Overview
Location: Skopje, North Macedonia
Please Note: This position is contingent upon award and USAID approval with an anticipated start date of December 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 is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) for the anticipated USAID Macedonia Youth Actively Create Opportunities (YACO) project. This five-year $7M million program will increase youth’s positive contributions to society and collective leadership through creating partnerships in support of economic opportunities attractive to youth; strengthening youths’ competencies for jobs, progressive careers, and civic life; and promoting values and experiences that underpin self-reliance.
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 provides an integrated vision for the program and will manage a team of senior staff 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. Finally, the COP 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 youth development, resource partnerships establishment, and other project related activities.
Specific responsibilities include the following:
- Provide program leadership, direction, and supervision, including oversight of staff, consultants, and partners, monitoring and evaluation, and program implementation.
- Ensure 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.
- Lead in greater coordination between stakeholders to achieve impact through collective action.
- 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.
- 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.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- 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.
- Demonstrated knowledge and application of relevant USAID policies and strategies, including Positive Youth Development Approach, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility, the Climate Change/Green Agenda, and the Innovation, Technology, Research framework.
- Knowledge/experience with USAID rules and regulations required; experience managing USAID Cooperative Agreements preferred.
- 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 fulfil the diverse technical and managerial requirements of the agreement is desired.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a related discipline with a minimum of 10 years of experience managing multi-sectoral projects with increasing responsibilities and duties in fields related to private sector engagement, workforce or skills development, entrepreneurship, or youth engagement; or,
- Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline with a minimum of 12 years of experience managing multi-sectoral projects with increasing responsibilities and duties in fields related to private sector engagement, workforce or skills development, entrepreneurship, or youth engagement.
- Expertise in implementation and management of youth development projects; experience with positive youth and women empowerment and engagement is preferred.
- Understanding of the country’s economic and political context.
- Experience in the Balkan Peninsula, with preference for recent work in Macedonia; experience working with youth populations in the Balkan Peninsula desired.
- 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. International NGO experience is preferred.
- Demonstrated financial, human resources, procurement, and administration competencies.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate and collaborate with a diverse set of stakeholders including private sector, public agencies, companies, youth groups, CSOs, and other development partners.
- Demonstrated experience and understanding of relevant local laws, regulations and policies is required.
- Management/supervisory experience is required.
- Fluency in speaking and writing in English and exceptional presentation and communication skills. Fluency in English required and proficiency in Macedonian is highly encouraged.
- USAID has a strong preference for a local Chief of Party, but it is not required.
- 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.