Chief of Party – USIAD SERVIR

Position Description

EnCompass LLC is seeking Chief of Party (COP) candidates, to be proposed on this anticipated 5-year SERVIR Support Services contract, to focus on supporting the SERVIR network of partners in their efforts to further integrate Earth observation information into environmental and natural resources management decision-making across key sectors, with a focus on climate-resilient outcomes, including improved climate change adaptation and mitigation. The SERVIR Support Services contract will facilitate and support content generation and communication efforts, website management, knowledge management and convenings of network partners and stakeholders, and efforts to build capacity around monitoring, evaluation and learning in support of gathering the data needed to tell the story of what has emerged from the SERVIR network efforts.

SERVIR is a USAID and NASA partnership that strengthens the talent and capacity of partner countries to integrate Earth observation information into environmental and natural resources management decision-making across key sectors, with a focus on climate-resilient outcomes, including improved climate change adaptation and mitigation. This unique program delivers on development objectives by integrating NASA’s world-class scientists and data with USAID’s development expertise and network of partners and relationships around the world.

The Chief of Party will lead on all technical aspects of the mechanism, providing technical guidance to and supervising staff and consultants to ensure the effective, efficient, and timely implementation of all activities, including the delivery and quality control of all required products and services, and oversees work plans and the project’s financial management. The COP is the primary point of contact with USAID staff, including the Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer’s Representation (CO/COR).

Qualified candidates based in the Washington DC metro area will be given first consideration, but this full-time role could remote within states where EnCompass is registered in the US. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the US for any employer without sponsorship.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Essential functions:

• Provide vision, direction, leadership, and management for the project
• Provide technical, operational, and managerial oversight to all aspects and tasks of the activity to meet exceptional standards for quality and timeliness
• Establish and maintains highly collaborative working relationships with the USAID/RFS, USAID Bureaus, Country Missions, SERVIR hubs, other USG agencies in general and NASA in particular, as well as non-USG donors and partners and relevant sector stakeholders
• Serve as the primary point of contact for USAID and as the principal liaison with USAID staff, institutions, and partners to exchange information and develop professional relationships
• Manage the team and ensures technical capacity of staff, provides technical assistance and backstopping when required
• Ensure all activities are undertaken in full compliance with EnCompass’ standard operating procedures, applicable USAID policies and regulations, and relevant national policies and laws
• Ensure documentation and dissemination of findings, impact, innovations, and lessons learned
• Engage fully as a member of the EnCompass team, including participating in all-staff meetings and other EnCompass events
• Ensure optimal use of human, financial, and physical resources to successfully meet contract milestones, objectives, deliverables, and targets
• International Travel to visit partners and attend convenings, as needed (less than 20%)
• Other relevant duties as assigned

Position Requirements

Qualifications

• Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree and 12 years’ experience or Master’s degree and 10 years’ experience required. Areas of preferred study include communication, knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation, global development, climate or environmental sciences, business administration or similar field
• Minimum of 7 years’ professional work experience in the climate or natural resources sector or a closely related field
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience managing large contracts of similar nature, size and complexity,

Experience and Skills

• Evidence of progressively increasing responsibility in international development and program management including direct supervision of professional and support staff; assembling teams of professionals to respond to complex assignments; and management of grants or contracts
• Experience leading and supervising international development-focused teams required
• Familiarity with the USAID climate strategy and the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE)
• Strong experience with knowledge management and/or communications programming, especially USAID-specific needs and preferences for knowledge dissemination and stakeholder learning and engagement
• Strong familiarity with USAID collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) and human and institutional capacity development principles and approaches
• Familiarity with gender-transformative and inclusive development program design and evaluation
• Experience managing complex relationships with a variety of stakeholders
• Experience in using monitoring and evaluation data to support communications, learning and knowledge management efforts.
• Working knowledge of, and experience with, U.S. government-funded program management, policies, regulations, and procedures
• Excellent communication skills required, in both verbal and written English
• Demonstrated experience as a senior manager, project director or chief of party working on USAID-funded projects strongly preferred
• Familiarity with USAID Bureau of Resilience and Food Security or NASA strongly preferred