Deputy Chief of Party, USAID/Mali Local Governance Activity at Save the Children – US

Summary

Save the Children is seeking a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for an upcoming USAID/Mali Local Governance program. The USAID Local Governance Program intends to improve the development of high-quality local development (PDSEC) plans, social service delivery, and public accountability. The activity will focus on the inclusive participation of all citizens in the development of plans at the Commune level that account for the needs of women, youth and marginalized groups. It will strengthen civil society organizations capacity in advocacy, and support resource mobilization for social accountability. The project will raise awareness of citizens about their roles in development planning, budget analysis, public hearings and advocacy, while also improving the capacity of local authorities to respond to their populations’ needs.

The DCOP reports directly to the Chief of Party and leads a Technical team that will ensure quality implementation of high-impact, evidence-based interventions to meet the project’s stated goals and reporting requirements. The DCOP will support the COP in coordinating with USAID, key stakeholders, consortium partners, government representatives and local partners and communities. In addition, the DCOP will ensure the technical quality of key program activities and deliverables, and ensure efficient technical support for the entire project team and local partners.

This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

• In collaboration with the COP and other senior staff, provide leadership to ensure the successful implementation of project activities according to the contractual requirements with the donor and government.
• Lead design and regularly update detailed annual work plans – and ensure these are used by the team and partner – to monitor progress towards achievement of program objectives.
• Work with program staff, Save the Children technical advisors, and partners to identify the technical support needs of the program and ensure this support is effectively provided.
• Ensure quality of programmatic reports to the donor, government, and Save the Children. This includes working closely with the COP and Finance Director to ensure narrative reports are of the highest accuracy and submitted in a timely manner to the donor.
• Mentor and supervise direct reports to achieve their work plan objectives and to contribute to the achievement of the overall program goals.
• Utilize SC systems to monitor Commune-level activities, identify challenges, and utilize continuous learning and adaptation systems to lessons are applied by the project team and partners.
• Maintain good working relationships with officials, government ministries, implementing partners, and the international and local NGO community.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant area of expertise and seven years professional experience managing and implementing civil society, human rights, media and/or other democracy and local governance programming.
• Prior experience as DCOP, Project Director or Technical Lead, ideally within Mali or West Africa.
• At least three years of demonstrated experience in managing and supervising a technical team and in project design.
• Significant experience strengthening the organizational and technical capacity of civil society organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with government representatives, private sector entities, local community organizations, donors and other stakeholders, particularly at the sub-national level.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate successfully with individuals and teams at all levels.
• In-depth knowledge of USAID approaches, regulations, compliance, and reporting requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire and enable others through teamwork, training, and capacity building to realize organizational objectives.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French. Proficiency in Bambara and/or other Malian national languages preferred.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

Qualified local national candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

About Save the Children

No matter your role when you join Save the Children, each and every day you will challenge yourself to devote your skills, talent and expertise to changing the world for kids. It’s an ambitious goal, and a meaningful one no matter how you see yourself professionally: an accountant, a writer, a data analyst, a teacher, a driver, a designer, or any one of the hundreds of dozens of roles we’re looking to fill every day.

You see, Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Our work for children and their families requires that we commit—at every opportunity—to work together to identify and dismantle persistent systemic and structural racism, inequality, and any other forms of discrimination everywhere we work. As an anti-racist organization, Save the Children will not tolerate discrimination in any form—in our employment practices, amongst our staff, in our leadership or toward the people we serve. We stand in solidarity with all people to fight for equal rights, justice, inclusion, and belonging.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children’s policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at the risk of any kind of child abuse. All our representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.