Summary: The Chief of Party leads, manages, and supervises a program's administrative, financial, technical and operational aspects in assigned country and provides overall leadership to the program. The Chief of Party ensures successful implementation of the program and other projects as necessary, and as requested, participates in efforts to develop new projects. Additionally, ensures vision and plans for the program are innovative and are in compliance with IRD and donor standards.
Essential Job Functions:
- Provides the highest level of strategic direction and leadership to ensure all project goals and objectives meet IRD's and the donor's standards and objectives;
- Ensures the strategy for capacity building of national staff to achieve project quality and to build sustainable national technical, administrative and management talent;
- Provides leadership and management for a fast paced and complex HR and Recruitment department with the objective of hiring the highest quality technical, management and administrative staff both expatriate and local with a minimal time to hire;
- Manages and leads staff, consultants and contractors to ensure efficient and timely implementation of project;
- Provides policy guidance, training and ongoing guidance to each of the office staff members;
- Conducts the project needs assessment for project implementation according to the contract;
- Ensures the timeliness, cost and quality of all activities performed under the project;
- Coordinates, oversees and ensures the quality of all training activities under the grant program;
- Liaises with the donor, regional and central authorities, other development organizations involved in similar assistance programs in the region, and local communities to ensure support, coordination and satisfaction;
- Prepares weekly and monthly reports to submit as needed and according to the contract requirements;
- Identifies new projects and makes recommendations as needed;
- Develops new proposals for additional funding in existing programs and for new projects in country;
- Prepares annual work plan and budget that identify key objectives, responsible staff, deliverables and potential roadblocks; and
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Skills & Experience:
- Master's degree or its equivalent in related field with 15+ years' experience in overseas development managing US Government (USAID, DOS, or USDA) funded programs;
- Demonstrated working knowledge of project development, grant administration and management procedures as well as a mastery of the principles, methods, practices, and operational procedures of a variety of successful private business enterprises, NGOs or development programs;
- Fluency in English and Portuguese;
- Prior Chief of Party or project management experience in Africa;
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- PhD or its equivalent in related field;
- Experience managing Feed the Future programs;
- Experiencing managing programs in ex-conflict countries;
- Experience in Southern Africa in international development programs;
- Strong background in agribusiness in Mozambique .
Success Factors:
- Must be innovative and resourceful in creating an awareness of new initiatives which respond to the needs and practices of project beneficiaries;
- Demonstrated ability to communicate, take direction, assume leadership, and make rational decisions while working remotely from country leadership;
- Ability to train and facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with various skill sets and work styles;
- High motivation, initiative, and adaptability;
- An ability to work successfully in remote and challenging settings with limited resources.
Travel Requirements:
Physical Requirements:
- Normal Office Conditions.
