Chief of Party, Cooperative Development Program

Location: Silver Spring, MD

Reports to: Sr. Director, Food Security, Economic Opportunity, and Climate Action

Please Note: This position is contingent upon award and USAID approval with an anticipated start date of October 2023.

Overview:

Global Communities works at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development, and financial inclusion to save lives, advance equity and secure strong futures. We support communities at the forefront of their own development in more than 35 countries, partnering with local leaders, governments, civil society, and the private sector to achieve a shared vision of a more just, prosperous, and equitable global community. We work with government, non-government, private sector, and community stakeholders to promote transparency, foster accountability, and access the channels they need to make their voices heard, promote change, and realize their full potential.

Global Communities is seeking a US or program country-based Chief of Party (COP) for the anticipated USAID Bureau for Democracy, Development, and Innovation Cooperative Development Program (CDP). This five-year program will enhance the enabling environment for and competitiveness of the cooperative sectors in two or more countries, with a focus on innovative applications of the cooperative model. The Activity will potentially support strengthening of coops, national and local government actors, cooperative federations and apex organizations, and other key stakeholders.

The COP will lead and oversee the overall implementation of the program, including technical strategy, financial and operational leadership, and human resources. We are looking for a passionate, dedicated professional to help us build the world we envision: one of expanded opportunity, where crises give way to resilience and all people thrive.

The COP is responsible for rapid start up, overall program implementation, strategic vision, and outcome achievement. The COP provides an integrated vision for the program and will manage a country project team(s) to ensure the quality, timeliness, and efficiency of all products and activities generated under the project. S/he will utilize the principles of adaptive management to maximize impact and facilitate innovation. They will be responsible for communications with USAID, for publicly representing the project, and for liaising with government and other institutions/stakeholders on issues related to cooperative sector development. As needed, the COP will also provide technical leadership/advisement on cooperatives to other Global Communities project and technical staff.

Specific responsibilities include the following:

• Provide program leadership, direction, and supervision, including oversight partners, and monitoring and evaluation, resulting in concrete and specific outcomes.
• Oversee and coordinate activities across a multi-country program, as required.
• Lead regular work plan, budget, and implementation reviews to facilitate the cost-effective and timely achievement of contract deliverables.
• Manage team members, including specialized technical staff, and consultants to deliver against the annual workplan under a clear delineation of roles and responsibilities. This will include:
  • Planning, organizing, and distributing the flow of work.
  • Establishing work plans and annual performance goals for each team member and making recommendations regarding employment, termination, performance, and other personnel actions.
  • Ensuring that corporate policies, procedures, and schedules are adhered to.
• Analyze budgets and provide relevant recommendations to HQ on budget expenditures.
• Ensure project activities maximize impact and are completed in compliance with USAID rules and regulations, local laws, and donor agreement requirements.
• Lead adaptive management, achieving peak performance and facilitate innovation while developing strategies to respond to changes affecting the program’s successful completion.
• Where possible, identify opportunities to engage partners and create growth, and connect actors to find mutual opportunity and benefit.
• Oversee the production and submission of timely activity and financial reports to USAID, effectively communicating project progress, achievements, challenges, and utilization of funds.
• Manage program offices, including property, finance, security, premises, vehicles and communications, traveling as needed to provide technical and operational assistance.
• Build and manage relationships and serve as the principal point of contact with other agencies and individuals working on related projects and activities. These will include:
  • USAID/Washington and USAID Missions in Guatemala and Kenya.
  • OCDC and other joint activities undertaken with other implementers under USAID’s cooperative development portfolio.
  • Local government, private sector, NGO, and implementing partners.
• Liaise with GC colleagues to coordinate the inputs of gender & inclusion, monitoring and evaluation and other advisory inputs to provide cross-cutting support.
• Represent Global Communities as a thought leader in the field of cooperative development and deliver conference presentations as required on behalf of Global Communities.
• Actively pursue opportunities to expand the cooperative development program, undertaking area assessments to identify needs and future program expansion opportunities.
• Lead and/or support HQ business development efforts to build on existing program opportunities and pursue programs with similar components to the CDP.
• Undertake all other duties and projects as assigned from time to time.

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a discipline related to international development, public administration, political science, or law with a minimum of 8 years of experience leading international development projects with increasing responsibilities and duties in fields related to cooperative development or,
• Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to international development, public administration, political science, or law with a minimum of 10 years of experience leading international development projects with increasing responsibilities and duties in fields related to cooperative development.
• Past experience as Chief of Party, or in another similar senior management position, leading implementation of international USAID programs, particularly related to cooperative development; experience managing programs with youth and gender components is preferred.
• Significant experience in activity design and implementation of economic development and/or livelihoods development program.
• Proven experience in a leadership position involving the administration of similarly sized, international donor-supported programs with skills in strategic planning, management, supervision, and budgeting is strongly preferred.
• Experience in hiring and supervising diverse personnel and ensuring when needed, staff training to meet program needs.
• Experience in budgeting, procurement, and accounting for grants and other activities.
• Fluency in USAID’s policies and procedures for USAID cooperative agreement financial management, reporting, procurement, and grants management.
• High level of interpersonal, technical, and analytical skills, including a demonstrated ability to interact effectively and collaborate with a broad range of public and private sector stakeholders.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of relevant USAID policies and strategies, including USAID’s Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy; Youth in Development Policy; and Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting Framework.
• Proven ability to communicate a common vision among diverse partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams is desired.
• Experience in Africa and/or Latin America is preferred.
• Languages: Full Professional Proficiency in spoken and written English is required, Spanish fluency is preferred.
• A passion for the mission and values of Global Communities.

Global Communities positively welcomes and seeks applications from all sections of society. We are committed to a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of everyone and offers equal opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

How to apply

Chief of Party, Cooperative Development Program in Silver Spring, Maryland | Careers at US, Headquarters (icims.com)

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