Chief of Party, USAID Food for Peace DFSA at Helen Keller International 121 views1 applications

Established in 1915 with Helen Keller as a founding trustee, Helen Keller International (HKI) is dedicated to saving the sight and lives of the world’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Headquartered in New York City, HKI currently conducts programs in 21 countries in Africa and Asia, as well as in the United States. Renowned for its reliability, efficiency and high level of technical expertise, HKI promotes the development of sustainable, large-scale programs that deliver effective preventative and curative services for nutrition, eye health and neglected tropical diseases. The hallmark of the organization’s work is its proven success in developing, testing and scaling-up health interventions, and integrating them within government and community structures to support and build local capacity and sustainable solutions.

Background

HKI started its programs in Burkina Faso in 1986 and opened an operating office in 1999. Currently, HKI implements a large and complex program focusing on nutrition and the control of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). HKI supports the government’s efforts in the fight against malnutrition by implementing a wide range of activities including Vitamin A supplementation, food fortification, school health and nutrition, prevention and management of acute malnutrition, enhanced homestead food production, promotion of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes and development of strategies to promote essential nutrition actions.

HKI seeks a Chief of Party (COP) to be based in Burkina Faso and lead an anticipated USAID Food for Peace (FFP) Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) program.

Burkina Faso is one of two focus countries, along with Niger, for USAID’s resilience agenda in the Sahel. USAID builds the resilience of vulnerable rural residents by:

• Strengthening the institutions and governmental bodies meant to serve them,
• Improving their productive opportunities; and
• Helping increase the capacity and accessibility of social services while ensuring access to more nutritious foods.
• Building on the many practices that Burkinabe have used to weather conflicts and natural shocks.

Functional Relationships

Reporting to the HKI Country Director, Burkina Faso, the COP serves as the representative and senior project management specialist for the USAID Food for Peace (FFP) Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) program. The COP will supervise the project team and work closely with other colleagues at HKI’s Africa regional office and headquarters. The position also requires close cooperation with the government of Burkina Faso, partner NGOs and key stakeholders, as well as with the donor.

HKI has a matrixed reporting structure that respects both the line management and authority within country office and regional hierarchies; and the accountability and oversight duties of subject matter experts at the regional and headquarters level. Regular communication and a spirit of team work among colleagues, both hierarchically and laterally are essential to make this structure thrive.

Scope of the Position

The Chief of Party is accountable for the overall vision and leadership of the project and is accountable for delivering results. S/he is responsible for the overall management and operations of the project and will ensure coordination with the donor and all partners.

This position will be based in Ouagadougou, with frequent travel to project areas.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership, management and direction to ensure successful implementation of the program and achievement of program objectives.
• Ensure that all technical areas of the project are integrated and delivered at high quality, making the most effective and efficient use of all project resources, in accordance with the project work plan.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with USAID, project partners, and key stakeholders. Serve as the primary liaison among all project stakeholders. Build strong collaborative relationships with Burkina Faso Government and civil society stakeholders at all levels.
• Oversee strategic planning and work plan and budget development, quarterly reporting and other requirements, including periodic “success stories.”
• Provide management expertise to foster technical and programmatic decisions in coordination with the HKI Country Director, Burkina Faso, and donor.
• Ensure program is well monitored, data collected, analyzed and reported to appropriate stakeholders.
• Ensure all program deliverables are successfully completed.
• Ensure that activities are implemented in compliance with the requirements of USAID and HKI rules and regulations.
• Communicate program results and create a supportive working environment.
• Mentor, manage and oversee performance of team members.
• Supervise senior members of the project team, including the Deputy Chief of Party, Technical Advisors, Finance and Administration Managers, and other staff as appropriate.
• Manage relationships with donors, beneficiaries, implementing partners and other stakeholders.
• Manage national level relationships with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, and other key GoBF partners.
• Represent the project at meetings and other functions with other cooperating agencies, collaborating partners, senior government officials and donor agencies.
• Work closely with the Finance and Administration Managers to develop and monitor appropriate budgets to support technical activities.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in development studies, agriculture, nutrition, public health or related field; plus
• Minimum of ten years of progressively increasing management responsibility in international development projects, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Prior experience managing USAID-funded assistance projects of a similar size and scope in developing countries; experience managing multi-sectoral projects including agricultural development and maternal child health and nutrition.
• Proven leadership skills, plus demonstrated experience recruiting, developing, managing and mentoring staff.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.
• Experience managing programmatic and financial reporting requirements. Experience with maintaining high levels of quality despite demanding reporting schedules and short deadlines for deliverables. Ability to review and ensure accuracy of complex budget and expenditure formats.
• Fluency in English and French are required. This includes excellent oral and written English language skills, including the ability to quickly synthesize complex technical and programmatic issues into concise communications and develop high quality reports.
• Computer literate in use of word-processing and spreadsheets; experience in statistical software, data analysis and interpretation is highly desirable.
• Experience working within the Francophone West African/Sahel development context is an advantage.
• Ability to travel extensively within the country and internationally, as required and as security permits.
• Understanding and demonstrated commitment to the importance of gender and youth issues in food security programming.
• Experience with two or more of the following types of programs is an advantage: WaSH, climate change/disaster risk reduction, livelihoods (farm and/or non-farm), maternal and child health and nutrition, or community resilience.
• Experience with one or more of the following cross-cutting approaches programs is an advantage: gender equity and female empowerment, youth empowerment, and social accountability and governance.
• An ability to work in challenging and changing environments, and to see through challenges to find solutions
• An ability to maintain balance when under stress.
• Demonstrable respect for all persons regardless of religion, ethnicity, class or gender, with a high comfort level working in a diverse environment with a demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards.

Employment is contingent upon USAID award. The initial contract is for two years with the possibility of renewal.

How to apply:

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected] noting the job title in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.