Job description
Project Overview And Role
Palladium seeks a Chief of Party (COP) for the anticipated USAID “Strengthening Agriculture and Regional Resilience (STARR)” activity that spans across all East African Community (EAC) countries (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda), and additional countries in East Africa (Zambia, Somalia, Sudan, Djibouti and Ethiopia). The STARR activity will promote increased agricultural production, investment, trade and resilience to shocks and stresses in the East Africa region by addressing agricultural issues that can mainly be solved on a regional basis. STARR’s interventions will be directed through four interrelated project component areas: 1) strengthening cross-border agriculture trade and value chains, 2) improved regional agricultural inputs, 3) strengthening resilience, and 4) strengthening the regional policy environment.
Purpose of Position
The COP will be responsible for the technical and administrative excellence of the activity. S/he will report to Palladium’s Home Office Project Director, and will serve as the primary contact for USAID.
Responsibilities
Lead technical direction and strategy development for implementation of the project (including drafting project work plans), and ensure an integrated vision across components and partners.
Ensure overall quality and cost effectiveness, and establish and maintain robust and adaptive knowledge management and M&E systems.
Ensure effective use of resources, on-time delivery of project activity reports and partner deliverables, and overall compliance with USAID regulations and Palladium policies and procedures.
Work with staff to recruit, hire and manage staff and consultants as needed to carry out activities.
Work in partnership with Home Office Project Director, engaging in frequent, routine communication so that the home office is aware of both progress and potential issues, and solicit assistance and input as needed to ensure that performance meets or exceeds technical and financial contractual requirements.
Manage subcontractors, both international and local, to ensure that their performance meets or exceeds technical and financial contractual requirements.
Serve as the key liaison between USAID, host-country counterparts, project partners, and Palladium.
Support implementation of Palladium’s security protocols and provide leadership in handling security-related issues. Address local staffing and personnel issues related to security.
Requirements
Master’s Degree or higher in economics, food security, regional trade, international development, agriculture, business, or in a closely related field is required.
A minimum of 12 years of experience working in international development, at least eight years of which have been spent in COP or Team Lead positions, preferably on contracts of similar size, scope, and complexity, dealing with agriculture, regional trade, resiliency, and economic growth.
Technical expertise in one or more of the following areas: agriculture, value chain development, market linkages, agriculture/rural finance, business enabling environments for agriculture/livestock, cross-border trade, or resilience.
Experience establishing and strengthening productive and collaborative relationships with government counterparts, local organizations, private sector, and other donor organizations.
Experience working for large donor organizations such as USAID required; knowledge of USAID contract management, policies, procedures, regulations and reporting requirements strongly preferred.
Strong leadership, program, organizational management and oral and written communication skills.
Prior work in the East Africa region is highly desirable, including work on programs focused on cross-border trade in the EAC region.
Fluency in English is required; knowledge of a local East African language would be an asset.
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