Chief of Party, USG Contract

Save the Children is currently seeking a Chief of Party (COP) for several exciting new USAID-funded contracts. The Chief of Party will report directly to the Country Director within each Country Office, with a dotted line supervision to the Technical Lead to ensure implementation of high impact, quality programming, and proven interventions that meet stated goals and reporting requirements.

These positions will be located within Africa, LAC and Asia and will be contingent upon donor approval and funding.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

The COP will be responsible for providing strategy, technical leadership, and overall management direction for the project. This person is also responsible for project input; program strategy; external representation and coordination with project counterparts, USAID, the local government, other donors within the sector; and other programs as necessary. The COP is ultimately responsible for compliance with the agreement results and the oversight of project activities which will meet the stated objectives of the project.

• Lead the project’s strategic, financial, and operational planning, including the annual work planning process and development of an appropriate exit strategy.
• Provide quality excellence across the activity in collaboration with government and other key stakeholders.
• Lead overall program planning, establishment of team structures, technical and operational approaches, infrastructure, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and feedback loops required for program delivery and success and submission of quality timely deliverables.
• Oversee the timely submission of all agreed deliverables to USAID.
• Develop and manage the program team, ensuring that adequate and appropriate capacity strengthening plans are in place.
• Lead the full project team and maximize the collaborative working approach and engagement with key stakeholders.
• Follow USAID’s Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) framework and set of practices to help improve program effectiveness throughout the program life cycle for design and adaptive management.
• Provide overall coordination of the institutional/organizational capacity strengthening of local NGOs and other key stakeholders.
• Build and strengthen relationships with government, donors, policy makers, key project stakeholders, technical and implementing partners.
• Lead partnerships and coordination within the consortium, as well as with external stakeholders as needed, to create the teamwork required for program success.
• Ensure that efficient systems to support all aspects of the project (including sub-contract management, financial, capacity building, performance monitoring and reporting and support services) are in place and support the effective use of project resources in compliance with USAID regulations and Save the Children policies.
• Identify and effectively manage all key risks related to the project, including compliance with donor transparency and due diligence requirements.
• Represent the project with USAID, government, donors, partners, and other key stakeholders supporting similar interventions.

Required Qualifications:

• Post-graduate education (Master’s or higher) in international development, business or related field;
• Prior experience delivering large-scale education/nutrition/child protection or multi-sectoral projects in size exceeding $10M over the life of contract, and complexity and demonstrated experience in management of large inter-disciplinary teams;
• At least five years of demonstrated experience in managing and supervising a technical team and in project design; prior experience managing USG contracts is critical.
• Experience in successfully establishing and managing collaborative relationships and partnerships with donors, CORs and government counterparts at the senior level;
• A history of productive involvement with local and national government systems, processes, and service delivery models involving community in developing countries;
• Detailed knowledge of OMB’s Uniform Guidance (2CFR200) and Circular A-133 as well as FAR and AIDAR. Knowledge of NGO legal requirements, policies and procedures;
• Demonstrated leadership in Project Cycle Management approach with skills in strategic planning and thinking, management, supervision, and budgeting;
• Demonstrated leadership abilities, problem solving skills, collaboration experience, creativity, and willingness to innovate;
• Prior experience as COP or Deputy COP is ideal;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to lead and work effectively in team situations;
• Strong working familiarity with USAID regulations and policies;
• Fluent oral and strong analytical, written English communications skills are required;
• Fluent oral and strong analytical, written French and Spanish communications skills are preferred.

Why you should join the Save the Children Team…

Save the Children US offers outstanding benefits that include health, dental, vision and life insurances, pet insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program, 403(b), generous vacation, personal sick leave, family leave, parental/adoption leave, commuter benefits, dress for your day, and much more.

Click here to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in YOU!

About Save the Children

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

*Our work for children and their families requires that we commit—at every opportunity—to work together to identify and dismantle persistent systemic and structural racism, inequality, and any other forms of discrimination in this country and beyond. As an anti-racist organization, Save the Children will not tolerate discrimination in any form—in our employment practices, amongst our staff, in our leadership or toward the people we serve. We stand in solidarity with all people to fight for equal rights, justice, inclusion, and belonging.*

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children’s policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at the risk of any kind of child abuse. All our representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.