Chief of Party

Duty Station: Bujumbura with frequent missions to the field

Starting Date: 06.01.2025

Period: 12 months

Language: French

Reporting to: Country Representative and Regional Manager

Aim of the position: AVSI is currently seeking a Chief of Party to support the anticipated USAID/Burundi Itongo Ryanje, Itunga Ryanje Activity.
The overall objective of the Activity is to improve the livelihoods of women growers and smallholders in Ngozi province, Burundi, and subsequently to improve their ability to influence their family and community due to increased social status. The Activity will support land titling and certification, improve agricultural productivity and climate-resilience, and increase women growers’ access to resources and markets.
The Chief of Party will provide overall project leadership, management, quality control, and technical direction, while ensuring compliance with USAID requirements and regulations and AVSI policies and procedures. The ideal candidate will have experience in land rights, agriculture, market systems, and/or women’s economic empowerment.

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Serve as AVSI’s primary point of contact with USAID/Burundi regarding day-to-day implementation, learning, and reporting.
• Lead AVSI’s team to implement the Activity successfully, building an integrated vision among diverse project components and stakeholders, with a focus on achieving results.
• Provide technical guidance to the project staff and partners focusing on land titling and certification; agricultural productivity and climate-resilience; and women growers’ access to resources and markets.
• Identify obstacles and risks related to implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate adjustments to AVSI’s regional and HQ technical and support staff and to USAID.
• Liaise with the USAID mission, NGOs, the private sector, Burundian government officials, and other local partners to coordinate activities and facilitate monitoring and reporting of Activity objectives and achievements.
• Manage and supervise the work of project personnel, subcontractors, and grantees, with a focus on achieving work plan targets and core results in a timely manner.
• Provide mentoring and professional development support to project staff.
• Oversee project office finances and administration of sub-awards.
• Oversee project office HR practices, ensuring that hiring, employee evaluations and promotions are in compliance with AVSI policies and procedures.
• Ensure that all project assistance is technically sound and appropriate.
• Participate in specialized content (technical) events such as workshops and roundtables, support knowledge management, and share learning across key networks.
• Leverage networks, program investments, and project successes to seek opportunities for program expansion and promoting AVSI’s practice areas.
• Report functionally to donor/thematic focal point/s for each specific sector and donor.

Essential Requirements:

Education: University degree (bachelor or higher) in Agriculture, Business Administration, Economics, International Development, or a related field; master’s degree preferred.
Work experience: At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in managing a donor funded activity in land rights, economic growth, agriculture, market systems, and/or women’s economic empowerment; USAID experience preferred.
Language: Proficient knowledge of French and English (written and oral) C1. Kirundi preferred.

Required skills and experiences:

• Demonstrated supervisory work experience including supervision of technical teams and subcontractors to effectively respond to complex assignments.
• Demonstrated commitment to women’s empowerment, gender equality, and social inclusion.
• Proven ability to form collaborative relationships with national and local government representatives, NGOs, CSOs, and other stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal, analytical, and problem-solving skills, and exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, diplomacy, and leadership skills, including the ability to manage high-level relationships and complex regional dynamics.
• Prior work experience in Burundi or the region, strongly preferred.

Please go on our website avsi.org and apply.

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