Pact Chief of Party (OVC Support Project) Job in Kenya

Position Title: Chief of Party 

Office Location: Kenya 

Supervisor Title: Country Director, Kenya 

New or Replacement: New 

Replacement for: N/A 

Full or Part-Time: Full time 

Project End Date: 2020 

Pact Overview: At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better tomorrow. The promise of a healthy life. Of a decent livelihood. Of sustainable natural resources that benefit communities. 

Now more than ever in its 42-year history, Pact is helping millions of people who are poor and marginalized discover and build their own solutions and take ownership over their future. 

Pact enables systemic solutions that allow those who are poor and marginalized to earn a dignified living, be healthy, and take part in the benefits that nature provides. 

Pact accomplishes this by strengthening local capacity, forging effective governance systems, and transforming markets into a force for development. 

Department Overview: Pact seeks a Chief of Party for the proposed USAID-funded five-year Support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Nairobi and Coast Counties of Kenya to improve the welfare and protection of children affected by HIV/AIDS by building the capacity of households to provide for children under their care and strengthening social services systems and structures at the county and community levels to improve care and support of OVC. 

This position is contingent on award. 

Position Purpose: Reporting to the Kenya Country Director, the Chief of Party (COP) will be responsible for the overall management and operations of the project. She/he will supervise project implementation and ensure the project meets stated goals and reporting requirements. 

The COP will take a leadership role in coordination among USAID and key stakeholders and other implementing partners. 

The COP position requires political savvy, as she/he will interact with numerous GOK institutions and senior-level national and county-level government officials. 

Key Responsibilities
 

Specific Duties:

• Ensure high-quality technical programming through hands-on guidance and support grounded in the program’s strategic objectives and adhering to expected technical quality and reporting requirements
• Participate in the technical and programmatic design of award and partner programs; represent Pact in negotiating with donors and partners
• Manage all project planning responsibilities, including the production of annual workplans; guide and oversee the alignment of the budget to expected results, and review and approve annual budgets and quarterly reports
• Ensure the cost-effective use of Pact resources
• Ensure compliance with HQ and USAID requirements, policies and regulations.
• Act as liaison to relevant donors and the local government
• As relevant, manage all local grantmaking mechanisms, ensuring compliance with donor regulations and Pact policy; coordinate and/or conduct monitoring visits to grantee programs.
• Provide training and mentoring to partners to strengthen capacity for technical service delivery and compliance with donor rules and regulations
• Recruit and directly supervise local project staff in line with Pact HR policies; 
• Oversee the management and development of project office human resources to ensure a diverse, skilled and productive workforce, an effective leadership team, and an organizational culture where Pact’s values are practiced 

Basic Requirements
 

Skills and Abilities
 

Leadership

• Ability to sustain interpersonal and professional relationships with internal colleagues and contacts in donor and peer organizations
• Deep understanding of Pact’s strategy and how efforts contribute to the greater good
• Consistently works within internal process and procedures
• Strong interpersonal and team building skills
• Proactive engagement in corporate initiatives

Project Management

• Strong planning and time management skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to effectively present complex ideas to diverse audiences
• Ability to problem-solve difficult issues
• Ability to multitask with ease, adapting to frequently changing priorities
• Strong negotiating and conflict resolution skills
• Proficiency in developing and managing a budget

Technical Skills

• Strong experience in one of Pact’s technical areas or a support function
• Strong knowledge and understanding of donor policies and regulations
• High competence using common desktop applications and internal systems

People Management

• Demonstrated proficiency in supervising staff, including providing honest feedback
• Ability to mentor others

Preferred Qualifications

• At least seven years experience in managing complex orphans and other vulnerable children (OVC) programs, social services programs, and/or public health programs of similar scope and size is desired;
• At least seven years experience as senior staff in at least three of the following areas: child protection, economic strengthening, social protection, education, health and nutrition including HIV/AIDS care and support; social service systems strengthening; quality improvement/quality assurance; M&E; and operations research preferred;
• At least five years international experience in development, managing, overseeing, or evaluating comprehensive social services programs of similar size and complexity, with USAID experience preferred;
• At least five years demonstrated skills and experience in partnership building, especially with the Government of Kenya, donors, private sector, NGO and local community organizations;
• At least seven years of experience in program management and administration, financial management, award cooperative agreement compliance, subaward management, and tracking project performance and costs;
• Professional level of oral and written fluency in English language;
• At least a Master’s Degree in social sciences, public health, management, business administration, or a related field required;
• Strong management and communication skills, strategic vision, leadership qualities, professional reputation, ability to create synergies where applicable, interpersonal skills, and written and oral presentation skills to fulfill the diverse technical and managerial requirements of the project description.

Pact is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.

We encourage interested applicants to submit their applications to the attention of Pact HR Office in Kenya via the following email address: kenyahr@pactworld.org clearly indicating in the subject field of your email Chief of Party (OVC) by 29th December 2014. 

All applicants should submit their application with a detailed CV, which should include names and contacts of 3 referees.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.