Overview
Location: San Salvador, El Salvador (or a designated project field office)
Reports to: Chief of Party
Please Note: This position is contingent upon award and USAID approval with an anticipated start date of October 2024.
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 Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for a five-year, $30M USDA McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition (McGovern-Dole) project in El Salvador. The key objective of the McGovern-Dole Program is to reduce hunger and improve literacy and primary education, especially for girls. By providing school meals, teacher training and related support, McGovern-Dole projects help boost school enrollment and academic performance. At the same time, the program also focuses on improving children’s health and learning capacity before they enter school by offering nutrition programs for pregnant and nursing women, infants and pre-schoolers. For over 21 years Global Communities has been a trusted USDA McGovern-Dole implementing partner with active programs in Central America and Africa.
Under the direction of the Chief of Party, the DCOP will provide strong project management and operational support in the implementation of the project. 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 responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Project Management
- Lead the development and management of the program activity budget.
- Ensure technical program team is fully informed of and remain compliant to HR, operations, and procurement policies and procedures.
- Ensure all program approaches have accompanying metrics to assess cost and benefits for each model implemented
- Conduct regular site visits to observe project progress, supervise data quality assessments and obtain feedback from participants and stakeholders.
- Use principles of adaptive management and data-driven continuous improvement processes and develop appropriate responses to solve challenges under tight deadlines while ensuring operational integrity and project impact.
- Build and maintain a sense of shared ownership and unified team effort among staff and local and international partners, as well as strong working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders within the Salvadoran Government at all levels; informal and civil society leaders and advocacy groups; project participants, subcontractors, suppliers, and partners.
- Work with senior staff to ensure that financial reports to USDA effectively and accurately communicate project progress, achievements, challenges, and utilization of funds.
Representation
- Assume the position of Chief of Party role when the COP is not available.
- Represent Global Communities and the project at meetings with multiple local stakeholders (other NGOs, government officials, private sector institutions, etc.) as needed and necessary.
- Ensure accurate and appropriate program information is shared with partners.
- Promote Global Communities’ values and ensuring that all project staff demonstrate these values.
Innovation & Program Quality
- Identify innovation opportunities to leverage technology to increase impact and reduce costs of project activities.
- Working with the Technical Specialists, supports development of program quality initiatives and manages their implementation.
- Working with the Chief of Party, technical specialist, and operations staff continuously identify ways to improve coordination, efficiencies and cost effectiveness of program implementation.
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field with a minimum of 8 years of experience managing multi-sectoral projects with increasing responsibilities and duties, and/or providing relevant technical expertise to such projects; or,
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 10 years of experience managing multi-sectoral projects with increasing responsibilities and duties, and/or providing relevant technical expertise to such projects.
- Experience in El Salvador required.
- 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 strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated skills in program management processes, tools and approaches, including continuous improvement processes and utilizing data for decision making.
- Experience working with officials in the government sector is strongly preferred.
- Knowledge/Experience with USDA rules and regulations strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to understand and comply with relevant local laws, regulations and policies is required.
- Strong understanding of the local context in El Salvador.
- Excellent representation and relationship management skills with government officials, donor entities, partner organizations, and civil society organizations.
- Fluency in Spanish (spoken and written)
- English proficiency (spoken and written) 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.
Global Communities holds strict safeguarding principles and has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. In the process of recruitment, selection, and appointment, Global Communities will conduct robust reference and background screening checks, including international vetting as a signature of the Global Misconduct Disclosure Scheme to ensure children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded, and abuse is prevented. The incumbent is required to carry out their duties in accordance with Global Communities Safeguarding policy and the Standards of Conduct.