CHIEF OF PARTY- Mali At CARE USA

CARE seeks a Chief of Party for the anticipated USAID-funded Community-based Basic Education Activity in Mali. The purpose of this program is to improve early-grade reading and math skills of young learners (equivalent to grades 1-4) in the regions of Koulikoro, Sikasso, Segou, and Bamako District with a focus on improving the quality of instruction boosting community demand, and broadening safe, equitable formal and non-formal education services. The end goal is expanded access to educational pathways and improved reading and math outcomes, especially for girls and marginalized children.

This activity is expected to be a five-year program in the $25-50M range. The solicitation is expected to be released in May 2022.

The Chief of Party is accountable for the overall vision and leadership of the project and is accountable for delivering results. The successful candidate should possess considerable experience managing programs, financial, and operations of USAID- or other international donor-funded projects.

This position is pending donor approval and funding.

Location: Bamako, Mali

Primary Responsibilities:

• Oversee the completion of all technical requirements, including project results and deliverables, in accordance with the project work plan.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with USAID, project partners, and key stakeholders. Serve as the primary liaison among all project stakeholders.
• Manage the project’s operational, financial, and administrative priorities; direct the planning and budgeting processes. Create or adapt management systems in line with CARE’s standard operating procedures, ensuring consistency with project needs.
• Build partnerships among international, national, and community-level stakeholders.
• Design and oversee an annual project cycle in accordance with USAID’s annual planning cycles.
• With staff and partners, translate project goals and objectives into implementable strategies and plans. Oversee the preparation of quarterly and annual project activity reports, M&E (Monitoring & Evaluation) reports, and other deliverables, as specified in the agreement. Report on the project’s targets.
• Represent the project at high-level meetings, conferences, and other fora.
• Guide team members to fulfill the project’s strategic goals and objectives.
• Supervise and mentor senior staff, delegating responsibilities as appropriate. Clearly communicate expectations for staff performance.

Required Skills:

• Master’s degree in education, international development, business, or other relevant field or a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and 5 additional years of relevant experience.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience implementing complex projects in developing countries, at least 5 years in a senior leadership capacity.
• USAID experience serving as Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party.
• Experience in developing a project vision, aligning key stakeholders with that vision and ensuring that vision is translated into achievable strategies.
• Excellent public speaking skills tailored to diverse audiences and communication platforms, in-person and online.
• Previous experience with the culture and context of West Africa/Mali is strongly preferred.
• Proven exceptional leadership in the design, management, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of similar-sized international donor-supported programs, with skills in strategic planning and thinking, management, supervision, and budgeting, and experience managing complex activities involving coordination with multiple program partner institutions.
• Demonstrated skills in building and maintaining relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects, and stakeholders, including private sector stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.
• Experience recruiting, developing, and managing diverse, multi-cultural staff and teams.
• Track record of strong commitment to sharing knowledge, documenting experiences, supporting creative initiatives, and sharing credit.
• Experience managing required programmatic and financial reporting and compliance requirements.
• Fluency in English and French.
• Ability to travel within Mali as required and as the security and Covid-19 situations allow.