Program Background

The Critical Infrastructure Digitalization and Resilience (CIDR) program is a five-year initiative managed by DAI Global LLC on behalf of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Bureau for Europe and Eurasia. CIDR focuses on enhancing cybersecurity resilience in the Western Balkans, Black Sea region, and South Caucasus, areas that have experienced increasingly diverse and sophisticated cyberattacks targeting sectors such as energy, telecommunications, and government services.

CIDR collaborates with partner governments and key stakeholders to identify cybersecurity gaps, establish priorities, and develop actionable strategies to bolster cybersecurity across critical infrastructure and key institutions.

Currently operating in Albania, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, CIDR provides comprehensive development assistance. This includes assistance for cybersecurity education and workforce development, cybersecurity assessments, governance frameworks, and facilitating information sharing on cyber threats, attacks, and mitigation strategies.

The overarching goal of CIDR is to elevate the cybersecurity standards of the region through country-led initiatives. By strengthening the defense mechanisms of critical infrastructure and key institutions, CIDR aims to ensure the continuity of essential services for citizens while enhancing overall resilience against cyber threats.

Overview of Job Description:

The Project Manager will be responsible for running the Cyber Pathways for Women (CPW) project and the Critical Infrastructure Cyber Security Working Group (CICWG).

The CPW projects objectives are focused on promotion of diversity and inclusivity in the cybersecurity workforce by addressing sociocultural barriers and stereotypes through targeted research, stakeholder engagement, and the implementation of strategic initiatives. This project aims to foster a more diverse cybersecurity workforce by addressing sociocultural norms and stereotypes that hinder inclusivity. Key challenges will be identified and gender-sensitive approaches developed using findings from baseline research. A network for collaboration will be developed through mapping national stakeholders and fostering partnerships with donor-funded programs. To ensure the efforts are sustainable a National Cyber Pathways Task Forces (CPTF) will be established and drive policy dialogues and reforms to prioritize inclusivity. To combat gender stereotypes, a social and behavior change communications campaign will be launched, alongside mentoring programs for women entering the cybersecurity profession. Additionally, the project will design and launch a “Business Advisory Technical Assistance” Facility to provide tailored support for industry engagement.

The CICWG is already active in Moldova modeled after similar ones in North Macedonia and Kosovo. It aims to bring together governmental entities, regulators, private sector representatives, experts, and NGOs to address cybersecurity challenges. Through regular meetings and thematic discussions, the CICWG will focus on policy development, workforce capacity building, threat information sharing, and cybersecurity exercises. It will inform CIDR’s broader objectives, including enhancing critical infrastructure resilience, increasing cybersecurity talent, and establishing sectoral Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs). The initiative seeks to coordinate efforts among diverse stakeholders and leverage donor support to address cybersecurity priorities effectively.

Responsibilities

CPW

• Strategic Leadership: Provide leadership and guidance to implement CIDR’s Cyber Pathways for Women (CPW) activity, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with public and private sector stakeholders, universities, and relevant entities in Eastern Europe to foster expert-level discussions on cybersecurity workforce development.
• Monitoring and Research: Monitor developments in cybersecurity professional development and women’s inclusion globally and in Eastern Europe, informing program strategies accordingly.
• Relationship Building: Establish relationships with universities and professional training programs to update curricula and encourage female participation in cybersecurity careers.
• Private Sector Engagement: Cultivate partnerships with the private sector to create internship and mentorship opportunities for women entering cybersecurity fields.
• Behavior Change Campaigns: Collaborate with stakeholders to develop behavior change campaigns promoting the visibility of women in cybersecurity careers.
• Policy Advocacy: Engage in public-private dialogues and policy discussions to advocate for reforms supporting the expansion of females in the technology and cybersecurity workforce.
• Knowledge Sharing: Collaborate with other donor organizations and implementers in ICT/cybersecurity workforce development to leverage best practices and knowledge sharing.
• Project Management: Ensure the achievement of technical objectives for the CPW activity, managing deliverables, and reporting on progress regularly.
• Capacity Building: Participate in designing CIDR’s evolving activities to incorporate workforce development issues, providing progress reports.
• Seminar Organization: Organize and lead seminars on women’s pathways into cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, or ICT careers, as appropriate.
• Resource Planning: Prepare and plan for short-term technical assistance as needed, and fulfill other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.

CICWG

• Coordination of Workplan: Develop and coordinate the workplan, ensuring alignment with project goals and objectives.
• Coordination with GoM: Liaise with Government of Moldova (GoM) officials to coordinate project activities. Ensure alignment with GoM’s availability and priorities.
• Identification of Responsibilities and Points of Contact (PoCs): Facilitate a meeting between stallholders and GoM to identify areas of responsibility and establish Points of Contact for ongoing coordination.
• Coordination of CICWG Meetings: Organize and coordinate the proposed CICWG meetings, including determining topics, inviting local stakeholders, identifying guest speakers, drafting agendas, and coordinating with GoM representatives.
• Logistics Preparations: Oversee logistical preparations for CICWG meetings, including arranging speakers’ travel and participation, booking venues, arranging equipment, catering, meeting hosting services, translation services, and printing materials.
• Coordinating invitations: Coordinate with GoM representatives to send out formal invitations to CICWG meetings. Communicate with invitees to confirm their participation in CICWG meetings, ensuring the presence of relevant stakeholders.
• Verification of Presentations’ Readiness: Ensure that presentations for CICWG meetings are prepared and ready for dissemination to participants.
• CICWG Meeting Facilitation: Facilitate CICWG meetings, ensuring smooth proceedings and active participation from all stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant field.
• 8+ years of work experience in ICT and Cybersecurity coordination, policy-making positions, Project Management, or relative areas.
• Large-scale project management experience preferred
• Fluency in Romanian and English is required.
• Experience working on USAID projects is preferred.