Chief of Party

Position description

At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better tomorrow. A nonprofit international development organization founded in 1971, Pact works on the ground in nearly 40 countries to improve the lives of those who are challenged by poverty and marginalization. We serve these communities because we envision a world where everyone owns their future. To do this, we build systemic solutions in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and governments that create sustainable and resilient communities where those we serve are heard, capable, and vibrant.

Pact seeks an experienced Chief of Party (COP) for the anticipated USAID-funded Basiki ni Tagne Kunafoni (Information for Peace and Development) Activity, an Associate Award under the Civil Society and Media-Strengthened Together and Advancing in New Directions (CSM-STAND) Africa & Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Leader with Associates (LWA) Cooperative Agreement. This two-year, information integrity project aims to enhance publicly available content that provides timely, relevant, and accurate information to Malian citizens through data-driven approaches that promote media literacy, mitigate harm from inaccurate information, and optimize the reach of quality information.

The COP will be responsible for technical leadership and the overall management and operations of the Activity. The COP will supervise high-quality project implementation, with a focus on achieving the project goals and USAID development strategy and objectives. The COP will take a leadership role in the coordination of all activities across all relevant parties, including USAID, host country counterparts, other institutional donors including the U.S. Department of State, United Nations, National Endowment for Democracy, local and regional civil society organizations, key stakeholders, and implementing partners. The COP will be responsible for the overall management of the Activity and oversees project staff and sub-partners for results-oriented planning, and coordination of project activities.

This position is based in Bamako, Mali and will report to the CSM-STAND Associate Awards Director. This is a Mali-based local position open to Malian national and individuals with legal authorization to work in Mali without employer sponsorship only.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure high-quality, results-oriented technical programming through hands-on guidance and support grounded in the project’s strategic objectives and approved annual workplans.
• Serve as the primary liaison with the USAID Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) on management and technical matters as well as coordinate with USAID/Mali’s Peace, Democracy, and Governance Office, other USAID implementing partners, and other donors to complement efforts.
• Ensure compliance with USAID rules/regulations and Pact processes.
• Ensure that the project meets stated goals, outcomes, benchmarks, and reporting requirements and oversee a complexity-aware monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan.
• Take a leadership role in coordination among USAID and key stakeholders, including partners, government stakeholders, civil society, and other USAID projects.
• Manage and coordinate the implementation of activities across project partners, ensuring successful integration of activities.
• Liaise closely with the Pact country office team to ensure that all project activities are compliant with US Government rules and regulations, as well as consistent with Pact’s policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Oversee project planning (i.e., development of work plans and project budget), monitoring and reporting (i.e., prepare and submit technical, financial and any additional USAID requested reports) in accordance with the highest standards.
• Oversee project budget and work in close coordination with the Finance/Operations Manager to meet expected results, ensuring cost-effective use of donor and Pact’s resources.
• Support the implementation of a highly adaptive, partner-led, context-driven programmatic approach.
• Ensure a responsive and innovative approach to developing the capacity of media actors, youth leaders, and civil society organizations.
• Provide strategic management and oversight of the project’s sub-award portfolio.
• Manage a team of flexible and adaptive employees and oversee evidence-based adjustments in programming to achieve greater impact.
• Oversee project staff in helping partners establish reporting and tracking systems to provide key information in an efficient and timely manner.
• Ensure the program meets programmatic and financial targets and makes accurate projections.
• Represent the project at conferences, working groups, and meetings to support USAID and Pact’s thought leadership in peace, democracy, governance, media and information integrity, capacity development, and civil society strengthening.
• Serve as security focal person and ensure the safety and security of Pact’s staff and its properties at all times.
• Employee complies with all company policies and procedures, including completing all compliance training topics by the deadline to satisfy each and receiving the corresponding acknowledgment statement that the training has been completed.

All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree and 11+ years relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience, includes 6 years of management experience. Bachelor’s and 13 years of experience.
• Experience managing USAID contracts/awards with an applied conflict-sensitive approach.
• Demonstrated understanding of information integrity in the Malian information ecosystem, data-driven and technology-based solutions to address disinformation and the role of civil society and media actors in West and Francophone Africa.
• Experience building capacity for civil society organizations and/or media actors in West and Francophone Africa.
• Demonstrated flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to perform and collaborate in complex and politically sensitive project environments.
• Record of successfully building and effectively managing a diverse team of employees and managing multiple international consortium partners.
• Experience managing projects with large sub-award pools.
• Ability to work in complex environments, and work with and between different stakeholders, including civil society organizations, media actors, government institutions, private sector entities, practitioners, academics, and US Government agencies.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in problem solving, consensus building, donor coordination and developing functional networks of diverse stakeholders across geographics.
• Knowledge of USAID rules, regulations, and policies.
• Fluency in English (oral, writing, and reading)
• Ability to occasionally travel internationally when health and safety concerns regarding COVID-19 allow.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience managing highly adaptive programs, as well as applying systems-driven approaches and/or thinking and working politically (TWP) principles.
• Knowledge of the political, social, and economic context of West and Francophone Africa
• Expertise in media intervention, analytics, countering inaccurate information, and enhancing the capacity and relevance of media actors, including independent sources.
• Conversant with information technology, use of popular social media platforms and media services, and experience in analyzing the veracity of media disseminated to the public.
• Malian or African nationals who lived in West Africa and worked in this topic in the last three years are encouraged to apply.

Salary for this position is commensurate with local office salary scales and will be determined based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications

Application instructions

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