Deputy Chief of Party/Technical Director (Ethiopia Resilience in Pastoral Areas (RIPA) II)

Overview

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Reports to: Chief of Party (COP)

Please Note: This position is contingent upon award and USAID approval with an anticipated start date of July 2025.

Global Communities works at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development and financial inclusion to save lives, advance equity and secure strong futures. We support communities at the forefront of their own development in more than 35 countries, partnering with local leaders, governments, civil society and the private sector to achieve a shared vision of a more just, prosperous and equitable global community. We work with government, non-government, private sector, and community stakeholders to promote transparency, foster accountability, and access the channels they need to make their voices heard, promote change, and realize their full potential.

Global Communities is seeking a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for the anticipated USAID Ethiopia Resilience in Pastoral Areas (RIPA) II project. This five-year program will improve the resilience capacities of households, markets, and governance institutions across Ethiopia, collectively contributing to enhanced food security and inclusive economic growth.

Under the direction of the Chief of Party, the DCOP will help provide management, and strong technical support in the implementation of the project. We are looking for passionate, dedicated professionals to help us build the world we envision: one of expanded opportunity, where crises give way to resilience and all people thrive.

Responsibilities

The Deputy Chief of Party will be responsible for overseeing the technical teams and technical activity implementation. The DCOP will liaise with, guide, and ensure that the project’s implementation is aligned with its approved workplan and budget, and meets targets for achievement while providing high-quality technical assistance to government officials, civil society leaders, private sector partners, and others. The responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Technical Leadership:

• Oversee technical project activities and supervises and mentors key program technical staff and consultants.
• Oversee staff and partners’ planning, execution, and documentation of project activities, ensuring timely and high-quality achievement of targets and deliverables.
• Ensure that approved activities implement global and local best practices for resilience, providing strategic responses to changing program requirements as needed to meet project goals and objectives.
• Conduct regular site visits to observe project progress and obtain feedback from participants and stakeholders.
• Use principles of adaptive management and data-driven continuous improvement processes and develop appropriate responses to solve challenges under tight deadlines while ensuring operational integrity and project impact.
• Hold monthly and quarterly project review sessions with staff and partners to routinely assess and improve project performance against workplan and targets
• Build and maintain a sense of shared ownership and unified team effort among staff and local and international partners, as well as strong working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders within the Government of Ethiopia at all levels.

Operational Management:

• Assume the position of Chief of Party role when the COP is not available.
• Work with senior staff to ensure that financial reports to USAID, effectively and accurately communicate project progress, achievements, challenges, and utilization of funds.
• Represent Global Communities and the project at meetings with multiple local stakeholders (other NGOs, government officials, private sector institutions, etc.) as needed and necessary.
• Promote Global Communities’ values (purposeful, committed, genuine, and connected) and ensuring that all project staff demonstrate these values.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a discipline related to international development, agriculture, economic development, or rural development with a minimum of 8 years of experience managing multi-sectoral projects with increasing responsibilities and duties in fields related to food security, livelihoods, inclusive market systems, disaster risk management, nutrition, or related work; or,
• Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to international development, agriculture, economic development, or rural development with a minimum of 10 years of experience managing multi-sectoral projects with increasing responsibilities and duties in fields related to food security, livelihoods, inclusive market systems, disaster risk management, nutrition, and/or providing relevant technical expertise to such projects.
• Experience in East Africa, with preference for recent work in Ethiopia.
• Proven experience in a leadership position involving the administration of similarly sized, international donor-supported programs with skills in strategic planning, management, supervision, and budgeting strongly preferred. International NGO or for-profit contractor experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with local government officials and local organizations in the resilience sector is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge/Experience with USAID rules and regulations strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of relevant local laws, regulations and policies is required.
• Management/supervisory experience is required.
• Strong understanding of local contexts. Ethiopian nationals strongly encouraged to apply.
• Proven ability to communicate a common vision among diverse partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams is desired.
• Evidence of effective communication skills, both oral and written, to fulfill the diverse technical and managerial requirements of the agreement is desired.
• Languages: Full Professional Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• A passion for the mission and values of Global Communities.

Global Communities positively welcomes and seeks applications from all sections of society. We are committed to a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of everyone and offers equal opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

Global Communities holds strict safeguarding principles and has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. In the process of recruitment, selection, and appointment, Global Communities will conduct robust reference and background screening checks, including international vetting as a signature of the Global Misconduct Disclosure Scheme to ensure children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded, and abuse is prevented. The incumbent is required to carry out their duties in accordance with Global Communities Safeguarding policy and the Standards of Conduct.