Overview

Creative Associates seeks a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for an upcoming donor-funded project in Somalia. The DCOP will be responsible for programmatic aspects of the program in his/her geographic area of responsibility. S/he will ensure appropriate implementation of program strategy; ensure that procedures are established and complied with for activity development, activity worthiness, activity implementation, management, monitoring, evaluation, and closing; and be USAID’s primary point of contact for current information about activities. The DCOP will be responsible for ensuring the principles and practices from USAID’s Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy are integrated through LLS implementation. The DCOP must be able to travel between Somalia and Kenya.

Project Description:

The USAID/Somalia Locally Legitimate Stabilization (LLS) project will be the third iteration of mission-managed stabilization programming. Following in the tradition of preceding programs, LLS will be USAID/Somalia’s flagship stabilization program comprising a mix of early recovery interventions to immediately stabilize areas recently liberated from Al-Shabaab (AS) or other non-state negative actors. LLS will work with varying levels of local governance to increase confidence in government in areas deemed strategic by the United States. These interventions will be informed by a rigorous research component in LLS.

Reporting and Supervision:

Reporting directly to the Chief of Party (COP), the Deputy Chief of Party will support the COP in the management of the program and provide technical leadership and oversight, as needed.

Responsibilities

• Support the COP to ensure proper administration and implementation of the program components;
• Support the COP in managing the program team in an open and respectful manner, working with staff to build their competencies and capacity;
• Provide compliance control and oversight of the grant application, approval, implementation and closeout processes;
• Coordinate the organization and tracking of all grant and contract documents, oversee the online grants database, and monitoring overall grant expenditures by region;
• Support staff in oversight of program and office procurement and contracting procedures, supporting the adherence of these to Creative established policies and procedures, in keeping with USAID rules and regulations;
• Support the development of documentation and written materials relating to the program, including deliverables, reports, communications materials, and success stories as requested by Creative home office and the donor;
• Ensure that USAID’s principles and practices gender equity and social inclusion are integrated through implementation;
• Incorporate the program’s research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning components into program strategy and activity design and assist in monitoring program progress against the work plan;
• Facilitate knowledge management, communications and information flow for the program, including liaising with home office;
• Assist the COP and program staff in logistics and help solve implementation problems that arise in the course of achieving the program’s objectives;
• Serve as Acting COP as needed; and
• Respond to requests from USAID as needed.Qualifications
• Advanced degree in peacebuilding and conflict management, social sciences, international development, political science, law, or other related field or equivalent professional experience;
• At least seven (7) years of relevant professional experience managing and implementing peacebuilding conflict management projects with experience in the Horn of Africa preferred;
• At least five (5) years of supervisory experience;
• Previous experience in program or team leadership;
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage staff working in multiple locations affected by conflict;
• Demonstrated program planning and management skills and previous experience overseeing a grants portfolio;
• Experience with budget tracking and grant pipeline projections;
• Knowledge about how to address gender disparities and create opportunities for women’s leadership and participation within stabilization for optimal LLS results;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with communities, civil society, local government representatives and other stakeholders; and
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English.

Position contingent upon donor funding.

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