Job Title: Chief of Party, USAID Protective Education for Girls in Mali
About Corus: Corus International is the parent of a family of world-class organizations working to deliver the holistic, lasting solutions needed to end extreme poverty once and for all. We are a global leader in international development, with 150 years of combined experience across our brands. Our nonprofit and for-profit subsidiaries include Lutheran World Relief, IMA World Health and its fundraising brand Corus World Health, CGA Technologies, Ground Up Investing, and Farmers Market Brands. Our employees around the globe are experts in their fields and dedicated to helping the world’s most vulnerable people break the cycle of poverty and lead healthy lives. Further details about the organization can be found at: https://corusinternational.org
Lutheran World Relief began working in Mali in 1986 to address drought-related famine and continues to partner with rural communities to address the root causes of poverty and lay the groundwork for greater food and nutritional security. LWR centers its programming on strengthening the resilience of communities and their livelihoods, promoting equitable access to resources to ensure rural families can
withstand the new realities of climate change. LWR’s gender-responsive programming identifies and strives to address gender-based constraints and gaps in the household, the community, and society. Through this gender-responsive and inclusive programming, LWR promotes the elimination of discriminatory beliefs and practices and encourages dignity of work and economic equity.
About The Job: Lutheran World Relief is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) to lead the USAID Protective Education for Girls in Mali Activity. The 5-year project is expected to address the critical barriers faced by vulnerable learners, particularly girls, in Mali mining regions of Kayes and Bougouni and increase access to basic education and foundational learning particularly for girls (age: 6-19) and learners who have been marginalized due to exposure and/or engagement in the mining industry, with improved foundational skills and social emotional competencies, even in the face of violence, exploitation and abuse.
The Chief of Party will serve as the primary liaison with USAID, Government of Mali, sub-national other implementing development partners working in Mali, and Corus International’s headquarters, and relevant project stakeholders fostering collaborative working relationships. S/he will ensure the project’s goals, objectives, and strategy are achieved and that contractual requirements are met on time and within budget. S/he is responsible for directing the project team with an integrated vision, applying effective leadership and strategic planning skills, management experience, outstanding interpersonal skills, and strong written and oral communication skills. The COP supervises the day-to-day work of staff, oversees project implementation to ensure quality programming. The COP also ensures that all management systems, from technical to M&E to finance, actively support timely and accurate project reporting and cost effectiveness for successful implementation of the project. The COP also is responsible for ensuring compliance with Corus’s policies and procedures and USAID rules and regulations, including responsibility for ensuring sub-contract compliance and monitoring the quality of program implementation. The competencies required to be successful in this position include a theoretical and practical understanding and experience of education and gender equity, and social inclusion (GESI); personnel and project management skills; the ability to motivate and lead teams; and the demonstrated ability to operate at advanced levels of authority and accountability for achieving results.
The position will be based in Bamako and will report to the Managing Director, Africa.
Actual hiring is contingent upon signed agreement and USAID approval. Malian nationals are highly encouraged to apply.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide overall management, strategic direction, and technical leadership to the project to achieve expected project results within budget and timeframe.
- Serve as principal liaison to USAID and the Government of Mali, ensuring high levels of coordination, while nurturing relationships with all key stakeholders (including partner organizations at the national and regional levels) on administrative, financial, and programmatic matters related to the project
- Liaise with USAID partners and other donors, as well as implementing partners and stakeholders, to ensure coordination of and harmonization with other relevant education, girls’ empowerment, and other related activities in Mali.
- Lead project teams (e.g., technical, program, finance, and operational staff) to ensure program tasks, deliverables, and responsibilities are met; staff management includes hiring, supervising, and mentoring project staff.
- Oversee project deliverables, including ensuring report preparation and high-quality timely submission, and ensuring cross-cutting issues are effectively integrated into project implementation.
- Direct preparation of annual work plans, project activity updates, and other project-related communication and reporting materials.
- Represent the project in all technical, policy, and programmatic fora at all levels (regional, national, and international).
- Ensure compliance with USAID rules and regulations.
Qualifications:
- Advanced graduate degree in education, gender, youth or related field.
- Minimum of 10 years of professional experience, with progressively increasing responsibilities and duties on education and/or gender and youth programming, including at least eight years of senior-level management experience working on international donor agency-funded projects.
- Experience identifying and addressing barriers to educational opportunities for girls and school retention.
- Familiarity with USAID’s global and Mali-specific education and GESI approaches and policies.
- Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining strong relationships with government agencies, international donor agencies (USAID, World Bank, United Nations), and private sector stakeholders
- Experience collaborating and coordinating with local and national host government agencies and aligning program activities and results with national strategies.
- Demonstrated leadership qualities, including technical, management, and evaluation expertise for complex programs in resource-constrained countries; prior experience as a Chief of Party for USAID-funded projects over $20 million is required.
- Knowledge of and experience with USAID rules and regulations required. Experience managing USAID contracts and sub-contracts is a plus.
- Experience implementing projects in fragile settings.
- Deep knowledge of the political, social, and economic context of Mali is required.
- Strong staff supervision skills and demonstrated ability to coordinate programs with partners from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences; demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams.
- Strong communication skills, including both written and oral presentation skills; proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse public and private partners.
- English and French oral and written fluency required; knowledge of Bambara is an asset.
- Willingness and ability to travel to project sites within Mali.
