About Corus:
Corus International is the parent of a family of world-class organizations working to deliver the holistic, lasting solutions needed to end extreme poverty once and for all. We are a global leader in international development, with 150 years of combined experience across our brands. Our nonprofit and for-profit subsidiaries include Lutheran World Relief (LWR), IMA World Health (IMA) and its fundraising brand Corus World Health, CGA Technologies, Ground Up Investing, and Farmers Market Brands. Our employees around the globe are experts in their fields and dedicated to helping the world’s most vulnerable people break the cycle of poverty and lead healthy lives. Further details about the organization can be found at: https://corusinternational.org
Lutheran World Relief (LWR) has been strengthening the resilience of communities and governments in West Africa and globally for decades, enabling communities to recover more quickly, and help governments at the national and local levels prepare for and mitigate the impacts of disasters and climate change. Lutheran World Relief implements early recovery, risk reduction, and resilience (ER4) programming across the global, including in countries such as Burkina Faso and Nepal.
About the Job: LWR is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) to lead the BHA West Africa ER4 Activity. The 5-year project is expected to strengthen the abilities of individuals, communities, institutions and systems in Sierra Leone and Togo to prepare for natural hazards without losing development gains through 1.) increasing access to and use of multi-hazard early warning systems, particularly at subnational and community levels; 2.) supporting and enhancing disaster risk reduction (DRR) structures, including linkages between national and subnational/local structures; and 3.) strengthening and enhancing community resilience to predictable disasters. The COP will be responsible for the overall management and representation of the activity, providing leadership and overseeing technical and operational functions to achieve the program goal. They will serve as the primary liaison with USAID, other development and humanitarian partners working in Sierra Leone and Togo, the national and subnational governments in both countries, LWR’s headquarters, and relevant project stakeholders fostering collaborative working relationships. S/he will ensure the project’s goals, objectives, and strategy are achieved and that contractual requirements are met on time and within budget. S/he is responsible for directing the project team with an integrated vision, applying effective leadership and strategic planning skills, management experience, outstanding interpersonal skills, and strong written and oral communication skills. The COP supervises the day-to-day work of staff, oversees project implementation to ensure quality programming. The COP also ensures that all management systems, from technical to M&E to finance, actively support timely and accurate project reporting and cost effectiveness for successful implementation of the project. The COP also is responsible for ensuring compliance with Corus’s policies and procedures and USAID rules and regulations, including responsibility for ensuring sub-contract compliance and monitoring the quality of program implementation.
The position will be based in Togo and report to the Managing Director, Africa. Actual hiring is contingent upon signed agreement and USAID approval.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide overall management, strategic direction, and technical leadership to the project to achieve expected project results within budget and timeframe.
- Serve as principal liaison to USAID and the Governments of Sierra Leone and Togo, ensuring high levels of coordination, while nurturing relationships with key stakeholders, including community-based organizations, governments, and institutions at the national and subnational level.
- Liaise with USAID partners and other donors, as well as implementing partners and stakeholders, to ensure coordination of and harmonization with other relevant disaster risk reduction, early recovery and resilience activities in Sierra Leone and Togo.
- Lead project teams (e.g., technical, program, finance, and operational staff) to ensure program tasks, deliverables, and responsibilities are met; staff management includes hiring, supervising, and mentoring project staff.
- Strengthen the capacity of community-based organizations and local governments in disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness.
- Oversee project deliverables, including ensuring report preparation and high-quality timely submission, and ensuring cross-cutting issues are effectively integrated into the project.
- Direct preparation of annual work plans, project activity updates, and other project-related communication and reporting materials.
- Represent the project in all technical, policy, and programmatic fora at all levels (regional, national, and international).
- Ensure compliance with USAID rules and regulations.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in international relations, development studies, or related field.
- Minimum of 7 years of professional experience, with progressively increasing management responsibilities and duties in international humanitarian and development projects, with at least five years of experience in the field.
- Technical expertise in disaster risk reduction, resilience building, or humanitarian response and recovery. Strong understanding of national disaster risk governance structures, local and community level DRR, and the global humanitarian architecture.
- Demonstrated leadership qualities, including technical, management, and evaluation expertise for complex programs in resource-constrained countries. Prior experience effectively managing humanitarian and DRR activities in West Africa involving implementation by multiple sub-awardees, including local organizations, and demonstrated experience managing partners and overseeing implementation of activities remotely.
- Demonstrated experience in adaptive management and learning techniques highly encouraged.
- Extensive experience working in West Africa, with specific knowledge of the disaster risks, political, social and economic contexts in either or both Sierra Leone and Togo preferred.
- Knowledge of USAID policies and approaches to disaster preparedness and resilience, including at least eight years of senior-level management experience working on international donor agency-funded projects.
- Strong communication skills, including both written and oral presentation skills; proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among public and private partners.
- Professional oral and written proficiency in English and French required.
- Experience collaborating and coordinating with local and national host government agencies and aligning program activities and results with national strategies.
- Demonstrated experience building and maintaining relationships and working closely with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.
- Knowledge of and experience with USAID rules and regulations required.
- Demonstrated experience recruiting, developing, and managing staff, as well as experience in managing programmatic and financial reporting. An understanding and demonstrated commitment to the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility is required.
- Willingness and ability to travel to project sites in Sierra Leone and Togo.
More Information
- Job City Sierra Leone, Togo
