USTDA Senior Business Development Specialist at U.S. Embassy South Africa

Position Overview

• The Senior Business Development Specialist is a full-time Foreign Service National (FSN) Commercial Specialist serving as the in‑country representative and mission liaison for the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). The Specialist identifies, recommends, and tracks the progress of infrastructure projects supported through USTDA project preparation and partnership-building funding, with the objectives of advancing U.S. national security priorities, promoting U.S. exports, and supporting regional economic development.
• As USTDA’s country representative, the incumbent exercises substantial independent judgment in identifying, developing, and prioritizing strategic projects, and in formulating funding recommendations. The position also serves as a regional representative to USTDA senior management in Arlington, Virginia.

Key leadership responsibilities include:

• Leading USTDA business development within the assigned country or region, independently identifying and prioritizing projects aligned with U.S. government economic and national security goals. Developing complex activity proposals and contract packages and recommending them for senior‑level approval.
• Cultivating and maintaining high‑level relationships across U.S. and host‑country government agencies and the private sector to identify commercially viable opportunities and promote U.S. industry participation. Providing authoritative market intelligence and strategic guidance to inform USTDA program decisions.
• Serving as USTDA’s in‑country technical and program representative, working closely with headquarters leadership and interagency partners to manage project development, resolve implementation challenges, and ensure alignment with U.S. government priorities.
• Maintaining regular senior‑level engagement with host‑country ministries, including ministerial and vice‑ministerial offices, to advance priority initiatives and support the development of bankable projects involving U.S. companies.

Position Responsibilities
Project Evaluation 

• Project Recommendation: Evaluates prospective infrastructure projects in priority sectors, including transportation, energy, digital infrastructure, and critical minerals. Reviews proposals to assess viability, developmental impact, and U.S. export potential.
• Definitional Mission Coordination: Leads in‑country coordination of Definitional Mission teams for technical project reviews.
• Due Diligence: Conducts pre‑award due diligence in coordination with USTDA headquarters, including document review, issue clarification, and supplemental analysis.

Business Development & Marketing 

• Represents USTDA at regional conferences, workshops, and trade missions.
• Outreach: Develops and maintains networks across U.S. and regional public and private sectors to identify early‑stage project opportunities.
• Marketing Materials: Works with USTDA headquarters and U.S. missions to prepare briefing materials, marketing products, social media content, and press material.
• Counseling: Advises project sponsors and U.S. companies on USTDA programs and requirements.
• Provides interpretation support during official meetings as required.

Project Administration 

• Funding Approval: Drafts project memoranda to support funding decisions. Analyzes national security, developmental impact, financing strategies, U.S. export potential, and competitive factors. Coordinates with stakeholders to ensure compliance with USTDA criteria.
• Grants Administration: Manages a portfolio of contracts and grants, prepares and amends grant agreements, monitors project implementation, resolves issues, and evaluates outcomes in coordination with USTDA Headquarters and the Office of Monitoring & Evaluations.

Major Initiatives & Partnerships 

• Serves as the primary regional point of contact for USTDA initiatives and partnerships. Supports technical assistance programs requiring direct engagement in project development. Completes Contracting Officer Representative (COR) training and provides contractor oversight consistent with COR responsibilities.

Operational Management 

• Acts as liaison with U.S. mission administrative offices and USTDA headquarters on budget and fiscal matters. Oversees approximately $12 million in annual budget commitments and coordinates official visits by USTDA leadership.
• Provides guidance to regional locally employed staff on USTDA programming and funding requirements.

Note: This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by incumbent. Incumbent will be required to perform other duties as assigned by the agency
Qualifications and Evaluations
Requirements:

• All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a SBU security clearance.
• All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and may be subject to a pre-employment medical exam.  
• Selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time, 12 weeks, upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.

Education Requirements:

• A minimum of a master’s degree in business, economics, law, finance, and/or foreign affairs required.

Evaluations:

• You will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement.
• You may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test.
• You must complete the application form and provide the required documents. 
• Your application must address all the position qualifications and requirements including education, experience, language, and any knowledge/skills/abilities listed.  If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.

Qualifications:
Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in international economics, marketing, finance, trade promotion, or banking is required

Language:

• Fluent English (Reading, Writing, and Speaking) is required.
• Fluent in any other additional official South African Language (Reading, Writing, and Speaking) is required.

Job Knowledge:

• This position requires specialized knowledge of and experience with South African and regional business practices, government operations, and economic development needs, including laws, policies, and major infrastructure and industrial activities. The incumbent must have knowledge of the development and financing of infrastructure projects, including familiarity with public and private sector decision-making processes in the region. Knowledge of U.S. and host-country trade policies, export promotion frameworks, and international investment practices is required. Knowledge of the regional competitive landscape — including the presence of foreign competitors in key infrastructure sectors such as energy, transportation, digital infrastructure, and critical minerals — is required.

Skills And Abilities:

• The position requires demonstrated ability to interact directly with a network of high-level contacts — including senior foreign government officials and U.S. private sector executives — to assist with problem solving and respond to requests for detailed program-related information.
• The position requires advanced skills in independent planning and prioritization of work activities across multiple concurrent projects.
• The position requires a degree of innovation and creativity, using analytical judgment to propose new approaches and types of assistance that fit market conditions and client demands.
• Advanced proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation programs is required.

Deadline:9th November,2026