Requisition ID: req41831
Job Title: Chief of Party - Opportunities to Learn (OTL)
Sector: Operations
Employment Category: Regular
Employment Type: Full-Time
Open to Expatriates: No
Location: Nigeria
Job Description
BACKGROUND
The International Rescue Committee’s mission is to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded over 80 years ago, the IRC is a leading humanitarian and development organization with presence in more than 40 countries. Across contexts, the IRC is committed to delivering innovative, high-impact programs tailored to the needs of communities affected by crisis.
The IRC began working in Nigeria in 2012, providing assistance to communities displaced by large-scale floods. In response to escalating armed conflict in 2014, the IRC launched an emergency response in Yola and has since scaled health and nutrition, education, protection, and WASH programming across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states. As one of the largest multi-sector actors in the northeast, the IRC has strong linkages with civil society organizations (CSOs), state line ministries, and local stakeholders to ensure lasting gains for communities in need.
SCOPE OF WORK
The IRC seeks a Chief of Party (COP) for a five-year, multi-million dollar USAID education activity already in its 2nd year in Nigeria. The project will equip out-of-school children and youth in northeast Nigeria with the foundational skills needed to progress to higher levels of education, training and/or engagement in the workforce.
The COP will be responsible for ensuring the project is implemented in accordance with the terms of the USAID award (cooperative agreement), USAID regulations, principles of IRC, and internationally recognized quality of assistance standards. The COP will be the primary representational link with USAID staff. The position will be based in Maiduguri, Nigeria where the team is based.
Final selection is contingent on USAID approval.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide overall leadership and technical direction for the project, ensuring completion of project deliverables.
Responsible for the overall planning, implementation, administration, and financial management of the project, as well as the achievement of all impact goals and objectives.
Coordinate with government and other relevant stakeholders to ensure activities complement ongoing initiatives and adhere to country and global standards.
Serve as the primary liaison with the donor and Nigerian Ministry of Education. Report to USAID through formal and informal debriefings, annual and semi-annual reports, etc.
Represent the project and organization at regional, national, and international forums, including technical conferences and policy briefings, and share information about project achievements and lessons learned within the organization and wider development community.
Oversee the development, review, and monitoring of yearly work plans and project strategy documents to ensure long- and short-term priorities are on track.
Manage project staff and consortium partners to ensure proper reporting, financial management, and compliance
Position Reports to: the Country director CD
Indirect/Technical Reporting: DDP, STA and USAID Contacts
Position directly Supervises: OTL SMT members and Technical Leads
Key Internal Contacts: IRC SMT, Education TC, STA, ETC
Qualifications
Minimum 10 years of experience designing, implementing, and managing large, complex projects that work specifically to support out-of-school children and youth through high-quality formal and non-formal education.
Minimum three years of senior project leadership experience on USAID activities; previous experience as COP of USAID-funded programs preferred.
Master’s degree in education, international development, or related field is required.
Significant previous experience working in conflict or crisis situations, preferably in West Africa and/or Nigeria.
Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with a wide network of partners and stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to liaise with senior government officials, dignitaries, executives of NGOs, and senior members of the donor community.
Demonstrated success incorporating innovation and participatory, flexible, and gender-sensitive programming into implementation.
Experience working to incorporate issues of government accountability, transparency, and equity in education programs, including gender, ethnicity, and disability inclusion.
Demonstrated experience in policy dialogue and education reform working with government and civil society organizations.
Capacity to work well under pressure, and the ability to communicate appropriately and effectively cross‐culturally is critical.
The candidate must be fluent in English.
Standards of Professional Conduct The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.
Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.
Female applicants are thus highly encouraged to apply. Also, to fulfill our ambition for internal mobility, Internal candidates are highly encouraged to take keen interest and apply.
Working Environment
IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Apply Now
Share
Save Job