Chief of Party, USAID Haiti Resilient Environment South Activity
Chief of Party, USAID Haiti Resilient Environment South Activity
Winrock International
Haiti
POSITION SUMMARY:
Winrock is accepting applications for Chief of Party (COP) candidates for an anticipated USAID-funded project in Haiti. The five-year USAID/Haiti Resilient Environment South Activity will support interventions to protect and restore ecosystem services, including water availability, in areas of most critical need for restoration or conservation in Southern Haiti in terms of landscape degradation, deforestation, vulnerability of communities, and the potential for long-term results. The geographic focus is the Parc Macaya and nearby areas. This position will be based in Haiti, and contingent upon receipt of donor funding.
The COP will be responsible for leading all technical, financial and administrative aspects of the program. The COP will coordinate closely with USAID and the Winrock home office in developing, implementing, and revising the activities overall field strategy. The COP oversees the strategic and technical direction of the program and serves as link between USAID, Winrock’s HO, and program partners and stakeholders. S/he will foster and maintain effective relationships and coordination with government, academia, private sector, civil society, NGOs, and other donors and ensure compliance with the contract including timely, high-quality results.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide overall technical leadership and administrative oversight to achieve the results of the program;
- Serve as principal liaison to USAID/Haiti;
- Oversee and be responsible for financial and administrative aspects of the project including managing the budget;
- Provide direct supervision, support, and direction to long- and short-term senior project staff;
- Administer the project's financial oversight and procedures, ensuring compliance with established Winrock accounting principles and USAID regulations;
- Monitor program indicators, evaluate program results and make recommendations for improvement in program implementation;
- Analyze project impact and challenges to adaptively manage the project to meet or exceed results;
- Ensure women and marginalized groups are beneficiaries of the project;
- Prepare annual work plans and progress reports and monitor the implementation of these plans. Prepare and submit quarterly reports on progress of activities and achievement of program results to USAID;
- Interact directly and regularly with USAID and other stakeholders;
- Participate in regular field visits to the project areas to assure project progress towards activity objectives and goals;
- Coordinate and communicate regularly with Winrock’s Home Office;
- Manage relationships with complementary USAID and donor projects.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Represent Winrock at meetings and events as required and keep Winrock home office informed regarding new opportunities in the country and region.
QUALIFICATIONS AND BACKGROUND:
Work Experience:
- Minimum 10 years of professional experience in fields required for the successful implementation of this program, including natural resource management, watershed protection, agroforestry, agriculture, climate change, community development, and governance, as well as an understanding of policy, economics, and market issues in these sectors;
- Proven exceptional leadership in the design, management, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of international donor supported programs of similar size and complexity;
- Track record in strategic planning, management, supervision, and budgeting;
- Proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse public and private partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams;
- 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;
- Technical and managerial experience in Haiti and/or countries with complex working environments including high-risk and fragile states preferred;
- Experience integrating gender, equity and social inclusion approaches;
- Experience fostering an inclusive and continuous learning environment and adaptive management.
Education:
- Advanced degree required in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Agriculture, Resource Economics, land management, Earth Sciences, Public/Business Administration, Governance, or relevant fields of study related to the project (water supply and sanitation, water management, climate change adaptation, etc.). Ph.D. in a relevant discipline would be a distinct asset.
Skills:
- Technical understanding of forestry, agriculture, and climate change issues;
- Technical understanding of water security, land use planning, and climate change adaptation;
- Knowledge of USAID policies and regulations as related to project management;
- Knowledge of the political, social, cultural, environmental, and development context of Haiti is strongly preferred;
- Ability to diplomatically supervise staff and coordinate programs with partners from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences;
- Ability to build coalitions and networks that can provide synergies and sustainable solutions;
- Must be comfortable in high-level representational role as well as interacting with beneficiaries;
- Strong communication skills, both interpersonal and written, to effectively coordinate stakeholders;
- Fluency in written and oral English and professional working proficiency in French is required. Haitian Creole is desirable.
