At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better tomorrow. A nonprofit international development organization founded in 1971, Pact works on the ground in nearly 40 countries to improve the lives of those who are challenged by poverty and marginalization. We serve these communities because we envision a world where everyone owns their future. To do this, we build systemic solutions in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and governments that create sustainable and resilient communities where those we serve are heard, capable, and vibrant. Pact is a recognized global leader in international development. Our staff have a range of expertise in areas including public health, capacity development, governance and civil society, natural resource management, poverty, fragile states, monitoring and evaluation, small-scale and artisanal mining, microfinance and more. This expertise is combined in Pact’s unique integrated approach, which focuses on systemic changes needed to improve people’s lives.

Department

Programs – Pact strives for a world where all people are heard, capable, and vibrant. The Programs Team helps realize this objective by bridging program management, technical support, and business development, enabling Pact to achieve its global strategy. We ensure program excellence through continuous learning, monitoring and evaluation and provide organizational and industry-wide thought leadership by leveraging a complementary set of cross-functional, multi-disciplinary skills, expertise, and experiences. The Programs team: influences progressive change through the development and implementation of global and regional strategies and business plans; supports advancement of innovative solutions; pursues new business opportunities; and drives effective internal and external engagement to maximize Pact’s impact across the globe. Across all aspects of its role, the Programs Department adheres to and promotes a culture of inclusion, accountability, and respect.

Position Overview

Pact seeks an experienced Chief of Party (COP) for the anticipated USAID/Ethiopia Empowered Communities for Better Health (ECBH) Activity. Under this anticipated Activity, USAID/Ethiopia seeks to strategically use its convening power and limited resources to support Ethiopian stakeholders to empower communities to take ownership and action over their health and nutrition and drive a cycle of accountable and responsive health service delivery. ECBH is anticipated to be a five-year activity. This position is contingent upon award.

Key Responsibilities

The COP will be responsible for technical leadership and the overall management and operations of the USAID ECBH Activity. The COP will supervise high-quality project implementation, with a focus on achieving the project goals and USAID/Ethiopia development objectives. The COP will take a leadership role in coordination of all activities across all relevant parties including: USAID, the Government of Ethiopia, health organizations, civil society, and private sector stakeholders. The COP will also oversee all project staff and sub-partners for results-oriented planning, leadership, and coordination of project activities.

The specific duties to be carried out by the successful candidate are listed below:

• Ensure high-quality, results-oriented technical programming through hands-on guidance and support grounded in the project’s strategic objectives and approved annual workplans.
• Serve as the primary liaison with the USAID Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) on management and technical matters.
• Ensure compliance with USAID rules/regulations and Pact processes.
• Ensure that the project meets stated goals, outcomes, benchmarks, and reporting requirements.
• Take a leadership role in coordinating all project activities with USAID and key stakeholders, including partners, government stakeholders, civil society, and other USAID projects.
• Manage and coordinate the implementation of activities across project partners, ensuring successful integration of activities.
• Liaise closely with Pact Ethiopia’s Country Director and finance team, and Pact’s U.S. team to ensure that all project activities are compliant with USG rules and regulations and consistent with Pact’s policies, procedures and best practices.
• Oversee project planning (i.e., development of work plans and project budget), monitoring and reporting (i.e., review and approve periodic budgets and technical and financial reports) in accordance with USAID requirements and Pact’s internal standards.
• Oversee project budget and work in close coordination with the Finance/Operations Manager to meet expected results, ensuring cost-effective use of donor and Pact’s resources.
• Support the implementation of a highly adaptive, context-driven programmatic approach to address the health and nutrition needs of targeted communities.
• Provide strategic management and oversight of the project’s sub-award portfolio.
• Manage a team of flexible and adaptive employees and oversee evidence-based adjustments in programming to achieve greater impact.
• Oversee project staff in helping partners establish reporting and tracking systems to provide key information in an efficient and timely manner.
• Ensure that program meets programmatic and financial targets and makes accurate projections.
• Represent the project at conferences, working groups, and meetings to support USAID and Pact’s thought leadership in community health, capacity development, and civil society strengthening.

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 or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, citizenship status, matriculation, family responsibilities, personal appearance, credit information, tobacco use (except in the workplace), membership in an employee organization, or other protected classifications or non-merit factors.

Basic Requirements

• Master’s Degree from an accredited university in Public Health, Nutrition, or a relevant field.
• At least ten (10) years of experience in the successful implementation of international development activities, with preference given to health and nutrition activities.
• At least eight (8) years of experience as a COP or in a comparable managerial position on donor-funded health and nutrition projects, preferably for USAID programs.
• Demonstrated understanding of the role of civil society in accountable health programs in Ethiopia.
• Experience building capacity for civil society organizations and/or local health organizations in Ethiopia.
• Demonstrated flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to perform and collaborate in complex and politically sensitive project environments.
• Experience working on and leading teams for USAID contracts and/or cooperative agreements.
• Knowledge of USAID rules, regulations and policies.
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• Demonstrated track record of successfully building and effectively managing a diverse team of employees and partners.
• Demonstrated ability to work in complex environments, and work with and between different stakeholders, including civil society organizations, government institutions, private sector entities, and US Government agencies.
• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with government and civil society stakeholders.
• Demonstrated skills in problem solving and consensus building.
• Fluency in English (oral, writing, and reading)
• Ability to travel within Ethiopia and occasionally internationally, when health and safety concerns regarding COVID-19 diminish.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fluency in Amharic (oral, writing, and reading)
• Demonstrated experience in managing highly adaptive programs, as well as applying systems-driven approaches and/or thinking and working politically (TWP) principles
• Knowledge of the political, social, health, and economic context of Ethiopia.
• Ethiopia nationals are encouraged to apply.