CHIEF OF PARTY

CARE seeks a Chief of Party (COP) for the anticipated USAID-funded Timor-Leste Bio-diversity Activity. This Activity aims to strengthen biodiversity conservation efforts in Timor-Leste in the marine environment, support local communities to be more resilient to climate impacts, and inclusively and sustainably ensure the sustainable use of natural resources in development.

The COP will be responsible for leadership, management, and technical direction of staff and consultants, project activities such as implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation, and partner coordination. They will serve as key liaison with USAID, government counterparts, and local partners. The COP will manage and supervise the work of program personnel and subcontractors/subgrantees and ensure that all program assistance is technically sound and appropriate. The COP also oversees program work planning, performance management, and strategic communication.

This is a Key Personnel position, subject to USAID approval. It is also subject to project award and funding. National and international candidates are encouraged to apply. This position will be based in Dili, Timor-Leste.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee the overall management and implementation of the project including project results and deliverables, in accordance with the project work plan.
• Supervise and mentor senior/ technical staff and consultants. Motivate teams to deliver results by establishing a strong team dynamic, open communication, and leading by example. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in internal operations, management, and program implementation.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with USAID, host government, project partners, and key stakeholders. Serve as the primary liaison among all project stakeholders.
• Manage the project’s operational, financial, and administrative priorities, and direct planning and budgeting processes. Create or adapt management systems in line with CARE’s standard operating procedures, ensuring adherence to USAID policies and regulations, and relevant national policies and laws.
• Build partnerships among international, national, and community-level stakeholders.
• Design and oversee the annual project cycle in accordance with USAID’s annual planning cycles. Ensure documentation and dissemination of findings, impact, innovations, and lessons learned, and utilize a collaborative and adaptive learning approach to the project cycle.
• Remain current with similar or related programs and best practices in-country and internationally, ensuring CARE staff apply these consistently.
• Lead in documentation and coordination of information dissemination activities that share project achievements and results with the aim of influencing decision and policymakers.
• Oversee M&E function, including preparation of all required reports and deliverables.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in environmental science, conservation, climate change, ecology, environmental policy, or other related fields.
• 10-12 years of relevant senior experience in international development as Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, or in a senior management role on large development projects.
• Technical experience and understanding of one or more of the following sectors: marine conservation, natural resource management, climate resilience, community-based approaches to conservation and the development of resilience strategies to address climate change challenges.
• Experience managing USAID cooperative agreements and/or contracts.
• Strong financial management, budgeting and project operations/administrative oversight abilities.
• Experience working in Timor-Leste, Southeast Asia or Pacific region preferred.
• Experience recruiting, developing, and managing staff and teams in cross cultural context.
• Demonstrated skills building and maintaining relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.
• Fluency in English required (spoken and written). Portuguese or Tetum is an advantage.
• Strong oral and written communication skills; excellent demonstrated inter-cultural, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to PSHEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Harassment, and Abuse).
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of Gender Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion (GEDSI).
• Strong experience overseeing M&E systems for USAID projects including Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) principles and approaches preferred.