RTI's Governance and Economic Development (GED) Division pursues innovative approaches and builds on best practices to create the foundation for and to promote democratic governance and economic development. Working alongside global partners, public institutions, the private sector, and civil society, we help build more effective, accountable, and responsive institutions and policies at the national, regional, and local levels of government.
The GED Division is currently accepting applications for Chief of Party (COP) for an anticipated USAID-funded Governance for Service Local Development (GOLD) Activity program in Senegal. The purpose of the 5 year program is to build capacity of local governments in improving service delivery at the local level and improve citizen engagement in good governance.
The COP is responsible for overall leadership and management of all aspects of the project’s performance, providing technical direction to the entire program, and representing the project’s activities as a whole to external audiences. She/He will ensure an integrated vision among different components and actors. This position is located in Dakar, Senegal. Primary Responsibilities:
Responsible for leading the strategic planning for the program, including annual work plans; ensure close coordination with USAID and program partners and stakeholders.
Lead the design and implementation of activities in municipal governance strengthening, fiscal decentralization, participative budgeting, public financial management; and citizen participation (specifically, engaging youth and women)
Responsible for ensuring quality control and overall responsiveness of technical assistance provided under the award, including harmonization and effective coordination across components.
Foster and maintain effective, professional relations with a broad range of government counterparts and the sector stakeholders.
Serve as primary liaison with USAID/Senegal, government counterparts, and RTI home office. Confer with USAID) on administrative and technical matters; adjust programs and operations to ensure responsiveness with technical direction.
Oversee project management, technical work, scheduling, and deadlines associated with the project. Ability to assign specific tasks and duties as necessary to fulfill deliverables.
Ensure all activities conform to the terms and conditions of project requirements, including cost, schedule and quality parameters. Identify issues and risks to implementation in a timely manner; recommend appropriate course corrections and solutions.
Ensure the timely and quality completion of all program deliverables and reports in accordance with USAID guidelines.
Responsible for the day-to-day operational oversight and administration of the project.
Directly supervise and mentor project staff. **Required Skills and Qualifications:
Education and Experience **
Master’s or higher degree in one of the following relevant fields is strongly desired: public administration, public policy, international development, law, political science, or related social sciences.
At least 12 years of experience in the implementation and management of international donor-funded democracy and governance improvement, public administration, decentralization, or related governance programming areas, including previous experience with efforts to integrate governance in other sectors such as health, education, agriculture.
At least 5 years of resident work experience in West Africa (experience in Senegal preferred). Experience working with USAID-funded programs is preferred.
At least 5 years of experience in development at a senior management level (e.g. COP/Project Director, Deputy COP, Team Lead) including direct supervision of professional and support staff.
Demonstrated experience in working effectively with sub-national and /or local governments in developing contexts, and capabilities in supporting decentralization, and convening multi-stakeholder processes.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Technical expertise in municipal governance strengthening, fiscal decentralization, participative budgeting, public financial management; and citizen participation (specifically, engaging youth and women).
Reputation for exceptional leadership in the design, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of similar-sized donor-supported programs; skills in high-level strategic visioning and leadership with experience managing complex activities involving coordination with multiple partner institutions.
Verbal and written fluency in the English and French languages along with strong communications, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
Demonstrated team player with effective cross-cultural interpersonal skills; able to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse partners and lead multidisciplinary teams.
Ability to resolve sensitive and complicated work issues with senior high-level country counterparts, donor representative and senior-level staff.
Position is contingent upon award and funding.
HOW TO APPLY:
Qualified candidates are invited to apply at www.rti.org/job16657.
Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Only short listed applicants will be contacted.
