Chief of Party, Advancing Youth Leadership

Staff whose work requires or potentially could require any in-person interaction with Save the Children colleagues, partners, or beneficiaries must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless otherwise required by law. Save the Children complies with federal, state, and local laws with regard to accommodations related to this policy.

Summary

Save the Children seeks a Chief of Party for a five-year USAID/Cambodia Advancing Youth Leadership Activity. The anticipated program will to enhance the capacity and leadership of youth, especially those from marginalized groups such as indigenous populations and LGBTQI+, to engage in the political process, to address local development issues and to increase civic participation.

The Chief of Party (COP) is the key leadership role for this project and will be responsible for managing all aspects of the program including meeting the objectives of the project while providing overall technical, administrative, operational, and logistical management. The COP will act as the principal liaison between USAID/Cambodia, Government of Cambodia, partners, youth leaders and civil society organizations. This position is based in our Cambodia country office, a collaborative and dynamic work environment, and the COP will have access to extensive learning and professional development opportunities as part of the larger Save the Children Federation.

This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.

What You'll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

• Provide overall technical and managerial leadership in developing and adapting strategies and project plans in view of changes in the internal and external operational environment. Work closely with Technical Advisors and all key stakeholders in the development of the program’s strategy and to ensure that the design incorporates relevant partner input.
• Lead the program’s strategic planning and delivery, including ensuring progress against approved annual work plans and performance reporting.
• Serve as key liaison and represent the program with USAID/Cambodia, Government of Cambodia, partners and local stakeholders.
• Provide management guidance and support to ensure smooth and timely start-up and implementation of project activities as per the approved project plans.
• Oversee the timely submission of all deliverables to USAID.
• Ensure that efficient systems to support all aspects of the program (including sub-grant management, financial, capacity building and performance monitoring and reporting) are in place and support the effective use of program resources in compliance with USAID regulations and Save the Children policies.

Required Qualifications 

• Minimum of a Bachelor Degree or equivalent experience, plus at least 10 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals and teams at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering and maintaining and environment of diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Proven experience working with youth, particularly those from marginalized and under-represented populations.
• Minimum of eight years of experience managing and implementing adolescent and youth programs, positive youth development programs, youth empowerment programs, leadership development or civic engagement, with a demonstrable track record of innovation and leadership.
• At least four years of work experience in the region (preferably within Cambodia).
• Proven senior management experience in youth-related projects, gender mainstreaming and working in a multi-cultural environment. Previous COP experience preferred.
• Proven ability in understanding, creating and implementing solutions in order to achieve measurable results within development projects.
• Demonstrated skills in leadership, mentoring, motivating and supervision over multi-cultural teams within a dynamic setting.
• Familiarity with USAID regulations and policies.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to youth development and gender equality approaches and strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships with private sector industry actors as well as government officials across multiple sectoral ministries.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations.
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills in English.
• Professional proficiency in MS Office suite.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in relevant areas of expertise, international development or related field
• Knowledge of local language
• Familiarity with the political, social and cultural context of Cambodia; prior work experience in country is ideal.

Why you should join the Save the Children Team…

Save the Children US offers outstanding benefits that include health, dental, vision and life insurances, pet insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program, 403(b), generous vacation, personal sick leave, family leave, parental/adoption leave, commuter benefits, dress for your day, and much more. 

About Save the Children

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Our work for children and their families requires that we commit—at every opportunity—to work together to identify and dismantle persistent systemic and structural racism, inequality, and any other forms of discrimination in this country and beyond.  As an anti-racist organization, Save the Children will not tolerate discrimination in any form—in our employment practices, amongst our staff, in our leadership or toward the people we serve. We stand in solidarity with all people to fight for equal rights, justice, inclusion, and belonging.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children’s policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at the risk of any kind of child abuse. All our representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.