Deputy Chief of Party/Technical Director- USAID Reducing Plastic Pollution project At FHI 360

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in Health, Education, Nutrition, Environment, Economic Development, Civil Society, Gender, Youth, Research and Technology– creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today’s interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 60 countries, all 50 U.S. states and all U.S. territories.

We are currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Deputy Chief of Party / Technical Director for an anticipated multiyear USAID Reducing Plastic Pollution project. The program aims to reduce leakage of single-use plastics (SUP) and create an enabling environment for policy development such as extended producer responsibility (EPR) in coordination with a wide range of stakeholders (e.g. national and local governments, private sector, communities, NGOs and Academia).

The position will be based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the project to FHI 360 and final USAID approval of the candidate.

Position Description:

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP)/Technical Director will work closely with the Chief of Party (COP) in providing technical leadership to all project activities. S/he will be responsible for managing a multidisciplinary team of technical staff, ensuring smooth coordination and implementation of program activities that are of high quality and lead to measurable impact. The DCOP will be responsible for timely and adequate implementation of project activities, deliverables and execution, monitoring and reporting. S/he will ensure in-country compliance with FHI 360 policies and procedures and USG rules and regulations, as well as oversee sub-awardee compliance and monitoring quality of program implementation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leads and provides technical direction for project efforts that address factors driving the generation, disposal and management of plastic wastes in Vietnam
• Oversees the design, development, planning and implementation, and provides oversight and ensures technical quality of the project’s technical strategies and activities
• In coordination with the COP, supports overall project management while ensuring compliance with USAID requirements, U.S. government regulations, and FHI 360 policies and procedures
• Liaises with GVN, local government institutions, civil society organizations, private sector companies and other stakeholders to coordinate activities and facilitate monitoring and reporting of project objectives and achievements
• Facilitates the preparation of project deliverables, including annual work-plans, quarterly and annual reports, final project report and project activity updates, and other project-related communication and reporting materials in accordance with USAID deadlines and branding guidelines
• Supervises a multidisciplinary project technical team, ensuring clear roles and responsibilities and clear lines of communication.
• Manages strategic/technical engagement with consortium partners
• Collaborates with monitoring, evaluation, research and learning team and operations, compliance and finance staff in achieving program objectives
• Contributes to the design and support implementation of thought leadership activities
• At the request of the COP, represents the project at national and international fora, including technical and investment conferences, policy briefings, networking events, etc.
• Serves as the acting Chief of Party in the absence of the Chief of Party

Minimum Requirements:

• Master’s degree (preferred) or its international equivalent or higher in a relevant field of study, such as environmental studies, urbanism and environmental management, waste management, advanced materials recycling, governance and development, climate change
• At least 8-10 years of professional experience in a technical managerial role related to environment, pollution, waste management, governance or public policy in Southeast Asia, preferably in Vietnam
• Knowledge of and experience with policy advocacy with local government officials at the central and provincial levels, as well as experience working with NGOs, civil society and other stakeholders to implement policy advocacy to support strategy development, decision making and project implementation
• Proven experience managing and implementing large scale USAID and other donor-funded environment projects in complex settings, with specific experience working with government counterparts, international donors, and local organizations
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to plan, organize, and manage resources for successful completion of projects
• Fluency in Vietnamese and excellent oral and written communication skills in English