Management And Operations jobs in South Africa

Chief of Party

USAID/Southern Africa Regional Environment Adapting and Learning (REAL) Activity

Position Type: Full-time, Field Office staff

Location: Pretoria-Johannesburg, South Africa

ECODIT is an international development firm working with governments, businesses, and local communities to advance environmentally- and socially responsible development around the world. We provide technical assistance services ranging from quick-turnaround assessments and evaluations to design and implementation of long-term multi-million-dollar projects. Since its founding in 1993, ECODIT has provided professional services through more than 250 projects/contracts to diverse clients in more than 60 countries. Building on our track record of success, we have continuously expanded the depth and breadth of our expertise in the water, energy, environment, and urban and local governance sectors.

Position Summary:

ECODIT is seeking a qualified Chief of Party (COP) candidate for the anticipated five-year USAID/Southern Africa Regional Environment Adapting and Learning activity (REAL or the Activity). Qualified candidates from Southern Africa are strongly encouraged to apply.

The purpose of the Activity is to support USAID/Southern Africa’s Regional Environment, Education and Democracy (REED) staff and partners across the Southern Africa region to be more efficient, effective, and transparent in achieving program results using evidence, performance management techniques, communication, and Collaborating Learning and Adapting (CLA) practices. The Activity will play an important role in supporting the design and implementation of the new regional Environment and Energy portfolio of the REED Office. It will support the Environment and Energy team to better understand the development environment and to adapt its current and future activities to achieve key results, as well as employ a systemic and facilitative approach to support USAID, its implementing partners, and other stakeholders to learn, adapt and collaborate in meaningful ways to affect development change. Activities under the contract will be demand-driven and conducted on an ad-hoc basis. The USAID/Southern Africa regional Environment and Energy portfolio works throughout the Southern Africa region in USAID non-presence (Lesotho and Eswatini), limited presence (Botswana, Namibia, and Angola), and bilateral countries (Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa). The COP will be responsible for technical leadership and overall management and operations of the Activity, ensuring achievement of all objectives.

The COP will be responsible for technical leadership and overall management and operations of the Activity, ensuring achievement of all objectives. S/he will bear primary responsibility for the strategic direction, overall coordination, and management of the Activity, including oversight of financial and contract management. S/he will be responsible for ensuring compliance with USG rules and regulations. The COP will serve as the primary interlocutor with USAID and key stakeholders in the region. S/he will ensure the program meets stated objectives and reporting requirements in a timely manner. The COP will assume the leadership role in coordination among various partners and subcontractors. The COP will also work closely with the ECODIT Home Office Project Manager (HOPM) and other Home Office (HO) support staff and will serve as an important link between USAID and the ECODIT HO.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall project leadership, management, and quality control, including develop, supervise and track implementation of annual work plans/implementation plans, provide quality control of products prepared by the ECODIT team and subcontractors, and ensure that all contract deliverables and work products meet performance quality standards and are submitted on time and within budget
• Serve as the principal liaison for the Activity with the Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), and other USAID staff
• Oversee, supervise and support a team of technical and operations staff and ensure clear roles and responsibilities and lines of communication are maintained among the team members
• Work with the Activity team to strategically deploy staff and consultants to implement planned and on-demand activities
• Ensure continuous compliance with contract obligations and financial management requirements, working closely with ECODIT’s Home Office contract and financial support teams
• Communicate closely with ECODIT’s HO to coordinate technical and editorial review of project deliverables prior to submission to USAID
• Represent the Activity as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• At least ten (10) years of experience leading international donor-supported programs of similar size and complexity, in a development context
• A bachelor’s degree in international development, public administration, social sciences, or a related area or equivalent experience and preferably including previous experience in the Africa region
• Demonstrated ability to manage many concurrent activities, set interim milestones for completing deliverables, hold staff (including across subcontractors) accountable for interim milestones and final deliverables, and ensure high-quality technical services/deliverables
• Expertise and experience in many of the core functions of the Activity, which include:
  • Program and activity design support, including environment and energy studies and assessments.
  • Implementation, monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL)
  • Strategic communications and collaboration
  • Organizational learning and knowledge management
• Experience in rapidly allocating high-quality staff to conduct planned and on-demand activities
• Experience working on environment and energy issues and opportunities in the Southern Africa region.
• Excellent English written and verbal communications skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in international development, public administration, social sciences, or a related area or equivalent experience and preferably including previous experience in the Africa region

• Familiarity with key relevant USAID strategies and policies, including the USAID Climate Strategy and the USAID Localization Policy
• Previous experience managing large, diverse teams
• Knowledge of USAID’s ADS procedures, program and operational cycle, audit and financial management requirements and reporting needs.

To apply, please send an updated resume/CV and cover letter in English through the “Our Jobs” section of the ECODIT websiteby no later than November 5, 2023. Applications will be received and reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants who fail to meet the application criteria may be disqualified. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

ECODIT provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you are an applicant that requires a reasonable accommodation, please email us at recruiter@ecodit.com. Please reference the position in your email.

ECODIT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, sex, religion, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and gender expression, familial status, political affiliation, genetic information, or any other legally protected status or characteristics. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.