Chief of Party, USAID/Sri Lanka Economic Modernization Activity

Chief of Party, USAID/Sri Lanka Economic Modernization Activity

About Palladium:

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.  

This Opportunity:

USAID/Sri Lanka is in the process of designing a new five-year Economic Modernization activity to improve Sri Lankan economic competitiveness through an improved business enabling environment, increased small and medium business export competitiveness, and upgraded workforce capacity. Key activity themes may include improved agriculture sector efficiency and competitiveness and inclusive, accessible, and desirable jobs.

The Chief of Party will be ultimately responsible for the efficient and effective oversight of all elements of the Project/Activity. Their primary responsibilities are to provide overall leadership, management, and general technical direction of the program, ensuring an integrated vision among different components and actors, and a focus on achieving the desired results. This individual must identify issues and risks related to implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate adjustments. This individual must act as the key liaison with USAID and all other counterparts, implementing partners and stakeholders involved with the program. The position requires significant coordination skills, broad general and technical knowledge, an ability to cope with multiple interests and challenges, experience in developing countries, and skills to ensure coherence and consistency in the face of urgent deadlines. 
*This is an anticipated project, and all positions are contingent upon award from USAID. *  

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide overall strategic vision, direction, leadership, and management of the program, including leading the development and implementation of annual workplans
  
• Develop an effective integrated approach of program components, partners, private sector actors, and other stakeholders
  
• Serve as principal liaison with USAID staff, other implementing partners, host country government actors and other private and public sector stakeholders to exchange information and develop professional relationships
  
• Monitor program indicators, evaluate program results, and guide program implementation to deliver results and impact
  
• Oversee effective use of resources, on-time delivery of project activity reports and partner deliverables, and overall compliance with USAID regulations and Palladium policies and procedures
  
• Develop systems that support collaborating, learning and adapting (CLA) approach, including establishing a culture of adaptive management
  
• Administer the program’s financial oversight and procedures, ensuring compliance with established Palladium's accounting principles and USAID regulations
  
• Identify issues and risks related to program implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate program adjustments
  
• Represent Palladium and the program to the public and donor community
  

Key Competencies Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, business administration, international development, or related field required; master’s degree preferred.
  
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in enterprise development and competitiveness, market systems development, value chain development, private sector engagement, finance, or investment.
  
• Previous experience as a Chief of Party for projects with similar magnitude and complexity
  
• Knowledge of and experience with USAID rules and regulations, including Feed the Future
  
• Proven ability to collaborate successfully with host-country government officials, international donors, and private sector stakeholders
  
• Knowledge of agriculture enterprise competitiveness and value chain development; experience working with actors at all levels of agricultural value chains (smallholder to lead firm exporter)
  
• Experience designing, promoting, and implementing multi-stakeholder led, market-driven approaches
  
• Demonstrated ability to build staff leadership and management capacity
  
• Experience working in Southern Asia or other context similar to that of Sri Lanka
  
• Fluency in English with demonstrated excellence in written and oral communication skills
  

Professional Expertise/Competencies Preferred:

• Experience working in Sri Lanka highly preferred
  
• Experience managing pay for results or performance-based subcontracts or grants under contract

 Sri Lankan nationals are strongly encouraged to apply

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.  

Should you require any adjustments or accommodation to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss. 

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.