Save the Children (SC) is seeking an Interim Chief of Party (ICOP) for a 3-4 month period between October 2018 and January 2019 to support the startup of a USDA McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (FFE) in Sri Lanka. FFE provides daily meals to schoolchildren, reduces hunger, enhances food security, and improves literacy (especially for girls) in low-income, food-deficit countries around the world. By providing school meals, teacher training, and related education and nutrition support, McGovern-Dole helps boost school enrollment, attendance, and literacy results. McGovern-Dole also provides support to maternal and child nutrition (MCN).
Reporting to the Country Director, the Interim Chief of Party will actively lead the startup phase of the project, inclusive of finalizing USDA deliverable, creating and executing staffing plans, and facilitating the baseline evaluation. The ICOP will hire a team of experts and support staff, prepare reports and annual operating plans, align project initiatives with in-country priorities and ensure the program is compliant with USDA agreement terms and conditions.
- Lead in country project startup efforts, including staff recruitment, submission of Y1 USDA deliverables, baseline preparation, and annual work plan development
- Coordinate with other SC departments on drafting key personnel job descriptions and interviewing key personnel candidates
- Lead efforts to conduct school mapping exercise in preparation of the baseline
- Ensure high quality technical leadership and oversight is in place for the program
- Lead project level procurement plan with particular focus on Y1 needs
- Ensure that program team, and consortium partners are familiar with program design and targets agreed to in the performance framework;
- Lead team in ensuring proper coordination among local government, country-wide initiatives, community partners, NGOs and other key stakeholders;
- Ensure that relevant technical materials are made available and that appropriate dissemination takes place;
- Ensure good practice by supporting the development of strong M&E mechanisms;
- Ensure compliance with USDA regulations, and procedures, including compliance with Save the Children guidelines;
- Ensure compliance with all relevant administrative, human resources, procurement and financial policies and procedures of Save the Children and the donor;
- Represent Save the Children as the prime with partners and key stakeholders, maintain positive relationships with USDA, Ministry of Education and Health, and the Sri Lanka Country Team;
- Actively particpate as a member of the Country Extended Senior Managemnt Team (ESMT), contibutin to country strategic plans
- Establish, build, and nurture effective teamwork within the FFE team and ensure a cohesive workplace environment for optimum staff retention and motivation;
- Previous experience as Chief of Party, Senior Project Manager, or comparable experience managing large multi-sector US government funded projects
- 10+ years of management experience in education, school health and nutrition, social projects or a related field
- Experience living and working in the developing world
- Skills and hands-on knowledge on advising, mentoring and training program staff
- Familiarity with and commitment to addressing gender equality in programming
- Demonstrated skills in strategic and program planning
- Proven ability in promoting and collaborating closely with country governments, the community and donor counterparts at all levels
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team settings
- Excellent oral and written English communication skills
- Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution abilities
- Ability to communicate effectively with diverse actors and audiences
Preferred Qualifications
- USDA or USAID Food for Peace experience
- Experience in the design and development of training plans for institutional personnel
- Experience working in Sri Lanka or the region