Deputy Chief of Party McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program

Global Communities

Karachi, Pakistan

Global Communities is seeking a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for a five-year, $29 million USDA McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition (McGovern-Dole) project in Pakistan. The key objective of the McGovern-Dole Program is to reduce hunger and improve literacy and primary education, especially for girls. By providing school meals, teacher training and related support, McGovern-Dole projects help boost school enrollment and academic performance. At the same time, the program also focuses on improving children’s health and learning capacity before they enter school by offering nutrition programs for pregnant and nursing women, infants and pre-schoolers.  For over 24 years Global Communities has been a trusted USDA McGovern-Dole implementing partner with active programs in Central America and Africa. 

Under the direction of the Chief of Party, the DCOP will help provide management, and strong technical support in the implementation of the project. We are looking for passionate, dedicated professionals to help us build the world we envision: one of expanded opportunity, where crises give way to resilience and all people thrive.

Responsibilities

The Deputy Chief of Party will be responsible for collaborating with the COP in overseeing the technical teams and technical activity implementation. The DCOP will liaise with the COP to guide and ensure that the project’s implementation is aligned with its approved workplan, budget and achieves targets while providing high-quality technical assistance to government officials, civil society leaders, and others. The responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Technical Leadership:

Oversees implementation of technical project activities and supervises and mentors key program technical staff and consultants.
Coordinate staff and partners’ planning, execution and documentation of project activities, ensuring timely and high-quality achievement of targets and deliverables.
Collaborate with the COP in applying principles of adaptive management and data-driven continuous improvement processes and develop appropriate responses to solve challenges, ensure operational integrity and project impact.
Participate in regular project review sessions with implementing partners and ministry officials.
Conduct regular site visits to observe project progress, supervise data quality assessments and obtain feedback from participants and stakeholders.
Build and maintain a sense of shared ownership and unified team effort among staff and local and as well as strong working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders

Operational Management:

Ensure that all project components and implementing partners are coordinated, informed, and enabled to perform their work.
Work with the COP and senior staff to ensure that all donor deliverables such as program progress reports and evaluations effectively and accurately communicate project progress, achievements, challenges, and efficient utilization of funds.
Represent Global Communities and the project at meetings with multiple local stakeholders (other NGOs, government officials, private sector institutions, etc.) as needed and necessary.
Assume the position of Chief of Party role when the COP is not available.
Promote Global Communities’ values (purposeful, committed, genuine, and connected) and ensuring that all project staff demonstrate these values.

Qualifications

Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a discipline related to education, nutrition, or health with a minimum of 8 years of professional experience, including managing multi-sectoral projects with responsibilities in managing teams providing relevant technical expertise through development projects or,
Batchelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a discipline related to education, nutrition, or health with a minimum of 10 years of professional experience, including managing multi-sectoral projects with responsibilities in managing teams providing relevant technical expertise through development projects.
Experience in South Asia region, with preference for recent work in Pakistan. 
Proven experience in a leadership position involving the administration of similarly sized, international donor-supported programs with skills in strategic planning. management, supervision, and budgeting strongly preferred. International NGO or for-profit contractor experience is strongly preferred.
Experience working with officials in the government sector is strongly preferred. 
Knowledge/Experience with USAID or other US Government funded grant or contract rules and regulations strongly preferred. 
Demonstrated experience and understanding of relevant local laws, regulations and policies is required.
Management/supervisory experience is required.
Strong understanding of the local contexts.
Proven ability to communicate a common vision among diverse partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams is desired. 
Evidence of effective communication skills, both oral and written, to fulfill the diverse technical and managerial requirements of the agreement is desired.
Languages: Full Professional Proficiency in spoken and written English.
A passion for the mission and values of Global Communities.