CARE seeks a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) to lead technical and operational implementation of the Highlands Resilience Activity (HRA) in Ethiopia. This procurement is expected to be a $60 million five-year cooperative agreement. The project will strengthen resilience among vulnerable households in Ethiopia’s highlands through increased public and private investments. The DCOP will guide implementation, focused on three key livelihood pathways: on-farm, off-farm and employment. The project will apply market systems approaches to improve: (1) on-farm crop and livestock income generation, (2) off-farm enterprise development (3) wage employment, (4) diet quality and quantity (and nutrition) and (5) collaborative learning for scaling and sustaining gains.
The DCOP serves as technical director, responsible for providing managerial, technical, and operational guidance for the activity. Primary responsibilities are to ensure that the program functions in line with technical priorities of the local structure and in line with USG regulations. The DCOP will work closely with Technical Advisors, the Finance Officer, Operational Manager, and the COP. The DCOP will also act as COP in their absence.
This position is contingent on award of donor funding. Ethiopian and international candidates are encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities
- Hire, coach and supervise project staff to provide high-quality technical support to consortium partners and ensure efficient, compliant project operations.
- Ensure that staff performance, including key performance indicators, are regularly monitored and measured against progress. Review staff performance on an annual and semi-annual basis.
- Provide technical and operational oversight, supporting Chief of Party (COP) to manage overall project, guiding technical and operations teams.
- Provide technical support for implementation activities and pathways of change.
- Assess and identify technical assistance and support needs for project components.
- Collaborate with COP to lead annual workplan development, reaching ambitious programmatic targets while managing operational needs and considerations.
- Coordinate with program managers to monitor and support partners and field office teams with work planning, implementation and technical assistance as needed.
- Represent project at coordination meetings to ensure effective coordination and linkages with other technical and operational managers.
- Represent the project in relevant fora related to key technical areas in consultation with project advisors and COP.
- Support networking and coordination efforts with government, private sector, and key stakeholders.
- Ensure efficient use of project resources, adherence to USAID and CARE standards, and compliance with USAID rules and regulations.
- Facilitate resolution of varying technical perspectives and challenges amongst partners and foster a healthy sense of partnership and collaboration within the team.
- Ensure that implementing partner and field office workplans incorporate existing commitments to donors and government.
- Ensure regular monitoring of implementation activities against existing workplans to ensure high performance; assess program technical quality with team, identify areas for improvement and elaborate corrective action plans as needed. Oversee donor reporting.
- With other senior members of the Consortium Coordination Unit, create and promote a productive, flexible, and adaptive learning environment.
- Monitor developments related to key technical areas including best practices within the country and internationally and promote their dissemination and adoption.
- Ensure that knowledge and learning are documented and widely disseminated.
- Provide technical input into Terms of Reference for annual assessments and research related to technical areas under supervision.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree or equivalent in Agriculture, Economics, or Rural development preferred. Applicable experience in the fields of food security, livelihoods and related work also considered relevant.
- At least 7 years of demonstrated experience managing operational, project management and administrative duties for the U.S. Government–funded projects or other internationally funded programs. Previous experience in food security, and livelihoods related activities in Ethiopia is an asset.
- Management skill in designing, managing, and implementing, monitoring and evaluation of donor-supported programs as well as technical skill in managing livelihoods and food security related activities.
- Technical leadership and program management experience in one or more of the following: market systems development, agricultural production and value chain development, income & livelihoods diversification, household access to finance, and resilience strengthening.
- Excellent representational skills.
- Demonstrated commitment to principles of Gender, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and PSEAH (safeguarding) as evidenced in previous management positions and programming.
- English fluency, reading/writing/speaking (Level IV) required.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
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