Chief of Party, iDE Madagascar

Position description

iDE is an international NGO with 40 years of experience in designing and delivering market-based solutions to poverty. iDE is headquartered in Denver, Colorado USA and operates in 12 countries around the world.

iDE is seeking applications from qualified candidates for Chief of Party (COP) for the anticipated five-year USAID-funded Madagascar Feed the Future Sustainable Food Entrepreneurship Project. This project aims to support the Government of Madagascar (GoM) to develop efficient and responsive markets to enhance access to goods and services in order to reach and uplift the more vulnerable population through market-led agricultural development.

This position reports directly to iDE’s Madagascar Country Director and receives technical and other support from iDE headquarters staff and from other Country Directors and technical staff based within Africa and beyond. The COP will provide overall leadership and management and oversee the implementation of the project. The COP will strive to achieve project objectives through technical direction and visionary leadership within a complex and evolving environment. This individual will establish and maintain strong partnerships with stakeholders across the public and private sectors to ensure sustainable, cross-sectoral, and evidence-based approaches.

iDE believes inclusive markets are the most powerful tool for creating prosperity, building resilience, and ultimately ending poverty. By listening to every stakeholder—producers, suppliers, retailers, and customers—we can overcome critical bottlenecks and develop lasting solutions. At iDE, we continually challenge assumptions, make effective data- and evidence-driven decisions, and enable agile delivery of strategies and resources toward improved outcomes for our interventions. We also work to transform beliefs and practices that perpetuate inequality and use the knowledge we acquire to design social and behavior change programming that promotes the creation of resilient market ecosystems, which benefit all people.

Who we are looking for:

We are looking for someone who shares the above-stated views. The Chief of Party also must have well-developed analytical and financial skills and understand how markets for agriculture work in a context like Madagascar, as well as a good understanding of finance, governance, entrepreneurship, and behavior change.

Requirements

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Program Management:

• Manage, lead, and oversee all staff, consultants, and subgrantees in achieving project results.
• In conjunction with USAID and iDE headquarters, determine annual priorities and develop work plans
• Implement effective decision-making systems, including internal management, overall reporting, and communication internally and outside of iDE
• Monitor internal systems and procedures ensuring efficient and proper use of resources and ongoing collaborating, learning, and adapting.
• Ensure that the project is implemented with a one-team approach, ensuring that coordination among consortium partners is streamlined and conducive to a single, coherent program
• Manage project consortium, including ensuring effective communication with all partners, proactively identifying and resolving partnership issues, and ensuring cohesion throughout project implementation. Annual review of the project subgrantees.
• Ensure that the program is technically sound, evidence-based, and responsive to the needs of Madagascar and its people. Champion inclusive markets systems and private sector linkages.

Finance and Administration Management:

• Ensure compliance with donor rules and regulations on program implementation
• Provide administrative and financial management consistent with iDE organizational policies and procedures, in close cooperation with the Country Director, SVP Operations, and other iDE headquarters staff
• Develop and maintain all administrative and financial controls
• Ensure that administration and financial procedures, practices, and reporting are effective and in compliance with iDE standards and general accounting & administrative guidelines
• Ensure that all Madagascar field offices are run in compliance with established administrative and financial procedures
• Ensure adherence to relevant Malagasy government regulations concerning operations for not-for-profit organizations in Madagascar and for maintaining the good legal standing of iDE in Madagascar

Human Resource Management:

• Consistent with iDE organizational policies and procedures, and in close cooperation with iDE headquarters HR staff, develop and manage Human Resource functions for the project, including:
  • Preparation of job descriptions
  • Identification, funding, and hiring of personnel
  • Development and implementation of annual performance reviews for all project personnel
  • Staff onboarding, professional development, and training
  • Ensuring all HR practices in the project adhere to iDE policies & procedures and Malagasy labor laws, insurance, and tax regulations

Liaison:

• Serve as the project’s principal liaison with USAID, other donors, key government officials, international and local organizations and key private sector representatives. Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with above-mentioned stakeholders.
• Ensure effective communication with iDE headquarters, including timely submissions of program reports, financial reports, planning documents, and reports to donors
• Ensure effective communication with other iDE country programs and committees
• Provide timely and accurate reporting to USAID on all program areas
• Participate in collaborative efforts with other NGOs, national and local governments, donors, public and private sector partners, etc.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in International Development, Business, Marketing, Finance, Management, Engineering or related field or equivalent experience preferred; BA/BS required
• 7+ years relevant leadership or senior management experience leading and managing complex development programs and multi-disciplinary teams.
• USAID experience strongly preferred with a preference for candidates with previous COP or DCOP experience on USAID-funded projects
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of constituencies and cultures
• Proven track record fostering inclusive and collaborative learning and adaptive management
• A demonstrated history of success investing in relationships with government representatives and other key partners
• Ability to work collaboratively and to foster a cooperative environment
• Proven ability to develop and manage financial management information systems
• Excellent speaking, writing, and oral communication skills in English and French. Fluency in Malagasy strongly preferred.
• Ability to think innovatively and practically and translate thinking into real world outputs. Experience with Human Centered Design and Design Thinking preferred
• Strong understanding of the policy, social, economic, environmental, and cultural context in Madagascar desired
• Experience in Madagascar strongly preferred, alternative or additional experience in similar contexts will be considered.

Application instructions

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