Associate Specialist, Project Management

Position Overview

DAI is seeking an Associate Specialist, Project Management to support 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.

• 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.

• 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 elevate issues with possible solutions, as needed.
• Advise subcontractors and consultants on basic and routine subcontract questions, budget, compliance, and operational issues.

• 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…