Country Manager – El Salvador

Central America Regional Trade Facilitation and Border Management: Country Manager – El Salvador

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 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.

Background

The Country Manager (CM) for El Salvador will be based in El Salvador, and will work with the other two CMs (based in Guatemala and Honduras) under and with the Chief of Party (COP). The three individuals for these positions are expected to communicate clearly and effectively to develop and maintain positive relationships with counterparts, consultants, and collaborators. They will provide overall strategic direction for technical areas of the project in-country and will facilitate the achievement of program objectives and targets with management and technical support.

Reporting and Supervision

The CM will report to the COP.

Purpose of Position

Reporting to the main RTIA Task Order project office in San Salvador, the Country Manager will lead and coordinate project implementation as well as lead technical implementation of the project in their respective country. This includes ongoing strategic analysis of any opportunities within target sectors, and identification and leadership in the development of high-impact partnerships with businesses and institutions to address key business constraints that will unlock economic growth and trade investment. The Country Manager will lead coordination with the main office in San Salvador and across country offices/activities in other Central American Countries. They may supervise the project team in-country, both technical and administrative.

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

• The CMs will help manage the Activity’s implementation and will oversee its performance, management and operations.
• The CMs will lead and/or review and monitor programmatic functions, i.e. development of workplans and budgets.
• The CMs will attend and present at client, government, and partner meetings, events and conferences as appropriate.
• The CMs will oversee project administration and vendor/consultant engagements, in coordination with technical advisors and operations staff, to ensure timely contracting and highly quality execution of the agreed upon deliverables.
• The CMs will organize and support as needed project/program training, conferences, workshops, and meetings.
• The CMs will assist with high quality, timely and complete submission of work plans, financial reports, performance reports, etc.
• The CMs are expected to assist the COP in interacting with a range of stakeholders representing the national governments, regional organizations, the private sector, international donors and other USG Agencies.
  
  

Key Competencies Required

• Bachelor's Degree required from an accredited university in business administration, marketing, finance, international trade, economics, or related areas.
• No less than 5 years of relevant experience at a professional level in international business, especially in a developing country environment. Prior experience working in private business and economic development projects highly desirable, with at least three (3) of those years working in a supervisory position.
• Demonstrated experience in working with senior government officials, local authorities, and private sector executives to support a program’s objectives.
• Ability to analyze and advise on national trade policy making including customs and trade facilitation issues and private sector engagement.
• Previous experience implementing international cooperation activities.
• Prior experience with competitiveness assessments, monitoring and evaluation of donor funded projects.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Professionally proficient and fluent in written and spoken Spanish and English (FSI levels 4-4) required.
• Proven record of performing in complex areas of trade policy, trade facilitation, or private sector development.
  
  

Professional Expertise/Competencies Preferred

• Master’s Degree desirable from an accredited college or university in International Trade, Business
• Administration, Management or Trade and Investment related areas.
• Regional experience in Central America preferred.
• Experience in addressing gender gaps in economic growth projects preferred.
  
  

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 accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.