Mindseeker is looking for a Director (Infrastructure) to join the Mindseeker Team and support the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). MCC has contracted with Mindseeker for the provision of Personal Services Contractor (PSC) staffing to selected areas of the agency. The selected candidate will work as a PSC member of MCC's Infrastructure Practice Group within the Infrastructure, Environment and Private Sector (IEPS) Division, which is responsible for the development and oversight of MCC's infrastructure investments, private sector development programs and partnerships, and the environmental and social performance of all MCC projects. Mindseeker will be the employer of record.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Directs and performs a variety of assignments associated with the management and oversight of the design, development, and implementation of infrastructure programs and projects in MCC Compacts. In particular, prepares plans for Compact infrastructure programs and projects in development and in implementation including overall project scheduling, budgeting, change management, risk management, and project controls.
Directs and/or works as part of multi-disciplinary country team consisting of a combination of MCC staff, consultants and contractors overseeing country programs involving projects in one or more of the following infrastructure sub-sectors: transport, water supply and sanitation, water resources, and vertical structures, etc. Works on multiple countries concurrently.
Oversees and manages projects in context of complex political, environmental, social, and health and safety contexts or other variables and unknowns affecting planning, design and operational criteria and often present critical challenges with respect to costs and economics. Works with country partners and other sectors towards the optimal resolution of such challenges as well as satisfying the urgency or public interest of particular investments. Solutions to these projects often establish standards and are used as a model for future similar projects.
Provides expert advice and guidance to address project challenges and pro-actively proposes options to address them, to the extent feasible, consistent with the combined needs of other sector specialists - and provides status reports to senior staff, with an emphasis on completion, integration, quality and cost risks.
Leads the design and development of Compacts, including, but not limited to technical assessment of constraints analyses, concept papers, and proposals; collection and analysis of data and information to finalize proposals; coordination with consultants on feasibility assessments and on project appraisal; drafting portions of the internal investment memorandum and other decision documents, supporting such inputs with appropriate analyses and supporting studies.
Directs the formulation of budgets for consultants to be hired by MCC, drafting scopes of work, serving on evaluation panels, issuance of technical directives, review and acceptance of consultant deliverables, tracking billings, in support of the COR or Project Monitor or in the capacity of the Project Monitor.
Provides independent analysis and interpretation of performance data, while considering different input from other team members. Identifies and makes recommendations regarding performance and specification compliance issues. Identifies and investigates complex problems and conflicts in assigned area of responsibility involving program and project requirements, objectives, interfaces, operations, or schedules.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
Advanced degree (accredited Masters, Ph.D., etc.) in a relevant discipline.
10+ years of experience in planning, engineering design, construction, operations and maintenance of infrastructure programs in one or more of the following infrastructure sub-sectors: transport, water supply and sanitation, water resources, and vertical structures, etc.
Broad knowledge of other non-infrastructure factors (e.g., environmental, social, political, economic, monitoring and evaluation) sufficient to provide guidance and develop solutions to Compact development and/or implementation challenges.
Mastery of the concepts and application of current best practices of project management including principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance, etc.
Ability to interpret policies and best practices and provide advice and guidance on their application to development and/or implementation issues related to large, complex, multi-year infrastructure projects.
Ability to work cross-functionally and to integrate issues across a range of related disciplinary areas.
Exposure to international development context and cross cultural sensitively sufficient to be able to function with a view of contextual (environmental, social, gender-specific, or other) requirements which influence both the implementation and operational viability of investments in development contexts.
Ability to independently draft comprehensive reports to inform management of progress being made, as well as successes and concerns related to on-going infrastructure projects/programs.
Ability to effectively communicate engineering principles, concepts and requirements to peers but also to non-engineering specialists and other sectors so as to be able to effectively function within a multidisciplinary team.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to express ideas and make clear and convincing oral presentations (technical and nontechnical information) to individuals or groups.
Candidate must be a US Citizen.
Preferred Qualifications:
Professional proficiency in spoken French and/or spoken Portuguese.
Expert knowledge of the administration of FIDIC contracts.
Work Environment:
Candidate must be able to work in a hybrid office setting in Washington, DC.
The work is primarily sedentary, although some walking, bending, or carrying of light items may be involved.
International and/or domestic travel is required, which may include countries with limited infrastructure and physically challenging environments.
Suitability Requirements:
All employees supporting MCC must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, including credit and reference checks, prior to starting.
Current direct hire federal employees who are considering applying to this announcement should immediately contact your Agency Ethics Officer for post-employment counseling.
Selectee will be required to work directly with MCC's Office of General Counsel to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Form (OGE-450) due as a new entrant within 30 days of onboarding and then due annually by February 15th. Selectee is not requested to submit the Disclosure Form prior to the onboarding.
EEOC Statement:
Mindseeker provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
