Oxford Policy Management (OPM) seeks an experienced Chief of Party for the anticipated Transboundary Ecosystem Restoration and Climate Resilience in East Africa. The purpose of the Activity is to improve the conservation and management of transboundary resources in East Africa through a combination of technical assistance, capacity building, prevention of trafficking and community engagement. The activity will further USAID’s objectives around transboundary conservation, including promoting community conservation and stewardship, reducing threats to biodiversity, integrating conservation and developing and influencing key international policies.
The COP will be responsible for the vision and overall leadership of the team; serving as the program representative; liaising with USAID, local and national government, and other key stakeholders; and oversee technical and operational functions to achieve the project goals.
- Lead and manage the Transboundary Ecosystem Restoration and Climate Resilience in East Africa, by (a) providing overall strategic planning, leading a diverse team of technical and administrative staff, (b) ensuring that the team delivers to work plan and cost (c) designing MEL systems, and ensuring learning is fed back into the project.
- Serve as OPM’s liaison with USAID and work closely with USAID East Africa Program Office and key stakeholders including government, service providers and various public and private sector organizations
- Ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of high-quality technical assistance to USAID Mission, partners, and stakeholders and provide daily management and technical direction of the awarded activity.
- Ensure contractual compliance, HR and financial management of the project.
- Monitor progress activity strategies and ensure quality of control of deliverables produced by partners and external consultants.
- Coordinate with OPM country offices in East Africa and USAID counterparts to ensure a high standard of compliance with OPM, Host Country, and USAID regulations and requirements
- Postgraduate degree, Master’s degree or PhD preferably, in the field of political sciences, international relations or natural resources management, biological sciences, conservation biology
- Have a minimum of ten (10) years of specialized experience in the field of leadership and organizational development.
- At least 5 years of experience managing as a COP or DCOP USAID projects of similar scope in complex, sensitive environments, and knowledge of USAID programming rules and regulations
- Demonstrated management skills, including budget and personnel management, supervising team efforts, performance management, program planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, and achieving success in complex activities.
- Demonstrated experience and strong knowledge of transboundary conservation, community-led conservation models, capacity building, prevention of wildlife crime, and the ability to work with subnational institutions such as Forest Services to develop and implement project activities.
- Experience establishing and maintaining systems for managing project operations.
- Ability to maintain working relationships with all project stakeholders and engage in coalition-building and public-private partnership promotion.
- Strong oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
- Fluency in English (Written and oral).
