Chief of Party At Borlaug Institute

The Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture is seeking candidates for an anticipated 5-year Ghana Youth Activity funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through a cooperative agreement. Per USAID, the Ghana Youth Activity: “under Youth Power 2 Annual Program Statement (APS) will support rural and urban youth in northern Ghana with a range of sustainable opportunities, tools, and support systems that enable them to improve their livelihoods, increase their abilities to contribute as both economically and socially productive individuals, promote peace, and become engaged community members. The activity will give special attention to the needs of girls, the disabled, and other disadvantaged groups.”

Position Summary

The Chief of Party (COP) will provide overall leadership, management, and strategic direction to this USAID-funded project in Ghana. The COP will be responsible for ensuring the successful implementation of the project’s objectives, compliance with USAID regulations, and achieving desired outcomes. The COP will work closely with key stakeholders, including government agencies, partners, and the donor, to drive project impact.

Responsibilities

Project Leadership and Management:

• Provide overall leadership and strategic vision for the project.
• Develop and implement project work plans, ensuring timely delivery of project activities.
• Supervise project staff, including technical and administrative teams, and foster a collaborative and productive work environment.
• Oversee project budgets, financial management, and resource allocation to maximize impact.

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership:

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with USAID, local government officials, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Foster collaboration and coordination among project stakeholders to achieve common objectives.
• Ensure compliance with all donor requirements and regulations.

Technical Expertise and Quality Assurance:

• Ensure the delivery of high-quality technical assistance and capacity-building support.
• Monitor and evaluate project performance, making necessary adjustments to achieve project goals.
• Lead efforts to document and disseminate project successes, lessons learned, and best practices.

Risk Management and Compliance:

• Identify and mitigate project risks and challenges.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and organizational policies.
• Implement a robust monitoring and evaluation system to track progress and impact.

Reporting and Communication:

• Prepare and submit regular project reports to USAID and the organization’s leadership.
• Communicate project achievements, challenges, and updates to stakeholders.
• Represent the project and organization at relevant conferences, meetings, and forums.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., international development, public administration, business, or a related discipline).
• A minimum of 10 years of senior-level experience managing USAID-funded projects, including experience as a Chief of Party or similar role.
• Demonstrated expertise in the technical areas relevant to the project (e.g., youth programs, education, agriculture, etc.).
• Strong leadership and management skills, including experience leading diverse teams.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective partnerships and relationships with donors and stakeholders.
• Knowledge of USAID rules and regulations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of local languages is a plus.
• Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s mission and values.

About the Borlaug Institute

The Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and Development leads international food security and agricultural development programs for the Texas A&M University System. Named in honor of Dr. Norman Borlaug – Nobel Peace Prize winner, “Father of the Green Revolution,” and faculty member at Texas A&M University for a quarter of a century – the Borlaug Institute continues his legacy of improving global food security, livelihoods, and resilience through applied agricultural science, research, and extension. The Institute’s mission is “To help elevate small-holder farmers out of poverty and hunger through agricultural science.” To this end, the Borlaug Institute:

• Provides agricultural technical assistance and extension in developing countries;
• Conducts problem-solving research to support food security, income generation, and economic development;
• Leads agricultural training in the U.S. and foreign countries;
• Partners with foreign universities to promote the land-grant model of teaching, research, and extension;
• Coordinates Texas A&M’s United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO)-supported programs, and
• Provides support to the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (WOAH, formerly OIE) U.S. Liaison Office based at Texas A&M.

Whether as the lead implementer or as a subcontractor, the Borlaug Institute has implemented numerous agricultural development and food security projects globally which in the last several years has exceeded $200M in over 50 countries thus making it one of the largest such university-based programs in the country.

More at https://borlaug.tamu.edu/