Chief of Party – ADRA DRC

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency is a global humanitarian organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that demonstrates God’s love and compassion. ADRA works with people in poverty and distress to create just and positive change through empowering partnerships and responsible action.

The successful candidate must understand, respect and honor the mission, purpose and identity of ADRA.

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SUMMARY

ADRA International is seeking a Chief of Party (CoP) for an anticipated USAID/BHA–funded Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The project aims to reduce and prevent chronic malnutrition in the regions with severe, chronic food insecurity and malnutrition. For over 20 years, ADRA has implemented relief and development activities in DRC with funding from major international donors, including USAID. As CoP, your strategic vision, leadership, and adaptive management will deliver results while expanding ADRA’s position as a leader of food security programming in DRC. You will have overall leadership and management responsibility for the implementation of the project and be the key decision-maker for solving problems and ensuring the success of the project. You will report to ADRA International and to the ADRA country office as needed.

This position is contingent upon receipt of funding and requires donor approval.

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PRE-REQUISITES

Required

• Advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in development studies, international relations, agriculture, nutrition, public health, business administration, or related field; two additional years of applicable experience can substitute for a master’s degree.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively increasing management responsibility in international development projects, with at least at least five years of senior project management experience directly supervising professional and support staff; previous experience as a Chief of Party or Deputy Chief of Party is highly desirable.
• Proven leadership skills managing projects of a similar size and scope in developing countries, including experience effectively managing USAID development activities.
• Demonstrated experience recruiting, developing, mentoring, and managing staff, as well as experience managing programmatic and financial reporting.
• Experience managing consortiums and relationships with international and local partners at the field level.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.
• Expertise in food security technical sectors, monitoring and evaluation, and financial management.
• Understanding and demonstrated commitment to the importance of gender and youth issues in food security programming and within staff and management of the activity.
• Demonstrated experience in adaptive management and learning techniques is highly encouraged.
• Mastery of USAID/BHA rules and regulations.
• Written and spoken command of English and French languages.
• Experience managing USAID cooperative agreements.

Preferred

• Knowledge or understanding of social, economic, cultural and political context in DRC.
• Direct experience in DRC.

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BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES (Some samples below)

• Leading and Supervising – Provides others with a clear direction; motivates and empowers others; recruits staff of a high caliber; provides staff with development opportunities and coaching; sets appropriate standards of behavior, gives regular feedback.
• Relating and Networking – Establishes good relationships with individuals both internally and externally; relates well to people at all levels; builds wide and effective networks of contacts; uses humor appropriately to bring warmth to relationships with others.
• Creating and Innovating – Produces new ideas, approaches, or insights; creates innovative products or designs; produces a range of solutions to problems.
• Planning and Organizing – Sets clearly defined objectives; plans activities and projects well in advance and takes account of possible changing circumstances; identifies and organizes resources needed to accomplish tasks; manages time effectively; monitors performance against deadlines and milestones.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provide project vision, strategic planning, direction, leadership and management; lead the preparation of work plans; and monitor project progress and timely delivery of all reporting and deliverables, ensuring performance quality and compliance with USAID/BHA and ADRA requirements.
2. Represent ADRA as the primary liaison with USAID/DRC, project partners, key local stakeholders, NGOs, the ADRA Country Office and ADRA International, including maintaining appropriate communication and consultation.
3. Ensure appropriate coordination of all sub-awards or sub-contracts, including supporting management of partners and ensuring reporting and compliance with donor regulations, ADRA policies and requirements, and host country legislation and regulations.
4. Recruit, supervise, and coach senior talent for the project; identify and facilitate opportunities for staff professional development; and provide technical assistance to project staff as needed.
5. Monitor project financial management, reporting and transactions to meet the highest standards of accountability.
6. Coordinate activities for monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting to continuously improve project design and implementation; oversee drafts and reviews of quarterly and annual reports; manage mid-term and final evaluation processes, following up on any errors in implementation with a correction plan as needed; and coordinate refine and implement (R&I) year activities.
7. Develop and maintain a safe environment that encourages the sharing of problems, ideas, and solutions, and efficiently and effectively adapt approaches to appropriately respond to feedback.
8. Perform other duties as assigned.

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TRAVEL

Up to 40% domestic and international travel required. Must have the ability to travel on short notice if necessary.