Country: Ethiopia
Closing date: 08 Feb 2016
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. The IRC has been working in Ethiopia for over 15 years implementing direct programming in the areas of WASH, education, livelihoods, reproductive health, gender-based violence, and child and youth protection and development. Today, we provide services to approximately 405,200 refugees in 20 camps and more than one million vulnerable Ethiopians in seven regions.
Position Summary:
The IRC is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) for the five-year, approximately $30 million USAID-funded TRANSFORM: WASH activity. This project will encompass a set of innovative and strategic interventions targeting actions at different scales, with an overall goal of reducing under-five mortality, through increased use of WASH products and services to be achieved via the four interrelated objectives: 1) Increased WASH governance and management capacity at the sub-national level; 2) Increased demand for low-cost quality WASH products and services, with a focus on sanitation; 3) Increased supply for low-cost quality WASH products and services, with a focus on sanitation; 4) Increased knowledge base to bring WASH innovations to scale. The COP will lead a consortium of NGOs and other partners in managing and implementing all aspects of the project, providing overall technical, administrative, operational, and logistical management, with a focus on achieving the project's objectives/results. He/she will be the primary liaison for the project with USAID, relevant Government of Ethiopia Ministries, other donors and institutions, implementing partners, technical agencies and other stakeholders.
The COP will be responsible for managing and implementing all aspects of the project, providing overall technical, administrative, operational, and logistical management, with a focus on achieving the project's objectives/results. The COP will ensure implementation is in accordance with IRC and USAID regulations, liaising regularly with USAID agreement officers, technical support staff, sub-grantees, and implementers of other USAID-funded initiatives as required.
This position will report to the IRC Country Director and is contingent on the IRC being awarded funding. It is anticipated to begin in March 2016.
Specific COP responsibilities include the following:
- Provide overall leadership and strategic direction in all aspects of project implementation.
- Oversee project planning and quality assurance, including ensuring the quality and timely achievement of all deliverables.
- Manage a solid cooperation with partner organizations and government officials and represent IRC at relevant events in the field.
- Report to USAID through both formal and informal debriefings, annual and semi-annual reports.
- Maintain an on-going dialogue with the USAID AOTR and respond timely to AOTR's inquiries.
Ensure that the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all activities are in accordance with IRC standards and meet the goals and objectives of the target communities and USAID, in collaboration with the technical advisors and M&E units.
Oversee the Deputy COP as they provide financial and technical management to ensure the best use of resources by preparing sound budgets, monitoring project expenses and ensuring timely submission of financial reports to the donor;
Ensure that cross-cutting themes such as safe programming, do no harm, youth, and gender are fully integrated into the project.
Ensure that the findings of ongoing conflict and security assessments are continually integrated into project design and implementation, working with the Conflict Advisor and technical coordinators.
Provide oversight and consolidation of the project's financial management and reporting requirements, including the submission of timely and accurate performance and financial reports, working in collaboration with project Finance Manager.
Monitor budget utilization and ensure proper financial management and utilization of funds.
Coordinate with program and operations staff to ensure operational systems are in place to support project activities including logistics, procurement, security, and human resources.
Oversee implementation of a common monitoring, evaluation, and learning system among all partners and analyze the data it generates to inform project management, technical programming, and development of best practices and applied research, in collaboration with the technical advisors and the M&E unit.
Facilitate and document lessons learned and best practices within and outside of the consortium such that all participating institutions, USAID, and beneficiary communities may realize improved outcomes.
Organize learning and sharing opportunities between project-based and external stakeholders on a regular basis as appropriate.
Support project staff by creating and maintaining a work environment that promotes teamwork, trust, mutual respect, and empowers staff to take responsibility;
Required Skills:
- Technical proficiency in WASH program design, implementation, and M&E.
- Demonstrated experience managing similar projects in Ethiopia or East Africa, involving management of multi-million dollar budgets/portfolios and coordination with multiple programs and partner institutions.
- Demonstrated knowledge and application of conflict sensitive approaches within project design.
- Knowledge and prior application of participatory methodologies.
- Strong leadership, analytical and organizational skills.
Demonstrated ability to quickly assess priorities and effectively manage a variety of activities at a time while paying appropriate attention to detail.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact professionally with donor, project stakeholders, in-country collaborators and staff at all levels of the organization. Proven ability to convene/chair high profile meetings and ability to productively interact with a wide range of organizations (e.g. government, private sector, NGOs, and research institutions).
Skills in the area of results-based management and the use of M&E frameworks as a primary management tool.
Understanding of USAID procurement processes and procedures.
Strong MS Office skills, including Word and Excel.
Strong written and oral presentation skills in English.
Experience/Qualifications:
- Master's Degree in a relevant field.
A minimum of ten (10) years of senior-level management experience in the development sector, including at least five (5) years of experience in WASH programming in Ethiopia or East Africa.
A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible supervisory work experience including direct supervision of professional and support staff and assembling teams working on multi-faceted international development programs, including USAID experience.
Experience in the area of quality control and timeliness of deliverables, work plans, quarterly reports, and other USAID reporting deliverables.
Proven experience as a chief of Party (COP)/ Deputy Chief of party (DCOP) in the management and oversight of USAID-funded cooperative agreements and/or contracts of a similar size and scope with experience in strategic planning, management and supervision of projects, and budgeting of large, donor-funded projects.
Fluent in English.
How to apply:
Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=a2F0cmluYW1pbGxlci45Mzg1Ni4zODMwQGlyYy5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20