Position Description
EnCompass seeks Chief of Party (COP) candidates for a five-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID) monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activity to be based in Lusaka, Zambia.
The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Platform will provide USAID/Zambia with strategic and technical support to improve performance management and advance Mission learning. The Platform will provide technical, administrative, and programmatic support services to USAID/Zambia in the development, implementation, and evaluation of strategies and programs related to the Mission’s priorities.
The COP is responsible for overseeing the entire Contract, ensuring that the Platform completes deliverables, meets performance objectives, stays within budget, reports to and communicates with USAID appropriately, and remains aligned with the Activity’s objectives. This position will coordinate all activities, manage resources, and serve as the main contact for USAID. They are responsible for ensuring that the platform effectively supports USAID’s development initiatives, facilitates data-driven decision-making, and fosters a culture of learning and adaptation.
We are looking for someone who can facilitate learning and build relationships, with high political acumen and strong conflict prevention and management skills. They must be an inclusive leader, who can navigate change with flexibility and emotional resilience. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience focusing on results and impact, with strong strategic vision and an understanding of systems approaches to programming. They will understand how to foster a culture of continuous improvement and learning and will maintain high self-awareness and personal improvement skills.
The position will be full-time and be based in Lusaka, Zambia with travel throughout the country.
Position Duties and Responsibilities
The COP will lead the Activity, providing technical guidance to and supervising both international and national staff and consultants. The COP will be the primary point of contact with USAID/Zambia staff, including the Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer’s Representation (CO/COR).
Essential functions:
Administration/Management:
Serve as the main point of contact for the activity, providing vision, direction, leadership, and management for the contract.
Provide technical, operational, and managerial oversight to all aspects of the Activity to ensure all activities, and deliverables are executed with quality and timeliness
Establish and maintain highly collaborative working relationships with the Government of Zambia, USAID/Zambia and USAID/Washington as required, along with relevant in-country stakeholders; serve as the primary point of contact for USAID and as the principal liaison with USAID staff, institutions, and country partners to exchange information and develop professional relationships.
Manage the country team, ensure technical capacity of staff; provide technical assistance and backstopping when required
Ensure that all activities are undertaken in full compliance with EnCompass’ standard operating procedures, USAID policies and regulations, and national policies and laws
Ensure documentation and dissemination of findings, impact, innovations, and lessons learned
Ensure optimal use of human, financial, and physical resources to successfully meet project milestones, objectives, deliverables and targets
Technical:
Responsible for the overall technical direction of the activity, ensuring quality and timeliness of all deliverables
Promote sustainability of project activities with effective networking, linkages to other programs, capacity building of project staff, and institutional strengthening, as defined by USAID
<p “margin-left:=”” .25in”=””>Other:
Engage fully as a member of the EnCompass staff team, including participating in staff meetings and other EnCompass events, and providing administrative support to other team members as needed
Other duties as assigned
Position Requirements
Qualifications
Academic Qualifications
Master’s degree and 10 years’ experience in monitoring and evaluation, international development, or a related field
Experience and Skills
Minimum of 10 years’ experience in leading international development projects or comparable activities
Five years of experience respectfully and successfully managing a diverse staff team delivering complex operations and logistical functions, ranging from technical experts to management and budget specialists and support personnel such as drivers and logisticians.
Strong experience with evaluation standards and practices preferred
Experience working in performance management, strategic decision-making, and project learning
Experience building monitoring, evaluation, and learning capacities of USAID staff, implementing partners, and government counterparts highly preferred
Experience managing complex relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including host country governments at different levels; experience mentoring staff and working with international and national consultants and staff
Demonstrated leadership, strategic thinking/planning, management, and presentation skills required
Working knowledge of and experience with USG-funded program management, policies, regulations and procedures
Significant experience with USAID monitoring and evaluation policy and guidance required, including CLA practices.
Familiarity with USAID/Zambia Mission is preferred; local / regional candidates prioritized
Former supervisory experience required
Excellent communication skills in English
Ability to travel within Zambia, as necessary
Submit your CV and Application on Company Website : Click Here
Closing Date : 25th November, 2023.
