Project Background:
Through the USAID/Honduras School-Based Violence Prevention Activity (SBVPA) locally named Asegurando la Educacion, DAI will support USAID/Honduras to implement innovations to address school-based violence (SBV) that impedes the delivery of education, and use education and school processes to contribute to violence prevention in target communities. As part of the USAID/Honduras Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) Development Objective 1, project activities will mainly focus on schools and communities in the municipalities of Tegucigalpa, San Pedro de Sula, La Ceiba, Choloma, and Tela.
DAI will assist Government of Honduras (GOH) institutions at the national and local levels, as well as schools, communities, civil society organizations, and vulnerable populations in the target communities to achieve the project’s four objectives: Improve school ability to reduce SBV through creation of safe learning environments; strengthen local networks that increase school safety; increase the capacity of the Ministry of Education and social protection actors to prevent and respond to SBV; and lower risk factors and enhance protective factors for students that qualify for secondary prevention services.
Role’s Purpose:
The Chief of Party (COP) shall provide overall technical and administrative leadership and expertise for this activity and will serve as the primary authority for all decision making related to this activity. He/she shall be the liaison with USAID/Honduras on management and technical matters. He/she shall be responsible for the overall management and implementation of the activity and report directly to the designated USAID COR. S/he will supervise activity implementation and ensure the activity meets stated goals and reporting requirements. The COP shall take a leadership role in coordination among USAID and key stakeholders, and other implementing partners. The COP position requires political savvy, as s/he shall interact with numerous GOH institutions and senior level national and county‐level government officials. The COP will be skilled and experienced. S/he shall have demonstrated strong leadership, management and technical skills as well as the ability to work in complex, politically charged, unstable environments, work across different cultures, and manage diverse teams to deliver impact within agreed timelines.
Objectives and Duties
- Responsible for producing annual and activity work plans as set forth in the project design, contract and deliverables schedule
- Serve as principal liaison with USAID, Government of Honduras, counterparts and community stakeholders on program communications and technical implementation activities
- Responsible for ensuring that project burn rate is on schedule through direct oversight of the financial management team
- Provide technical and intellectual direction and leadership
- Provide in-depth technical leadership in all technical areas as required to achieve project objectives
- Ensure seamless management across three offices
- Manage, lead and oversee all staff, consultants and subcontractors in achieving project result
- Oversee all financial and administrative matters
- Oversee the development, production, and submission of all project deliverables
- Oversee development and implementation of Monitoring and Evaluating Plan
- Provide timely and accurate reporting to USAID on all program areas
- Present findings in both written and oral presentations as required
- Coordinate program activities with other donors
- Liaise with DAI home office on program technical progress and overall management as needed
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in public administration, international development, Education Management or other social science or related discipline.
- Minimum 10 years of international development experience with relevant management, supervisor and technical experience working with program of a similar scope to this activity.
- Minimum 7 years of experience in a senior management or leadership role, i.e. Project Director, Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party.
- Minimum 5 years in education in crisis and conflict zones, citizen security, positive youth development, or a field that is directly related to school based violence prevention.
- Previous experience managing international development donor‐funded projects.
- Previous experience working with government systems related to education, governance and crime and violence reduction.
- Proven track record and experience in project designs, policy dialogue, strategic planning and implementation, of education in crisis and violence reduction through school settings.
- Strong communication and presentation skills. Excellent communication skills in English are required.
- Experience working in Latin America is required with experience in Central America preferred.
- Spanish level IV (Fluent) ‐ Reading/Writing/Speaking
- English level IV (Fluent) Reading/Writing/Speaking