Have the right to work in Spain
DAI doesn't mention sponsorship in the ad.
Work in English
English is required, per the ad.
Have 15+ years of experience
Director-level role.
Master's degree
“Master's degree in economics, Public Finance, Law, International Development, Public Policy, or a related field.” — per the ad.

Requirements

What we're looking for

Minimum of 15 years of relevant professional experience, including substantial experience working with the EU and other donors on business development, proposal development, and strategic positioning. Master's degree in economics, Public Finance, Law, International Development, Public Policy, or a related field. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
Strong understanding of the EU Global Gateway strategy and its relevance to governance and EU accession and international development programming.
Established professional network across EU institutions, international financial institutions, development agencies, sector partners and relevant technical experts.
Demonstrated experience developing winning proposals, consortiums and technical solutions for complex donor-funded opportunities, preferably within the governance and EU accession sectors.
At least 10 years' experience in a leadership or management role, including responsibility for teams, workplans, delivery quality, and performance management.
Demonstrated experience managing budgets, multidisciplinary teams, and complex programmes or projects in dynamic, multi-stakeholder environments.
Excellent stakeholder engagement, client relationship management, partnership development, and business development skills.
Outstanding communication, leadership, influencing, and negotiation skills, with the ability to represent the organisation effectively at senior levels.
Strategic thinking.
Leadership and people development.
Financial acumen.
Decision-making and problem-solving.
Stakeholder management.
Results orientation.
Project and portfolio management.
Communication and influencing skills.

Nice to have

Professional working proficiency in a second language (Spanish or French preferred).
At least 5 years of supervisory experience.

The role

The Lead focused on Governance and EU Accession opportunities provides strategic leadership to expand DAI's portfolio in these sectors. The role is responsible for developing and pursuing a pipeline of governance and EU accession opportunities, expanding DAI's network of partners and consultants, strengthening DAI's market position, and raising DAI's profile with key clients and stakeholders. The Lead will drive early pre-positioning and business growth efforts, foster strategic relationships, and contribute to the development of innovative and competitive solutions.

Alongside business development responsibilities, the role will maintain close coordination with technical practice and delivery teams to ensure that DAI's business development approach is informed by current project experience, client priorities and operational learning. The Lead will engage across business development and delivery colleagues, supporting knowledge-sharing, strategic positioning and the development of technically credible and competitive solutions.

The role is not intended to provide direct project implementation management or delivery oversight. However, where appropriate and subject to project needs, contractual requirements and availability, the Lead may contribute targeted technical input to project implementation, including potential engagement as a Non-Key Expert.

This is a full-time permanent position. This position requires the ability to work in the relevant location without sponsorship.

What you'll do

Develop and implement the sector related strategy.
Align to DAI Business Development objectives with organizational priorities and business goals.
Identify growth opportunities, partnerships, and new business initiatives, supporting consortium development and partnering strategies.
Monitor sector trends and provide strategic recommendations to the Lead, Public Sector Clients, EU.

How you'll work

Able and willing to travel to any country where DAI currently operates, or may wish to operate, barring times when DAI Global Security has deemed travel unsafe.
Able to regularly work from DAI's local office or remotely in case of Spain.
Additional responsibilities as deemed necessary.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

Business Development Management & Coordination

Hands on day-to-day business development activity including efficient pre-positioning, proposal preparation and quality review of the final product.
Establish performance targets and monitor progress against agreed objectives.
Ensure compliance with organizational policies, contractual requirements, and quality standards.
Promote continuous learning between business development and relevant teams, helping to strengthen DAI's technical positioning and future growth. Maintain regular coordination with delivery teams, including participation in relevant practice meetings or project governance forums where appropriate, to stay informed of ongoing activities, identify opportunities to leverage DAI's experience and ensure proposals are informed by relevant project experience, client intelligence and operational learning.

People Management

Lead, motivate, and provide support to business development colleagues and contributors involved in relevant sector opportunities.
Set performance objectives and conduct performance reviews, in line with reporting arrangements.
Support workforce planning, recruitment, and onboarding for relevant business development needs.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.
Develop and maintain a network of specialist partners, consultants and technical experts across the governance and EU accession sectors, including donors and government counterparts
Raise DAI's visibility and reputation within the energy and climate sector.
Build strategic intelligence on client priorities, procurement trends, competitor activity and market developments, undertaking missions in the field when necessary.
Represent DAI at industry events, working groups and conferences.
Develop thought leadership and knowledge products showcasing DAI's experience and capabilities
Identify partnership opportunities that strengthen DAI's technical and commercial competitiveness.

Quality and Risk Management

Ensure delivery of high-quality business development outputs and services.
Identify and mitigate operational, financial, and reputational risks arising during the business development and proposal processes.
Promote adherence to quality assurance and compliance frameworks.
Draw on delivery learning from delivery team to strengthen proposal quality and reduce delivery risk in future opportunities.
Able and willing to adjust work schedule, as needed, to support teams located in different time zones/countries.

About DAI

DAI is a global international development consultancy headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. The company designs and implements projects funded by major donors such as USAID, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and the European Union, focusing on areas like governance, economic growth, health, and climate resilience. With a workforce of over 3,000 professionals working across more than 100 countries, DAI is a recognized player in the international development sector, known for its evidence-based approaches and long-term partnerships with governments and communities.

DAI has a significant presence in Spain, with an office in Madrid that serves as a hub for European Union-funded development projects. The company actively recruits international professionals with expertise in project management, monitoring and evaluation, and technical fields such as agriculture, public health, and governance. For international hires, DAI offers the opportunity to work on high-impact global projects, often requiring travel or long-term assignments in developing countries, while being based in a European hub like Madrid. The work culture emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to sustainable development outcomes.

Industry: International Development
Founded: 1970
Employees: 3,000–5,000
Headquarters: Bethesda, USA
In Spain: Madrid
Website: dai.com

Good to know if you are moving

DAI's Madrid office is a key hub for EU-funded projects, offering opportunities for professionals with experience in European development cooperation.
The company frequently hires for roles that involve international travel or long-term assignments in developing countries, which can be attractive for relocators seeking global careers.
DAI values multilingual professionals, with Spanish, English, and French being particularly useful for its European and African projects.
The company offers competitive benefits and a flexible work environment, though remote work policies may vary by project and location.
DAI is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks diverse candidates, including international professionals with specialized technical skills.

In their own words

Additional information

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

All open roles at DAI