World Vision Ethiopia began its first intervention in Ethiopia in 1971 with relief and opened the Ethiopia office in 1975. Relief, rehabilitation, and small community development projects dominated the decade that followed. During the 1984/85 drought, World Vision Ethiopia participated in a massive relief operation that saved the lives of millions of people.

About Job

The purpose of the Chief of Party position is to manage structure, coordinate and support the full USAID-funded New Primary Education Activity (NPEA) in Ethiopia. The position holder will oversee the design, implementation, and quality of program activities that will achieve planned program results and impact. The CoP will be the main liaison with USAID/Ethiopia on technical and management topics. He/she is required to collaborate with the Ministry of Education, Regional Education Bureaus (REBs), Education Clusters, UN agencies, Other INGOs working on education in emergencies, and other critical partners to provide strategic and high-level support for effective capacity building at the local level and sustainability of the project interventions. The COP will oversee a team of experts and support staff, oversee reports and annual operating plans, align project initiatives with in-country priorities and ensure the program is carried out with the utmost quality, timeliness, and compliance according to USAID and World Vision regulations.  This position is subject to project award and funding. International relocation and allowances are available.

This activity is expected to be a five-year program in the $25 to $50M range. The solicitation is expected to be released in May 2024 and awarded in December 2024

Major Responsibilities

Project and Budget Management:

• Manage proactive and responsive relationship with USAID in close collaboration with World Vision staff both in Ethiopia and in the U.S.
• Direct and oversee grant implementation, ensuring that all strategic objectives are met through proper design, staffing, implementation, and quality assurance.
• Establish a comprehensive understanding about major policy, strategy, and program landscape of EIE in Ethiopia; identify, develop and undertake viable strategies for successful institutionalization and sustainability of EIE
• Develop strategic plans, annual and quarterly work plans, and overall management of the program in line with USAID guidelines to achieve project objectives;

Collaboration with Associations and Organizations and Capacity Building:

• Play an influencing role through forging strong partnership with major EIE policy and strategy level actors in the country for enhanced outcomes of the project
• Provide policy and strategy level advisory assistance to MoE, REBs, and other major EIE actors
• Represent World Vision Ethiopia with partners and key stakeholders, maintain positive relationships with USAID, local ministries, and the country office team;

People Management:

• Supervise a team of senior level international and national staff with EIE technical skills.
• Lead grant operations staff including finance, M&E, and communications, supply chain, other sector leads.

Communication and Capacity Building:

• Work closely with Communication and Strategy teams to develop and implement effective marketing and communication (both internal and external) that ensure knowledge capture and learning across the organisation.
• Serve as focal point for USAID NPEA project and actively participate in the required meetings/forums and others.

Requirements

Knowledge & qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in education policy, education management, education in emergencies, international development, project management or another relevant field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience managing complex international donor-funded development and education intervention activities in challenging environments.
• Prior experience as CoP, “key personnel” or in senior leadership roles on USAID or other donor funded projects Familiarity with USAID programs, their history and their development; mastery of USAID regulations governing such programs.
• Demonstrated outstanding leadership, effective organizational development, partnership building, managerial, team building, and communications skills.
• Proven ability to coordinate with other key stakeholders such as governmental and non-governmental organizations in education in emergencies, such as education clusters, MOE, REBs, and UN bodies.
• Experience in the hiring and supervising of host country local personnel and ensuring, when need arises, that they secure necessary training required to meet program needs Strong presentation and report writing skills.
• Experience of leading large and diverse teams.
• Experience as CoP, “key personnel,” or senior expert advisor required.
• Experience in managing sub grants and contracts under grants for complex projects. Fluency in English.
• 10+ years of extensive international development experience managing large grant-funded projects in developing countries, including as Chief of Party in USAID-funded programs in Ethiopia or within East Africa Region.

Required Education, training, license, registration, and certification

• 10+ years of extensive international development experience managing large grant-funded projects in developing countries, including as Chief of Party in USAID-funded programs in Ethiopia or within East Africa Region
• At least 5 years managing large education in emergencies projects
• 2+ years in senior roles
• Coaching and team building

Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications

• Technical expertise and experience in two or more of the following areas: education service delivery, inclusive education, education in emergencies and/or post-conflict environments, equity in education with the focus on gender equity and social inclusion, universal design for learning, teaching and learning materials development, teacher professional development, community engagement, or government capacity strengthening.
• Sound knowledge and experience of effective and proven experiences of coaching large teams, including a team of senior staff, to ensure quality, timeliness, and efficiency of all products and activities generated under the grant.
• Sound knowledge of strategies and techniques to manage the effective implementation of USAID funded grants.
• Excellent relationship building skills including ability to engage and influence across all levels with key decision makers / executives of a variety of key external organisations, including keen understanding of the unique political dynamics and work carefully and collaboratively to support the various entities in Ethiopia.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team.
• Experience successfully building local capacity and local systems strengthening through programming.
• 6 years of experience on integrated emergency education approach
• Experience working with and in education cluster coordination platforms
• Strong leadership qualities and depth of the education sector, especially education in emergency in fragile settings
• Exposed to various education in emergency implementation modalities