Deputy Chief of Party – Niger – Increasing Pathways to Learning Activity At Education Development Center

Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity. Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.

EDC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Project Description

The purpose of IPL is to increase safe and equitable non-formal learning opportunities for out-of-school youth, with a tailored approach for girls, to develop the foundational or vocational skills needed to transition into formal education or employment. The Activity will accomplish this through three objectives:

Objective 1: Increased access to safe, quality, flexible learning opportunities that strengthen youth participation in education and improve learning outcomes.

Objective 2: Educators are trained and equipped to deliver quality, safe, equitable and contextually relevant learning opportunities.

Objective 3: Parents, caregivers and community leaders can better support, value and ensure safe, equitable and contextually relevant learning opportunities.

Position Description

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) provides in-country technical and administrative support to the COP for the activity and will be responsible for compliance with USAID and EDC policy, including supporting overall financial administration of the project. This includes administration of project operations, forecasting and tracking field office expenditures, overseeing daily financial management, human resources, logistics and procurement. Additionally, the DCOP will oversee administrative and procurement staff. Responsibilities include:

Finance and Operations

• Direct and support the Finance, HR, Logistics and Procurement staff to manage all financial and operational issues of the project, to improve procedures, increase efficiency and provide the means to accomplish project goals;
• Monitor project spending, including quarterly analysis to identify over or under spending, bring any issues to the attention of the Chief of Party for action;
• Serve as a liaison with EDC Home Office Accounting to facilitate financial management processes including: contributing to preparation of cost to complete projections, providing guidance and oversight on project financial management, and participating as appropriate, in resolution of financial issues; and
• Ensure compliance and adherence to donor regulations and procedures including maintenance of internal controls, accountability of EDC resources for all financial and operational issues.

Management

• Take on role of activity lead during any absence of the Chief of Party;
• Mentor local personnel to develop capacity of staff and partners, including provision of regular feedback and training;
• Ensure that finance and operations staff work smoothly with technical teams to accomplish project goals in a manner consistent with policies and procedures; models collaboration with technical leaders; and
• Strong communication skills and demonstrated ability to support donor, partner and stakeholder needs.

Organizational Capacity Development

• Support activity partners to strengthen finance and operations systems;
• Provide technical support to activity partners in evaluating and refining current partner financial and operations management; and
• Support activity partners to ensure compliance and adherence to donor regulations and procedures including maintenance of internal controls, accountability of activity and organizational resources for all financial and operational issues.

The candidate for the position of Deputy Chief of Party shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:

Education:

Master’s degree (or Bachelor’s degree with equivalent professional experience) in management, business, accounting, finance, international development, education, or another related field.

Skills and Experience:

• 10 years relevant experience in leadership roles in education, development/humanitarian contexts;
• Demonstrated exemplary management, communication and interpersonal skills to ensure internal coherence among diverse team members;
• Experience establishing systems and overseeing program start-up and close-out;
• Overseeing multiple program areas simultaneously; hiring, training and supervision of local personnel; financial management including budgeting; tracking, reporting and accounting of finances and procurement, contract compliance, and subcontracting; and
• Prior experience in Niger or West Africa preferred.

Please note that this position is open to Nigerien nationals only. This is not a posted position.

Language:

Fluency in English is required. French is highly desirable.