Chief of Party, USAID Civil Society Program

Counterpart International is currently seeking a Chief of Party (COP) for the anticipated USAID Civil Society Program in Kyrgyzstan. This activity will be a multi-year multi-million program to increase citizen engagement, civil society resiliency in Kyrgyzstan by enhancing capacity of civil entities to advocate for changes across issues that resonate local communities’ priorities.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for overall project leadership, management, technical direction and vision, oversight, quality, and compliance, and maintaining relationships with USAID and stakeholders.
• Lead strategy design and annual workplan development and oversee program monitoring and reporting.
• Ensuring the timely submission and quality of all project deliverables, identifying obstacles and risks related to implementation and suggesting appropriate adjustments to the home office and the donor.
• Liaise with the USAID mission, other donors such as the EU, INL and others, as applicable.
• Manage and supervise the work of project personnel, implementing partners, and grantees, with a focus on achieving work plan targets and core results in a timely manner and on budget.
• Oversee and coordinate the implementation of activities through partnerships with international multilateral organizations, as applicable.
• Provide mentoring and professional development support to project staff, with emphasis on building capacity of national staff.
• Oversee field office finances and administration of sub-awards.
• Oversee field office HR (Human Resources) practices, ensuring hiring, employee evaluations and promotions are in compliance with Counterpart policies and procedures.
• Ensure that long and short-term technical assistance provided by the project is technically sound and appropriate for the local context.
• Participate in specialized content (technical) events such as workshops and roundtables, support knowledge management, and share learning across key networks.
• Coordinate activities between the field office and Counterpart headquarters.
• Leverage networks, program investments, and project successes to seek opportunities for program expansion and promoting Counterpart’s practice areas.
• Represent Counterpart and the Project at international and regional events, as necessary.
• Ensure that all Counterpart staff, visitors, and consultants have read, understand, and follow Counterpart safety and security rules, regulations, and policies in their country of operations.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities, as required.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in International Development, Social Sciences, Political Science, Governance and Civil Society and/or other related fields.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in international development; Minimum of five years working on civic social strengthening programs, preferably in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia.
• Prior senior-level program management experience with USAID or other donors, as well as direct collaboration with Counterpart HQ office.
• Experience supervising teams of diverse staff and demonstrated leadership capacity and motivational skills.
• Previous experience managing USAID-funded programs highly preferred.
• Demonstrated program management and organizational skills in managing, implementing, and monitoring effective program budgets, finances, and personnel of projects of a similar scale and scope.
• Demonstrated experience managing and implementing development projects focused on public policy reform and civil society strengthening, preferably in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia.
• Demonstrated experience in working effectively with the social, political, economic and cultural context of Kyrgyzstan.
• Demonstrated experience enhancing and engaging civil society, community leaders and youth to advocate for change, advancing development systems to identify local community needs.
• Demonstrated experience in working effectively with senior government representatives at the local, municipal, and national level in Kyrgyzstan or Central Asia and local and national civil society actors, USAID representatives, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and deliver quality outputs.
• Experience with adaptive management approaches preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English required.
• Oral and written fluency in Kyrgyz and Russian preferred.