Chief of Party (COP)

The IRC has a well-structured operational base in South Sudan. IRC is operating in eight field sites in South Sudan, covering four of the former ten states. With two offices in Northern Bahr el Ghazal (Aweil East and South), four offices in Unity State (Jamjang, Bentiu, Ganyliel and Nyal), one office in Rumbek town covering the whole of Lakes, and one field office in Central Equatoria (Juba) for urban programming together with the South Sudan Country program office. The IRC has been one of the largest providers of aid in the region of South Sudan for over 25 years, delivering emergency relief and post-conflict assistance since 1989. Today, the IRC provides services for more than 900,000 people across the country, delivering lifesaving care and life-changing assistance.

Position Summary

The IRC is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) for an anticipated USAID-funded Integrated Youth Support Activity (IYSA) in South Sudan. The three-year IYSA will implement a Youth Corps model and support South Sudanese communities to develop, promote and strengthen the skills and assets of youth, and to create an enabling environment for the youth to be productive and positively contribute to their communities. IYSA will support and empower at-risk and out-of-school youth to gain the necessary skills they need to lead productive lives, gain employment, and positively contribute to their communities by 1) Increasing access to functional literacy, numeracy, soft skills, and life skills programs for at-risk and out of school youth, 2) Expanding entrepreneurial, employment and vocational opportunities for youth; 3) Empowering adolescent and youth to make informed reproductive health decisions; 4) Improving conflict resolution skills and engagement needed to enable youth to peacefully pursue livelihood opportunities.

The COP will have the primary responsibility for the overall strategic leadership and oversight of the activity. The COP will also have the principal responsibility for representation of the project to all key stakeholders, including government officials and USAID, provide overall strategic leadership and vision for the IRC-led team spread across multiple technical areas and locations, oversee international and national partners implementation of activities, as well as implementers of other USAID-funded initiatives as required. The COP will ensure that project initiatives achieve the expected results of the USAID funded IYSA in South Sudan. This position is contingent on the IRC being awarded funding and is anticipated to begin in 2022.

Job Responsibilities

· Provide strategic and technical leadership and direction, define and implement activities to achieve the greatest impact toward project goals and objectives;

· Develop, review, and monitor in coordination with key project staff, annual work and performance plans to ensure long-term and short-term priorities are on track;

· Oversee technical direction and project delivery to ensure activities are in line with the performance framework and meet all standard operational policies and procedures;

· Oversee the Deputy COP in managing partners and providing financial and operations support that optimizes resources through sound budgets, consistent financial tracking, and timely submission of reports to the donor;

· Report to USAID through both formal and informal debriefings, annual and semi-annual reports;

· Maintain active and cooperative relationships with all key stakeholders, including government officials, project partners, other implementing agencies, and related institutions;

· Represent the project and the organization in public and ensure distribution of information about project achievements and lesson learned;

· Support project staff by creating and maintaining a work environment that promotes teamwork, trust, mutual respect, and empowers staff to take responsibility.

Requirements and Key Competencies

· Advanced degree (PhD or MA) from an accredited university in Economic Recovery and Development, International Development, or related field; equivalent experience may be substituted for graduate degree;

· Minimum of 10 years of experience in similar economic recovery and positive youth development programs, and experience managing complex international donor-funded development activities in challenging environments.

· Significant previous experience working in conflict or crisis situations.

· Experience working in the South Sudan or within the East African region on economic recovery and positive youth development programming.

· Previous experience as COP of USAID-funded programs preferred;

· Demonstrated experience in managing multi-year, multi-million-dollar projects.

· Strong negotiation skills and the ability to develop relations with local counterparts, donors, and other stakeholders;

· Demonstrated innovation and success in staff capacity-building and in participatory, flexible, and gender-sensitive programming and implementation;

· Strong communication skills, both oral and written.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

WOMEN, MINORITIES AND PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.