Chief of Party (COP)

Position description

The Chief of Party (COP) will provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the anticipated USAID Funded quality improvement activity in Nigeria. The COP will ensure high-quality programming and will sustain the financial and operational integrity of the activity. The COP will serve as the project’s senior-most manager, with the responsibility and authority to direct the team and project resources towards the fulfillment of project goals and objectives. The COP will also serve as the “face” of the project with key stakeholders, such as USAID/Nigeria, Ministry of Health, the Government of Nigeria, and relevant INGO and CSO collaborators. The COP will liaise with the Deputy Chief of Party/Technical Director to ensure the soundness of the project’s technical direction; will work closely with the Financial and Operations Director to ensure that project resources are well-managed and in compliance with USAID rules and regulations; will collaborate with the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Director to ensure that the project’s MEL and knowledge management (KM) functions are well-executed; and will work with the Country Representative to ensure smooth operations in all states of implementation. The COP will oversee program implementation, manage the project team and consortium members, and facilitate adaptation and course correction where needed. The COP will be responsible for the timely and accurate delivery of all reports and other project products.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serve as the project’s senior-most manager, directing the team and project resources towards the fulfillment of project goals and objectives.
• Ensure strong coordination and a positive working relationship with USAID/Nigeria and ensure that the project is responsive to USAID needs and expectations.
• Build, strengthen, and sustain relationships with other key stakeholders (such as the Government of Nigeria, Ministry of Health, local NGOs, other USAID-funded implementing partners, and private sector entities) to collaborate on shared goals, maximize value added, and avoid duplication of efforts.
• Manage relationships with consortium partners and ensure effective collaboration.
• Oversee the project’s implementation progress, facilitating adaptations and course corrections where/when necessary to achieve goals.
• In collaboration with the DCOP/Technical Director, ensure the soundness of the project’s technical direction.
• In collaboration with the Finance and Operations Director, ensure fiscally responsible implementation in full compliance with the laws, regulations, policies, and procedures of USAID, Nigeria, and EngenderHealth.
• In collaboration with the MEL Director, ensure that the project’s MEL and KM functions are well-executed.
• Provide first-class leadership to the development and submission of quality deliverables in accordance with the terms of USAID award.
• Oversee a team of senior technical and program management project staff, ensuring strong communication and coordination with and between all team members, and with EngenderHealth’s regional and global technical advisors.
• Supervise initiatives and approaches that will promote ’USAID’s objectives on localization, gender equality, diversity equity and inclusion, stakeholder and private engagement, and sustainability in project implementation.
• Work with other project personnel and EngenderHealth leadership to proactively mitigate potential or actual risks that may adversely affect project implementation.

Qualifications

Must possess the following requirements with or without a reasonable accommodation:

• Master’s degree in public health, social sciences, or related advanced degree in a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively increasing responsibility in managing successful international development assistance and health programs.
• Demonstrated understanding of the primary healthcare (PHC) landscape (including various technical disciplines such as FP, maternal health, nutrition, immunization, malaria, policy/advocacy, gender, youth and social inclusion, behavior change communication, etc.) landscape in and knowledge of USG health initiatives in Nigeria.
• Demonstrated capacity in managing results.
• Working knowledge of and/or experience with USG-funded programs, with experience as COP or Deputy COP preferred.
• Proven record of building teams and fostering collaboration to achieve program goals, meet program milestones, and produce quality program results.
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of the PHC system in Nigeria and experience in the design and implementation of PHC programs, at scale.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in working collaboratively with other donors, host country institutions, and international organizations
• Excellent past performance references.
• Demonstrated leadership in working and collaborating with other donors and a wide range of USAID and other donor-funded organizations.

ESSENTIAL SOFT SKILLS

• Committed to EngenderHealth’s core organizational values of reflection, inclusion, integrity, respect, and transformation.
• Exceptional leadership qualities and depth and breadth of management expertise and experience.
• Excellent negotiation skills with a demonstrated capacity for negotiating with senior government officials or executives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

PREFERRED SKILLS, ABILITIES AND FUNCTIONS

• Relevant experience in West and Central Africa, especially Nigeria.
• Ability to travel up to 35% as required.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on tendersglobal.net