Associate Specialist, Economic Delivery Team

Associate Specialist, Economic Growth Delivery Team

Salary Range: £33,500.00 To £45,000.00 Annually

The Economic Growth Delivery Team manages a diverse portfolio of donor-funded programmes and business development opportunities focused on economic growth, private sector development, trade, investment, market systems development, climate finance, and inclusive economic development.

The Associate Specialist supports delivery of donor-funded programmes and business development activities across the Economic Growth portfolio. Working under the guidance of Portfolio Leads, Project Directors and Bid Directors, the role coordinates project processes, supports financial and compliance management, contributes to proposal development, and helps maintain effective relationships with clients, partners and consultants.

The upper end of the salary range relates to the grade above the advertised position. Exceptionally strong candidates may be considered for appointment at this higher grade.

Candidates must have the ability to work in the UK without sponsorship to be considered eligible.

• Coordinate and support projects throughout the full award lifecycle, from mobilisation and implementation through to closeout, ensuring delivery against client requirements, contractual obligations, budgets, and project objectives.
• Serve as day-to-day point of contact for project teams, providing operational guidance, resolving implementation challenges, and escalating complex risks and issues with recommended solutions.
• Monitor project operational, financial, contractual, and compliance performance, and support implementing risk mitigation measures to support successful delivery.
• Coordinate project operations and administration, including consultant and staff documentation, procurement processes, deliverable tracking, contract administration, and timely completion of project requirements.
• Manage and monitor project financial processes, including budgeting, forecasting, invoicing, accounts payable, vendor and subcontractor payments, financial analysis, and budget modifications, ensuring accuracy and strong financial stewardship.
• Support strategic decision-making through preparing financial reporting, performance analysis, risk assessment, and recommendations to improve project performance and profitability.
• Draft and coordinate contractual documentation, approvals, contract amendments, subcontract modifications, and other client or internal submissions, ensuring compliance with donor and corporate requirements.
• Advise project teams, subcontractors, consultants, and partners on contractual, compliance, budgetary, and operational matters, drawing on knowledge of client regulations and DAI policies and procedures.
• Conduct project, contract, subcontract, grant, and operational file reviews to ensure compliance with donor regulations, internal policies, and record retention standards.
• Oversee project mobilisations and demobilisations, consultant recruitment administration, and other key operational transactions required for effective project implementation.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with project teams, technical specialists, corporate service functions, clients, consultants, subcontractors, and other stakeholders to support high-quality programme delivery.
• Contribute to portfolio-wide learning, continuous improvement initiatives, and knowledge sharing across projects and business units.

• Coordinate bids, proposals, expressions of interest and capture activities across the Economic Growth portfolio under the direction of the Bid Director or champion
• Develop and maintain proposal workplans, schedules and submission strategies to ensure high-quality and timely delivery.
• Act as Proposal Manager or Coordinator (opportunity dependent) on strategic opportunities, including managing the proposal workplan, tracking and assuring key deliverables and organising key internal review points.
• Coordinate technical, operational, financial and commercial inputs from internal teams and external partners, contributing to technical and commercial writing as needed.
• Support preparation of proposal pricing exercises, including budget development, cost modelling, assumptions and financial reviews.
• Coordinate proposal resourcing processes, including identification, recruitment and mobilisation planning for long- and short-term experts.
• Maintain expert databases, screen CVs, and prepare bios/CVs for…