Save the Children is seeking a Chief of Party for an upcoming USAID-funded opportunity titled, Nutrition, Maternal & Child Health and Family Planning Program in Guatemala. This five–year cooperative agreement anticipated to start in late 2018 will focus on improving the provision and use of quality MCH and Family Planning services, with a goal of reducing preventable maternal and child deaths. A critical initiative will be to increase coverage and use of evidence-based, sustainable, high-quality reproductive, maternal and child health and nutrition (RMCH/N) and FP interventions at the household, community, and health facility levels supported by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
The Program will work closely with the Government of Guatemala, providing technical assistance to the MOH at the central and local levels to increase their capacity across communities in the Western Highlands region of Guatemala. This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.
- The Chief of Party (COP) will be the principal representative of the project, providing overall leadership for the work of Save the Children and partners. S/he will have responsibility for the overall management and operations of the USAID award, and will report to the designated USAID AOR for this project. The COP will also work with Save the Children’s existing country office in Guatemala. S/he will provide strategic and operational leadership to develop and implement a successful and integrated program that builds upon existing USAID and local government investments and that will achieve sustainable outcomes. The COP will ensure adherence to overall technical and programmatic quality in implementation, compliance with USAID rules and regulations, and the timely submission of all deliverables to USAID, including annual work plans, performance monitoring plans, semi-annual reports and annual reports as required.
- The COP will manage project implementation and ensure that all stated goals and reporting requirements are met. S/he will also be responsible for the overall coordination of the activities among USAID and key stakeholders. The COP will interact with all relevant government institutions and senior-level regional and sub-regional-level government officials on a regular basis.
- Experience managing MCH/FP/nutrition programs or programs of similar size and scope, ideally in LAC region; experience working in Guatemala is preferred.
- At least seven years of demonstrated technical experience as senior staff in at least two of the following areas: maternal and child health; family planning/reproductive health; nutrition; quality improvement/quality assurance; health system strengthening; M&E; and operations research.
- At least seven years’ experience in program management and administration, financial management, award contractual compliance, sub-award management, and tracking project performance and costs via specific funding streams.
- Experience managing large-scale USAID funded project(s) is critical for success.
- Demonstrated ability to create synergies and work effectively with government representatives, for-profit private sector entities, local community organizations, donors and other stakeholders, particularly at the sub-national level.
- Strong management skills, strategic vision, leadership qualities, interpersonal skills, as well as written and oral presentation skills to fulfill the diverse technical and managerial requirements of the project description.
- Proven ability to ensure gender and accountability integration in project design, implementation and M&E.
- Proven experience building the capacity of local NGOs and government bodies and collaborating closely with multi-level stakeholders.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in Spanish and English required.