We are currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Regional Chief of Party (COP) for an upcoming USAID-funded opportunity in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region entitled the USAID LAC Regional Fund for Basic Education.The USAID LAC Regional Fund for Basic Education project will work to address existing systemic barriers and improve access and foundational learning outcomes specifically for marginalized and vulnerable groups.This position will be based in the LAC region and is contingent upon award.

Position Description:

The Regional Chief of Party (COP) will lead the design, development and implementation of a project to support local innovation and scaling of successful basic education interventions in the region. In this role, they will catalyze, leverage, and mobilize resources and actions, orchestrating the efforts of NGOs, private sector actors, and other donors to prove the possibility of accessible education for all children and youth in the region. The Regional COP will oversee a substantial grant program, as well as craft research and evidence initiatives and knowledge-sharing platforms to amplify the reach and impact of the project. Their leadership will unite a diverseteam of educators, researchers, communicators, administrators and managers to ensure impact, efficiency, and accountability.

The Regional COPis responsible for the overall implementation and oversight of the project, including managing the annual work plan and budgeting process; creating/maintaining an effective project management team; overseeing the collaboration with and leveraging of other donor activities; overseeing an effective monitoring and evaluation system; and coordinating technical activities and sub-grantees to achieve results. In their role as the primary liaison withUSAID (including the LAC Bureau in Washington, DC as well as individual USAID Missions), other donors and key stakeholders, and implementing partners, their diplomacy, strategic acumen, and respect for local knowledge and experience will be crucial.

The Regional COP’s primary responsibilities are to provide overall leadership, management oversight, and technical direction for the program, ensuring an integrated vision across components and actors, with a focus on achieving the results defined in the cooperative agreement. This individual will be expected to take a proactive approach toidentify issues and risks related to program implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate program adjustments. They will supervise activity implementation and ensure activities meet stated goals and reporting requirements. The Regional COP will have demonstrated ability to work in complex environments, across different cultures, and manage diverse teams to deliver impact within agreed timelines.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Providing leadership and management to establish the direction of the project;
• Building strategic partnerships with local USAID Missions, local governments, and program partners;
• Leading strategies to build on existing donor initiatives in the region and catalyze new efforts with donors and private sector stakeholders to support foundational learning in the region;
• In collaboration with USAID, setting a clear strategic vision, plan, develop, and coordinate training activities and corresponding budget(s) to meet project objectives and goals;
• Supporting the recruitment and hiring of local and regional staff and providing capacity building of the local in-country team(s) including coaching and mentoring to ensure high quality of and timeliness of deliverables;
• Overseeing the design and implementation of efficient, results-oriented, cost-effective interventions to improve organizations’ human and/or institutional capacity, including administering academic education and technical training of mid- to high-level professionals;
• Overseeing the management of all sub-awardees ensuring compliance for subaward development, implementation and close-out;
• Overseeing in-country finances, budgeting and procurement, ensuring that all finance and procurement are compliant with USG and FHI 360 policies and procedures; and
• Responsible for complying with applicable contract and sponsor requirements and following all FHI 360 policies and procedures and local laws.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in education, public administration, international development, or related field from an accredited university; Ph.D. or Ed.D. is preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in similar education intervention activities, and experience managing complex donor-funded development activities in challenging environments with preferred experience working on basic education programs in Latin American and Caribbean.
• Knowledge of strategies to improve foundational learningin basic education programs as well as familiarity with marginalized populations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Knowledge of and experience working with multiple donors in the region, such as multi-laterals, non-US bilateral donors, private foundations, private sector, etc. Experience mobilizing donor and private sector investments, including experience with cost sharing, highly desired.
• Strong knowledge of, and commitment to, gender and social equity issues in education.
• Relevant management, supervisory, technical experience working with programs that are of a similar scope and scale to this program.
• Demonstrated leadership, effective organizational development, partnership-building, managerial, teambuilding and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in complex environments, across different cultures, and manage diverse teams to deliver impact within agreed timelines across a broad geographic area.
• Proven ability to coordinate with government stakeholders, as well as non-governmental organizations.
• Strong interpersonal skills with experience working in cross-cultural settings.
• Demonstrated knowledge of United States Government rules, regulations, policies, and procedures as they relate to project and program compliance and reporting.
• Experience in the education sector in USAID target countries (Colombia, Dominican Republic, Eastern and Southern Caribbean, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru) and the region strongly preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish and English required.