The Chief of Party (COP) will be responsible for the overall implementation of an expected 5-year, USAID-funded early grade reading project. The COP will manage the Deputy Chief of Party, Director of Finance and Administration, and technical team, with overall responsibility for overseeing coordination across results areas, coordination of decision making across key stakeholders, and supervision of partner organizations. S/he will have overall responsibility for the development of the vision, strategy, and technical direction of the project, leveraging home office technical specialists as needed to support project success. The COP will have overall responsibility in the areas of technical quality, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, operations, administration, logistics, procurement, budgeting, financial accounting, and overall client satisfaction.
- Responsible for daily oversight and direction of project activities to ensure project achieves its intended targets in a timely and cost-effective manner;
- Develop and maintain positive relations with Ministry of Education (MENFOP) officials and other government counterparts, USAID, local organizations and program partners.
- Provide technical expertise to project team as needed (literacy, materials development and distribution, etc.);
- Build capacity of public and private sector institutions and communities to ensure local ownership and sustainability of project activities;
- Communicate regularly with USAID to provide updates and progress reports;
- Oversee planning and implementation of project activities, including reporting, tracking of Performance Monitoring Plan, implementation of work plans;
- Supervise the recruitment, hiring, and supervision of all local staff and consultants.
- Minimum of 12 years’ experience managing complex international and donor-funded development projects, preferably with USAID;
- At least 8 years of experience in the education sector in francophone Africa required;
- Demonstrated experience in project design, policy dialogue, strategic planning and implementation, education reform and national-level quality improvement;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in French are required;
- Experience managing early grade reading programming is required (experience in teacher professional development and community engagement preferred);
- Must have demonstrated ability to work in complex, politically charged, unstable environments, work across different cultures, and manage diverse teams to deliver impact within agreed timelines;
- Proficiency in oral and written communication in English preferred.