Chief of Party – LEARN – (2401) Full Time

Program Description

The Local Engagement and Response Network (LEARN) project addresses the critical gaps in the capacity of Local and National Non-Governmental Organizations (L/NNGOs) as first responders to infectious disease (ID) outbreaks in humanitarian settings. Drawing lessons from the challenges faced during the COVID-19 response, LEARN aims to establish Networks of Local First Responders (LFRs) across 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The project, led by International Medical Corps, focuses on building the technical and organizational capabilities of L/NNGOs by strengthening their engagement, coordination, and multisectoral response. Through three key components LEARN aims to enhance the timeliness, reach, and coverage of readiness and response efforts during ID outbreaks.

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY:  The Chief of Party will apply their expertise and experience to realize the projects’ vision and strategy by providing leadership for the overall management, operations, and implementation of the project. S/he will lead a diverse project team, both global and country based, implementing interventions in complex operational and security environments. The Chief of Party will serve as the primary liaison with key stakeholders, including managing relations with the donor and leading the relationship with the consortium members. S/he will lead a senior team of technical and operational experts to ensure the project’s implementation is sufficiently supported and able to achieve project deliverables. S/he will coordinate closely with the organization’s global operational and program teams, as well as the relevant country missions.

The Chief of Party will provide sound leadership for the overall management of the project’s consortium, with technical and operational oversight, coordination, and support to all partners – ensuring a strong, successful, and productive collaboration across teams.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation:

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Management 
•    Develop and execute overall project strategy, work plan and budget to achieve project results at global, regional, and country levels.
•    Lead overall strategy, management, and operations for the project making key decisions, mitigating risks, and ensuring the integrity of the project’s timely implementation.
•    Lead and supervise the project’s senior team across all consortium members, including providing leadership and building capacity across core project staff.
•    Lead technical and operational planning and strategic communications for the project.
•    Provide technical direction for the development and adherence to the MEAL and CLA plans for the successive phases of the project to capture expected performance and results.
•    Lead regular reviews of deliverables, project practices, tools and achievements against programmatic targets and quality standards; integrate learning and adaptation for continuous performance improvement informed by an effective use of data.
•    Lead the effective implementation of and adherence to all International Medical Corps’ policies and donor’s requirements across the project’s interventions.
•    Ensure that contract, finance, and grants administration functions are in full compliance and are well supported with effective systems and procedures.

Senior Coordination and Representation 
•    As the project’s primary focal point, manage key relationships with all levels of relevant stakeholders (global and regional partnerships, country field missions, host-country governments, and donor), as well as required by the aims of the project.
•    Represent the project within International Medical Corps’ global portfolio; facilitate and ensure internal cross-departmental support consistently meets the needs of the project and its team; cultivate and maintain positive working relationships with relevant International Medical Corps’ staff across relevant departments such as International Programs, Technical Unit, Grants and Contracts Managements, Global Communications, and more.
•    Consortium and Subawards Management:
•    Lead efforts for overall consortium management, ensuring oversight and support aligns with partner-specific needs, donor compliance, and implementation plans.
•    Supervise the DCOP in the overall management of the subawards and quality control for partners’ deliverables.
•    Responsible for overall relationship management with partners’ HQ and project-specific team members; cultivate and maintain positive and effective working relationships, serving as primary focal point for all consortium partners

Human Resources Management 
•    Ensure that the project team and is properly onboarded, roles and responsibilities are properly assigned, and the team is able to implement the agreed project deliverables.
•    Develop support strategies for staff, foster teambuilding, and introduce principles of self-care.
•    Provide supportive and constructive feedback and conduct regular performance appraisals.
•    Ensure project staff adhere to and are supported by any established dotted-line supervision with broader departments.

Security and Conduct
•    Provide leadership for the coordination of the project with the global and mission-level lead safety and security focal points; ensure that the project’s implementation strategies and risk mitigation approaches align with IMC’s safety and security plans.
•    Contribute to the positive image and overall credibility of the project and organization, notably through adherence to the Code of Conduct and Ethics, including compliance with anti-harassment, safeguarding and PSEA policies
•    Ensure that team members are properly trained in security and conduct protocols and policies, put in place systems to support staff wellbeing, safety and security are in place, and measures to support accountability to beneficiaries are effectively integrated and prioritized throughout the project.

Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily all inclusive.

Job Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

•    Typically, a Master’s degree in the Medical Field, Public Health, International Development, International Relations, or related field.
•    Typically, 12+ years of relevant and progressive experience managing high-value, complex, multi-year, multi-partner projects implemented in international development and/or humanitarian settings, including at least 7 years in a senior-level position providing technical assistance and managerial oversight.
•    Demonstrated experience designing and managing projects with focus in the areas of infectious diseases management and prevention, emergency preparedness and response, health systems strengthening, capacity development at regional, national and local levels, and Infection Prevention and Control detection and response in healthcare settings.
•    Proven experience cultivating and managing donor, host-country and muti-lateral agencies relations;
•    Experience providing technical direction, assistance, and oversight for project implementation, measuring performance against targets, as well as leading any necessary training and mentoring staff, partners, and key stakeholders.
•    Experience leading and/or supporting capacity strengthening initiatives with local stakeholders in related technical areas, including contributing to curriculum development and effective training methodologies for the health sector.
•    Demonstrated experience managing teams, employing both in-person and remote management approaches to supervision of staff in various locations.
•    Strong leadership and management skills with proven ability to lead and motivate multidisciplinary and multicultural project teams.
•    Proven strong consortium and partnership management skills.
•    Demonstrated strategic thinking, creativity, acute problem solving, and analytical skills.
•    Knowledge of foreign aid architecture, including humanitarian and development funding mechanisms.
•    Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written.
•    Strong familiarity with USAID BHA rules and regulations, including monitoring related compliance and mitigating risks.
•    Fluency in written and spoken English required; language skills in French and Arabic a plus.
•    Willingness and ability to travel to project sites in the assigned countries on occasion, including traveling to insecure environments, is required.

Additional Technical or Language Requirements

Demonstrated experience collaborating with USAID / BHA.

As applicable to this position, an individual must promote and encourage a culture of compliance and ethics throughout the organization and maintain a clear understanding of International Medical Corps’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards. Staff are also responsible for preventing violations to our Code of Conduct and Ethics, which may involve Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption or Harassment. If you see, hear or are made aware of any violations to the Code of Conduct and Ethics or Safeguarding Policy, you have an obligation to report. If this is a supervisory position, one must set an example of ethical behavior through one’s own conduct and oversight of the work of others; ensure that those who report to you have sufficient knowledge and resources to follow the standards outlined in the Code of Conduct & Ethics; monitor compliance of the people you supervise; enforce the Code of Conduct & Ethics and International Medical Corps’ policies, including the Safeguarding Policy and the Protection from Harassment, Bullying and Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace Policy, consistently and fairly; support employees who in good faith raise questions or concerns.

It is all staff shared responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect populations with whom we work, including adults who may be particularly vulnerable and children. This includes safeguarding from the following conduct by our staff or partners: sexual exploitation and abuse; exploitation, neglect, or abuse of children, adults at risk, or LGBTI individuals; and any form of trafficking in persons.

International Medical Corps is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.

All offers of employment at International Medical Corps are subject to satisfactory references and background checks. International Medical Corps participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme from the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR). In accordance with this, we will request information from an applicant’s previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.