Market Development Fund (MDF) Manager

About Palladium

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 3,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.

Project Overview

The goal of the USAID Uzbekistan Market Systems Transformed (UMST) Activity is to enhance sustainable and inclusive economic growth by strengthening businesses and the business-enabling environment in targeted sectors, while addressing the barriers faced by women, youth, and underrepresented groups. This Activity has the following specific objectives:

• Objective 1: Reduced barriers to private sector growth in the ICT, tourism, and textiles sectors and green economy sub-sectors.
• Objective 2: Increased private sector investment and access to finance in the ICT, tourism, and textiles sectors and green economy sub-sectors.

Purpose of Position

Palladium seeks a Market Development Fund Manager to oversee the MDF, a blended grants and local subcontracts fund.

Duration

The USAID UMST Activity is projected for 5 years (September 30, 2023 to September 29, 2028).

Location

This position is located in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Reporting and Supervision

This position will report to the Director of Finance and Operations.

Responsibilities

• Manage the overall grant portfolio and ensure activities are on track to meet targets.
• Draft Annual Program Statements and Notice of Funding Opportunities to solicit MDF partners.
• Oversee the full lifecycle of grants and procurements in compliance with USAID and Palladium requirements.
• Coordinate with the Sector Leads to determine the most appropriate means of assistance to help high-impact small and medium enterprises (SMEs) access new international markets.
• Work with the Sector Leads to structure partner agreements/MOUs with firms that lay out respective roles and responsibilities, key milestones and targets, and data requirements.
• Ensure that gender, youth, and social inclusion are included in all MDF activities.
• Monitor grants implementation including work plans and budgets submitted by the grantees and manage the provision of funding to grantees.

Key Competencies Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (Finance, Law, Business, Economics, or Social Sciences).
• At least 5 years of experience working in managing USAID grants and procurements for development projects.
• Knowledge of USAID rules and regulations, contract procedures, and reporting requirements.
• Previous experience developing and implementing a Grants Management Manual.
• Financial acumen and the ability to interpret and analyse financial data.
• Fluency in the English language and strong written and spoken communication skills.

Application Deadline

This application will close on November 9, 2023.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion – Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at [email protected] and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding – We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.