate in international conferences and deliver public technical presentations on a variety of topics related to education finance.

Technical Support Leadership

• Provide strategic technical leadership, in conjunction with multi-sectoral advisory teams to USAID education programs on design, implementation, coordination and analytical considerations of education finance-related programs.
• Lead the integration of Education Finance best practices and global lessons learned in the execution of USAID-funded activities.
• Provide 'just-in-time' support to USAID regional bureau colleagues and field Mission officers on the analysis, design, implementation, and promulgation of education finance-related research, training, and program design considerations.
• Build professional development, training, tool development, and technical assistance on evidence-based approaches in education finance.
• Participate in discussions and technical for a related to education finance.

Education Finance Portfolio Management and Reporting

• Support management of the education finance portfolio activities including: managing communications and partnerships across the Center and other Operating Units (OUs), regional and Mission-based Task Managers, as well as the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), providing oversight and technical support to Task Managers at region and mission levels, ensuring technical quality and rigor in activity designs and implementation.
• Ensure that the education finance portfolio has strong reporting for aggregation up to the Agency and Congressional levels, the impact of investments are tracked appropriately and that knowledge products convey the overall impact of the portfolio.
• Review and summarize professional literature on key education finance issues to identify and promote in agency policies, in research and learning agenda, and in pilot activities.
• Contribute to the development of reports, presentations, policy briefs and products that capture the evolution of the Agency's impact on education finance results worldwide and provide recommendations on using evidence on how to better mobilize and use finance in education to see better education outcomes.
• Provide support with taskers and briefers as related to education finance activities.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Support priorities, tasks, and work streams within the Center.

• Bachelor's and six years of professional experience or Master's degree and four years of professional experience required. Degree in Finance, Economics, International Education, or other related field required.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in research, writing and analysis.
• Proven experience in building and leading partnerships across sectors, particularly in education finance or related fields.
• Prior experience in public or private finance activities, with a preference in education.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills and the demonstrated ability to successfully and effectively liaise with people within and across departments in a diverse and inclusive environment required.
• Advanced skills in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and other products and applications intended for the sharing of documents and information among multiple team members required.