Chief of Party – USAID Madagascar Rural Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Project (Proposal)

Over the past 40 years, Medical Care Development International (MCDI) has worked to strengthen health systems through integrated, sustainable and locally driven interventions across several public health sectors. MCDI collaborates with donors, national governments, the private sector, health agencies, communities and local stakeholders to improve health and save lives in the following areas: water, sanitation, and hygiene; malaria control; maternal, neonatal and child health; tuberculosis; HIV/AIDS; Zika; and other communicable diseases.

MCDI is seeking candidates for the Chief of Party position for an anticipated rural Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene project funded by USAID in Madagascar. The primary goal of the Project is to increase access to sustainable WASH services in targeted rural areas of Madagascar.

The Chief of Party (COP) has overall responsibility to lead and manage the project and is accountable for all project deliverables and results, with full accountability and authority for the development, execution, and monitoring of the project including: vision and technical strategy; project management; documentation and communication; client and stakeholder relationships; and coordination and synergy with other MCDI projects.

This is a key position on the project team and is contingent on successful award to MCDI.

Essential Job Functions: • Provide overall leadership, strategic direction and management to ensure the quality of processes and results of all Project activities; • Provide overall management and oversight of the operational, technical, financial and administrative aspects of the Project; • Act as a main point of contact with the donor and as the key liaison between the donor, the Government of Madagascar (GOM), Project implementing partners and other key stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Project; • Provide oversight to ensure that the Project monitors its progress and performance and achieves the project benchmarks as per the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan; • Direct the annual work planning and budgeting and reporting (quarterly and annually) process in accordance with USAID rules and regulations; • Contribute to the knowledge management aspects of the Project, to include gathering and dissemination of lessons learned and best practices; • Supervise all Project senior and key staff, and provide capacity building to Project staff as necessary; • Ensure the Project has appropriate representation at high-level stakeholder meetings and national and/or regional WASH working groups; • Ensure participatory and gender sensitive processes are promoted.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience Required: • A Master’s degree in business or public administration, WASH, public health, or other related field is desirable; • At least 10 years of progressive experience managing WASH or public health or development projects in Madagascar, other countries in sub-Saharan Africa or other resource-limited settings, including demonstrated financial and human resource management experience; • Proven experience in managing complex projects of similar size ($25MM-$50MM), encompassing an expansive geographic area and activities that involve interaction, coordination and maintaining relationships with high-level government and private sector stakeholders at different levels, project implementing partners, donors and other in-country stakeholders; • Experience communicating across geographical areas with an eclectic mix of staff, partners, beneficiaries, and key stakeholders; • Demonstrated leadership and experience in WASH programming and design, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation; • Experience working with USAID and knowledge of USAID rules and regulations are preferred; • Strong management and problem solving skills; • Highly computer literate; proficient in the use of the standard Microsoft Office package with particular experience using Words, Excel, PowerPoint and Internet Explorer; • Full professional proficiency in English and French; • Prior experience working in Madagascar is strongly preferred. Preference would be given to Malagasy nationals.