Chief of Party for Modern Cooking for Healthy Forests Project

Tetra Tech International Development (International Development Jobs – Tetra Tech) is currently accepting expressions of interest from qualified candidates for the Chief of Party position for the $16.9 million Modern Cooking for Healthy Forests (MCHF) activity co-funded by USAID and UKaid. This is a full-time position based in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Position Description: MCHF is designed to support the Government of Malawi (GoM) to promote sustainable forest management of selected landscapes and promote sustainable energy options in selected urban areas, in order to maintain forest cover and reduce land-based emissions. The Chief of Party (COP) will be the principal point of contact in Malawi for procedural and substantive matters. The COP will coordinate and ultimately be responsible for all contract management and implementation. The COP will be the primary liaison with USAID and UKaid in Malawi on technical matters and must adjust activities and operations in response to the clients’ technical direction. The COP will also be responsible for ensuring quality control and the overall responsiveness of technical assistance provided under the contract. The COP’s primary responsibilities are aimed at providing overall leadership, management, and general technical direction of the entire project, ensuring an integrated vision among different components and stakeholders, and a focus on achieving the results defined in the contract. This individual will be expected to identify issues and risks related to project implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate adjustments.

Responsibilities:

* Provide leadership and technical expertise for the Activity, and supervise project staff / local teams;

* Develop strategic objectives and confirm project compliance with client regulations;

* Manage the Activity’s implementation, including overall responsibility for personnel and efficient budgeting and financial management;

* Oversee technical activities of the Activity and ensure that interventions are achieving the results defined in the contract, with overall oversight of monitoring evaluation and learning systems and assuring data quality;

* Evaluate and document Activity progress and lessons learned; and

* Assume responsibility for overall USAID contract management ensuring quality control and timeliness of deliverables.

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

The successful candidate will demonstrate effective management experience and proven experience managing programs of similar scope and scale in Malawi or within the southeastern Africa region. Additionally, the candidate should possess:

* Minimum master’s degree or higher in climate/environment sciences, natural resources, international development or a related field;

* A combination of education and work experience that clearly demonstrates an ability to provide effective overall technical leadership and oversight of a project focused on REDD+ at the site and national (including strategies to address drivers of forest degradation and deforestation, and MRV); forest management and land conservation more broadly; analysis of low-emission development opportunities; and alternative cooking energy options and technologies;

* Minimum five (5) years of supervisory work experience in direct leadership of professional and support staff, oversight and evaluation of staff performance and deliverables, and contract management;

* Exceptional managerial skills and demonstrated experience in managing donor-funded projects of similar size and scope; USAID/USG experience preferred;

* Demonstrated ability to engage in multi-stakeholder dialogue, including sustaining partnerships and strong working relationships with donors, host country government counterparts, private sector, and civil society;

* Proven leadership in local capacity development;

* Strong understanding of monitoring, evaluation and learning;

* Proficiency in written and spoken English is required;

* Excellent oral and written communication skills. Demonstrated ability to think strategically and communicate one’s vision to partners and colleagues.