Overview:
Location: Ramallah, West Bank
Please Note: This position is contigent upon award and USAID approval with an anticipated start date of September 2022.
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 seeks a Chief of Party (COP) for the anticipated USAID West Bank/Gaza Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Project. This five-year $30M program will empower Palestinians, in collaboration with non-governmental TVET institutions, to become more employable or entrepreneurial in the current competitive technical sectors. The Activity intends to develop new technical training while improving the quality and relevancy of existing programs and increasing youth access.
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 passionate, dedicated professionals to help us build the world we envision: one of expanded opportunity, where crises give way to resilience and all people thrive.
Responsibilities
The COP is responsible for overall program implementation, strategic vision, and outcome achievement. The COP works closely with the DCoP/TVET senior specialist to provide an integrated vision for the program and will manage a team of senior staff to ensure the quality, timeliness, and efficiency of all TVET Activity objectives and reporting requirements. S/he will utilize adaptive management principles to maximize impact and facilitate innovation. Finally, the COP will be responsible for communications with USAID, publicly representing the project, and liaising with government and other institutions/stakeholders on interventions generated under the Activity.
Specific responsibilities include the following:
- Provide program leadership, direction, and supervision, including oversight of staff, consultants, and partners, monitoring and evaluation, and program implementation.
- Support the DCoP/TVET senior specialist as s/he leads the implementation of technical interventions, resulting in concrete and specific outcomes.
- Lead regular work plan, budget, and implementation reviews to facilitate the cost-effective and timely achievement of contract deliverables.
- Manage team members, including highly specialized technical staff, to deliver against the annual workplan.
- Ensure project activities maximize impact and are completed in compliance with Global Communities, USAID rules and regulations, local laws, and donor agreement requirements.
- Lead in adaptive management, achieving peak performance and facilitate innovation.
- Wherever 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 and accurately communicating project progress, achievements, challenges, and utilization of funds.
- Meet program targets, as well as fiscal integrity of the use of program funds.
- Ensure establishment and maintenance of systems for project operations.
- Act as primary point of contact with USAID, government counterparts, and other critical in-country stakeholders.
- Provide input and quality control for written reports and oral presentations on the program.
- Represent Global Communities and overall program interests as necessary and appropriate.
- Build and maintain strong working relations with key internal and external stakeholders, beneficiaries, prime and subcontractors, suppliers, and partners. Provide effective and timely responses to inquiries and concerns.
- Identifies opportunities for public-private partnerships, develops and implements strategies for engaging the private sector and use these strategies to maximize project impact
- Foster good working relationships with other agencies working on similar or complimentary projects, maximizing visibility and learning.
- Be the principal point of contact with other agencies and individuals working on related projects and activities.
- Ensure that lessons learned are disseminated and applied.
- Liaise with GC colleagues to coordinate the inputs of gender and inclusion, monitoring and evaluation and other advisory inputs to provide cross-cutting support.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a discipline related to international development, economics, public policy, or another relevant field with a minimum of 10 years of experience managing multi-sectoral projects with increasing responsibilities and duties; or,
- Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to international development, economics, public policy or another relevant field with a minimum of 12 years of experience managing multi-sectoral projects with increasing responsibilities and duties.
- Five (5) years’ experience as Chief of Party, senior management position, or equivalent, leading implementation of large international donor programs particularly related to youth employment, workforce development and TVET, enterprise development, education and youth development, or related subjects
- 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.
- 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 counterparts and other key stakeholders.
- Minimum of seven years of experience in international development in demand-driven youth employment, workforce development and TVET, enterprise development, education and youth development.
- Minimum of seven years of experience initiating, developing and solidifying partnership agreements with employers and the business community, preferably in the MENA region.
- Experience in managing a systems approach, directly leading to sustainability of interventions and behavior change.
- Management/supervisory experience of large teams (15 to 20 staff members) with diverse technical experience required.
- Experience working with vulnerable youth populations in the Middle East required.
- Demonstrated knowledge and application of relevant USAID policies and strategies, including USAID’s Education Policy; Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy; Positive Youth Development Approach; Youth in Development Policy; Private Sector Engagement Policy and Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting Framework.
- Knowledge/experience with USAID rules and regulations required; experience managing USAID cooperative agreements preferred.
- Demonstrated experience and understanding of relevant local laws, regulations and policies is required.
- Proven ability to communicate a common vision among diverse partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams is desired.
- Evidence of effective communication skills, both oral and written, to fulfill the diverse technical and managerial requirements of the agreement is desired.
- Professional fluency in written and spoken English required, proficiency in Arabic desired.
- 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.