Deputy Chief of Party/USAID Kulawa Activity

Summary

Save the Children is seeking a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for the five-year USAID-funded Kulawa Activity of the Resilience in the Sahel Enhanced (RISE) II initiative in the Maradi, Tillabéri and Zinder regions of Niger. This transformational program focuses on achieving improved health, nutrition, and family planning outcomes for women of reproductive age and children under five. The activity works with a number of partners, multiple complementary USAID investments, and most importantly, the Government of Niger. The DCOP reports directly to the Chief of Party (COP) and ensures operational support for implementation of high impact, proven interventions that meet stated goals and reporting requirements. The DCOP will assume the responsibilities of the COP in their absence. The DCOP coordinates with USAID, key stakeholders, implementing partners, and government representatives; ensures efficient operational support for program activities throughout targeted districts; and supervises program managers in each region.
This position is contingent upon donor approval.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

• In collaboration with the COP, ensure program is delivered according to contractual requirements with the donor and government, i.e., all activities and deliverables are completed within the agreed timeframe and budget, reports are submitted as per agreed schedules, and any other requirements or criteria are fulfilled.
• Design and regularly update detailed annual work plans and ensure the team uses these appropriately to monitor progress towards completion and achievement of program objectives.
• Lead the development and monitoring of procurement plan in collaboration with regional program managers, the supply chain department and logistics.
• Provide input into programmatic and financial reports for donors, government, and Save the Children as required, ensuring these are of the highest quality and submitted in a timely manner to the donor;
• Ensure compliance with USAID rules and regulations and Save the Children processes.
• Assist with preparation and revision of a realistic budget, authorizing and monitoring expenditures in line with the budget, donor guidelines, and Save the Children’s grant management and financial regulations.
• Manage and motivate direct reports to achieve their work plan objectives, and to contribute to the achievement of the overall program goals.
• Maintain good working relationships with USAID, government officials, government ministries, consortium partners, implementing partners, and the international and national NGO community.
• Collaborate closely with the Ministry of Health and key USAID Implementing Partners (notably the Breakthrough ACTION social and behavior change mechanism, the Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs Resilience Food Security Assistance partners, and MOMENTUM projects), the President’s Malaria Initiative, the Global Health Security Agenda, the Global Fund and other donors and key stakeholders.
• Work with COP, Technical Director, Save the Children Technical Advisors, and consortium partners to identify technical support needs and ensure this support is provided.
• Work closely with Awards team to oversee the management of sub-awards to international and national NGO consortium partners, including the timely submission and review of deliverables, and adherence to terms of the sub-award agreements, including donor regulations.
• Monitor country-level activities, identify challenges, and develop appropriate reporting and results of project activities to the COP including progress and annual reports.
• Coordinate closely with the SC offices in administrative and human resources (HR) matters, especially regarding operations and financial matters as they relate to the program.
• Coordinate closely with the Security Manager to monitor security issues that affect or could affect implementation and put in place and monitor mitigation plans.
• Attend and actively participate in periodic program meetings and ensure a summary of progress and challenges are prepared and presented with follow-up actions as required.
• Train, develop, coach, lead, and supervise staff, clearly communicating project, Save the Children, and donor priorities, and how their work contributes to our mission, ensuring that the working environment continually fosters diversity, inclusion, and belonging – supporting Save the Children values.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in relevant areas of expertise, international development or related field or equivalent experience, plus at least 10 years of relevant experience.
• Minimum of seven years of professional experience in managing and implementing complex technical programs of similar size and scope in a development context, with a minimum of five years’ experience in West and Central Africa, ideally in Niger.
• At least three years of demonstrated experience in managing project operations and in managing and supervising an operational team.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with government representatives, private sector entities, local community organizations, donors, and other stakeholders, particularly at the sub-national level.
• In-depth knowledge of USAID approaches and regulations.
• Demonstrated experience in training and capacity building to realize organizational objectives.
• Professional proficiency in MS Office suite
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English and French.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals and teams at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering and maintaining and environment of diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Travel up to 20% time to project’s three regions within Niger.

Qualified local candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with the political, social, and cultural context of Niger

Why you should join the Save the Children Team…

Save the Children US offers outstanding benefits that include health, dental, vision and life insurances, short-term and long-term disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program, 403(b), generous vacation, personal sick leave, family leave, parental/adoption leave, commuter benefits, dress for your day, and much more.

Click here to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in YOU!

About Save the Children

No matter your role when you join Save the Children, each and every day you will challenge yourself to devote your skills, talent and expertise to changing the world for kids. It’s an ambitious goal, and a meaningful one no matter how you see yourself professionally: an accountant, a writer, a data analyst, a teacher, a driver, a designer, or any one of the hundreds of dozens of roles we’re looking to fill every day.

You see, Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Our work for children and their families requires that we commit—at every opportunity—to work together to identify and dismantle persistent systemic and structural racism, inequality, and any other forms of discrimination in this country and beyond. As an anti-racist organization, Save the Children will not tolerate discrimination in any form—in our employment practices, amongst our staff, in our leadership or toward the people we serve. We stand in solidarity with all people to fight for equal rights, justice, inclusion, and belonging.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children’s policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at the risk of any kind of child abuse. All our representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)