Chemonics seeks a chief of party (COP) for the anticipated USAID Malawi Primary Education Teaching and Learning Materials Management activity. The activity aims to enhance the capacity of school community members and structures to ensure that primary school literacy teaching and learning materials are available in the schools and communities and are distributed, cared for, managed, and used appropriately. This position will be based in Malawi. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.
Responsibilities include:
- Provide overall direction, leadership, and management of the project to ensure agile program implementation and client satisfaction.
- Provide technical guidance, oversight of the design, technical implementation, and monitoring project activities related to enhancing the capacity of school community members and structures to ensure that primary school literacy teaching and learning materials are available in the schools and communities and are distributed, cared for, managed, and used appropriately.
- Ensure quality control and the overall responsiveness of technical assistance provided under the contract, including necessary adjustments to operations to match USAID requirements.
- Oversee strategic work planning, performance management, strategic communications, contractual and budgetary aspects of program management, and timely preparation of the annual implementation plan.
- Responsible for the overall and direct implementation of activities, and ensures all project technical assistance is high quality, technically sound and appropriate.
- Build and manage productive working relations with relevant government counterparts and entities and maintain effective coordination with other donor and international organizations’ activities and programs in the education sector. Includes establishing close working relationships with USAID and participating in relevant education coordination committees.
- Ensure compliance with USAID rules and regulations, local laws, and Chemonics policies and procedures.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for USAID and ensure compliance with all applicable USAID and host-country regulations.
- Provide general oversight of the project, including overall responsibility for the project’s operations, strategic vision, fiscal integrity, quality and timing of deliverables, and coordination with partners.
- Adheres to and champions all Chemonics values including Caring, Excellence, Innovation, Integrity, and Opportunity.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in development, management, or a related field required; advanced degree in education or governance is preferred.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience with at least five years of international development supervisory experience.
- Five or more years of experience working in sub-Saharan African countries preferred. Malawi experience also desired.
- Expertise in one or more of the following core areas: local systems strengthening, supply chain, teaching and learning materials development and management, youth and community engagement, data-driven decision-making, governance, foundational literacy and numeracy skills programming, and/or community capacity building.
- Experience and knowledge in establishing systems and overseeing program startups under time constraints is highly preferred.
- Experience with project management and prior experience as a Chief of Party required.
- Track record of progressive responsibility, including at least five years providing senior-level leadership (e.g., Chief of Party, Project Director, Deputy Director, Advisor, Component Lead, Team Lead, etc.) to programs of similar scale, scope, and complexity.
- Previous experience with USAID or other U.S. Government-funded programs strongly preferred.
- Strong ability to collaborate and build partnerships with host country governments, U.S. government agencies, donor agencies, and international organizations.
- Profession proficiency in written and spoken English is required. Proficiency in spoken Chichewa and/or other local languages preferred.
- Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and demonstrated ability to coordinate complex technical activities in high-paced work environments.
- Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity.