Deputy Chief of Party-Programs

Chemonics seeks a Deputy Chief of Party-Programs (DCOP-P) for the Sudan Transition Program (STP) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI). STP supports Sudan’s ongoing transition to democracy and focuses on enabling conditions for a successful civilian-led democratic transition by ensuring that efforts to pursue democratic change continue, that citizens have improved access to timely, accurate information about efforts to pursue democratic change, and that politically engaged citizens model democratic behaviors. STP is a dynamic and accelerating program that operates multiple offices in Sudan and neighboring countries. As a member of the senior leadership team, the DCOP-P will lead the project team responsible for analyzing problem sets, identifying interventions, developing a wide range of small and medium-size grant and technical assistance activities, and then ensuring quick and effective implementation of these activities. The DCOP-P will be expected to work closely with the OTI country team, project leadership, and a diverse and accomplished team of Sudanese professionals. Successful candidates will have a combination of USAID programming and grant-making experience drawn from previous work on fast-paced and dynamic stabilization and transition projects. This position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, with possible short-term travel to Sudan. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities:

• Analyzes national, regional, and local politics to guide the program staff in creatively designing grants that relate to the current political environment and ensuring appropriate implementation of program strategy. Contributes to maintaining program strategy and integrity, working with Chief of Party (COP) and OTI Country Representative (CR) to co-design and lead informal and formal program performance management (PPM) events. In partnership with the OTI field team, COP, and other members of the STP field team, identify priorities and resolve development and implementation challenges in a fast and effective way.
• Leads program development team, and lead/support the implementation team (including grants, and procurement staff) in the identification, development, and implementation of a wide range of grants-under-contract, direct distribution of goods and services, and technical assistance activities. The DCOP-P will provide day-to-day guidance, mentoring, and problem- solving skills, working in full partnership with the COP and OTI country team, and others. Implementation flexibility and speed are essential elements of the project, and the DCOP-P will be expected to lead their team to accomplish multiple tasks in a very short period of time.
• Ensures that activities are appropriately implemented, closed-out, and program learning is integrated back to activity design in a robust feedback loop.
• Ensures that procedures are established and complied with for activity development, activity worthiness, activity implementation, management, and closing.
• Works collaboratively and effectively with the project operations team, as well as with Chemonics home-office support teams, to both ensure compliance with USAID and other regulations on complex tasks and resolve issues and challenges in a timely and effective manner.
• Trains, mentors, and oversees the work of supervisees, fostering their professional development and ensuring accountability.
• Serves as a member of the STP senior management team, contributing to high-level decisions, providing expertise on program and grant-making strategy, and serving as acting COP when asked.
• The DCOP-P oversees all program and GMU staff, including program development, grants management and program procurement staff

Qualifications:

• A minimum of eight years of relevant work experience. A minimum of four years of field experience on an OTI or similar project, including supervisory experience leading and mentoring host-country teams.
• Previous DCOP-P or senior leadership experience, and/or previous Sudan experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading the development of small grants to achieve larger stabilization and transition goals, with a preference for developing and implementing grants under the OTI model.
• Previous experience remotely managing teams and/or programs in unstable or conflict settings is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience contributing to development, assessment, and adaptation of dynamic transition strategies, objectives, and specific interventions in a fast-paced and flexible manner.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with clients, project leadership, and host- country counterparts at senior levels in government and in non-governmental organizations.
• Demonstrated experience leading donor-funded efforts in complex and politically sensitive transition or stabilization contexts, with a preference for Sudan, the Arabic-speaking world, and/or East and Southern Africa.
• A. in international development, peace studies, or related field required, with a relevant M.A. preferred.
• Fluent written and spoken English required.
• Ability to work professionally in Arabic strongly preferred.