POSITION SUMMARY: 

Winrock International is recruiting applicants for the position of a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for the anticipated U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Protective Education for Girls in Mali Activity. The project will target out-of-school adolescents and youth in Kayes and Bougouni, particularly girls and those affected by conflict and crisis, who do not have access to the safe and equitable learning opportunities needed to strengthen their resilience and contribute to their communities. The purpose of the activity is to increase primary school entry, retention and completion, particularly for girls 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 position is contingent upon receipt of donor funding. 

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) will support the Chief of Party (COP) in project leadership, and they will lead project management and operations. Specifically, they will oversee project planning and implementation, including personnel management, procurement and grants, logistics, administration, and other supervisory responsibilities as specified by the COP.  They will work in coordination with the Winrock home office, including the project technical team and program staff.  

RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Essential responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Provide support to the COP to achieve the results of the project.

• Lead development of operational and administrative aspects of the project workplan.

• Provide supervision, support, and direction to long- and short-term staff.

• Monitor program indicators, evaluate program results and make recommendations for improvement in program implementation, in collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Advisor.

• Analyze project impacts and challenges. Adaptively manage the project to meet needs and achieve results.

• Work with the operations team to design and implement grants.

• Work with team to prepare annual work plans and bi-weekly and quarterly reports and monitor the implementation of these plans.

• Support COP in preparing for regular meetings with USAID and other stakeholders, including coordination with other, complementary USAID and donor projects.

• Participate in regular field visits to implementation areas to assure progress towards the expected objectives and goals.

• Coordinate and communicate on a regular basis with Winrock’s Home Office.

Other Responsibilities: 

• Remain in regular contact with the home office, providing presentations and updates about the project’s progress.

• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS AND BACKGROUND:  

Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social science, development studies, or relevant discipline. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience: 

• Strong interpersonal skills with proven experience facilitating communications and coordinating with a wide range of stakeholders and partners

• Minimum 7 years of professional experience implementing complex international development programs is required including a minimum of 3 years of demonstrated managerial and/or team leadership experience. Experience in the West Africa region is required, and Mali strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated capabilities in institutional capacity building, high-level strategic visioning and leadership, and working effectively with civil society, local, regional and central-level government authorities and with USAID or other development partners is required.

• Demonstrated capabilities managing project operations for a project of similar scope and size, preferably funded by USAID.

• Experience designing and managing grants. Experience building the capacity of grantees.

• Experience overseeing human resources, procurement, logistics, and administrative operations and staff.

• Experience conducting inclusion analyses, designing, and conducting gender and inclusion programming.

• Knowledge of gender and other social inclusion considerations (constraints and opportunities) in education in Mali.

• Previous experience with USAID-funded programs implementing education improvement and social inclusion approaches and tools.

• Significant networks with the main actors in education sector in Mali

• Experience working in insecure environments strongly preferred.

Skills/Knowledge:           

• Strong team management skills is preferred.

• Written and spoken fluency in French. English proficiency desired.

Other:                   

• Ability to travel to target regions in Mali (in compliance with safety and security restrictions).

SALARY:  

The annual salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Excellent benefits offered.