Chief of Party, USAID Armenia Food Security Program

Chief of Party, USAID Armenia Food Security Program

Palladium Group

Yerevan, Armenia

This Proposal Opportunity:

The position will be on the upcoming Armenia Food Security Program a 5-Year USAID-funded activity with the potential following components: (a) increased efficiency and production of critical crops for domestic consumption; (b) agriculture sector management; (c) disaster preparedness and resilience; (d) rapid response to unanticipated events or disasters that threaten the Armenian food system. The Chief of Party will be ultimately responsible for the efficient and effective oversight of all elements of the Activity.

Her/his primary responsibilities are to provide overall leadership, management, and general technical direction of the Contract, ensuring an integrated vision among different components and actors, and a focus on achieving the results defined in the Contract. This individual must identify issues and risks related to Contract implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate adjustments. This individual must act as the key liaison with USAID/Armenia and all other counterparts, implementing partners and stakeholders involved with the Contract. The position requires significant coordination skills, broad general and technical knowledge, an ability to cope with multiple interests and challenges, experience in developing countries, and skills to ensure coherence and consistency in the face of urgent deadlines.

Primary Roles and Responsibilities:

The Chief of Party will be responsible for the following:

• Provide overall strategic vision, direction, leadership, and management of the program, including leading the development and implementation of annual workplans;
• Develop an effective integrated approach of program components, partners, private sector actors, and other stakeholders;
• Serve as principal liaison with USAID staff, other implementing partners, host country government actors and other private and public sector stakeholders to exchange information and develop professional relationships;
• Monitor program indicators, evaluate program results, and guide program implementation to deliver results and impact;
• Oversee effective use of resources, on-time delivery of project activity reports and partner deliverables, and overall compliance with USAID regulations and Palladium policies and procedures;
• Develop systems that support collaborating, learning and adapting (CLA) approach, including establishing a culture of adaptive management;
• Administer the program’s financial oversight and procedures, ensuring compliance with established Palladium’s accounting principles and USAID regulations;
• Identify issues and risks related to program implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate program adjustments;
• Represent Palladium and the program to the public and donor community.

Key Competencies Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, business administration, international development, or related field required; master’s degree preferred;
• Demonstrated experience managing large, dynamic, and complex projects with a focus on agriculture value chain and/or agricultural market systems development programs;
• Experience implementing programs in the E&E region; focus on the agriculture sector preferred;
• Excellent interpersonal, diplomacy, and leadership skills, including the ability to manage high-level relationships and complex regional dynamics;
• Significant project management experience, including direct supervision of professional and support staff and assembling teams working on multifaceted, complex international development programs;
• Experience with USAID required. Additional experience with other international donors preferred;
• Proven ability to form collaborative relationships with intergovernmental, government representatives, and other stakeholders;
• Proactive problem-solving, decision-making and good judgment skills;
• Professional proficiency in written and oral English, Russian language in addition is preferred;
• Ability to communicate effectively with managers, colleagues, and clients.

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