Chief of Party (CLA) International Development Group Advisory Services LLC (IDG)

Job Description

Chief of Party

Zambia Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA)

Date: November 3, 2023

Position: Chief of Party

Reports to: IDG Home Office Project Director

Location: Zambia

Status: Expat

Period of Performance: TBD

Project Description:

IDG is currently seeking an experienced Chief of Party (COP) to serve on the USAID/Zambia CLA. The purpose of this activity is to enable data-driven decision-making and evidence-based CLA among USAID/Zambia and its implementing partners to improve program management and development impact.

Position Description:

The Chief of Party will be responsible for leading and managing the operations of the activity through high quality evaluations, assessments, analyses, monitoring support, CLA, data, and learning services. The COP will work closely with USAID/West Africa office, implementing partners-operated activities, host country, and other stakeholders to strengthen the Bureau’s long-term strategic direction and decision making.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide overall project vision, technical leadership, and management.
• Achieve program results efficiently, in a timely fashion and in compliance with USAID and US Government policies and procedures.
• Serve as the main point of contact for the contract with the USAID Mission, implementing partners, other donors, the host country’s government.
• Lead the delivery of adaptive management and Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) services for clients and stakeholders and model adaptive management within the project. Oversee the development of program strategies, work plans, MEL plans, as well as programmatic and technical reports to the client.
• Lead work planning, including contingency planning if necessary, and oversee the operations of the contract to achieve successful implementation of activities.
• Mentor local staff to enhance capacity and actively contribute expertise to the Contract overall and provide strategic and operational direction.
• Oversee project management systems for finance and administration, logistics, human resources, and strategic operation.
• Ensure the completion of timely reports, evaluations, analyses, assessments, and deliverables that meet USAID quality control/assurance standards.
• Ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the Contract.

Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a field relevant to development assistance, international affairs, education, public administration, or a closely related field.
• Minimum 8-10 years of professional experience working with issues related to education, education interventions, programming, capacity building, systems analysis, and project management of international development assistance programs, preferably those funded by the USAID.
• A record of programmatic accomplishment, professional achievement, management competence, interpersonal, capacity strengthening skills.
• Thorough technical knowledge of designing evaluations as well as monitoring, evaluation methods, and performance management, including, but not limited to, data collection and analysis, evaluation planning, evaluation design and management, and dissemination of evaluation results.
• Experience leading monitoring support programs and coordinating multi-implementer efforts is preferred. Specifically, demonstrated experience supporting USAID/Zambia and/or similar Missions in the region in strategic planning, project, and activity design, conducting monitoring, evaluations, and assessments, disseminating, and managing knowledge, and facilitating collaboration, learning, and adaptation across the portfolio is required.
• Must be familiar with USAID Program Cycle, project design, MEL and CLA best practices, and quality control standards.
• Experience working in the Zambia or South-Central Africa; and familiarity with the culture, society, and development context of countries in the region is preferred.
• Experienced in leading an intercultural team environment, including the professional development and technical capacities of project staff.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.