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Chief of Party (17-61)

Sindos region

  • Organization: CIP - International Potato Center
  • Location: Sindos region
  • Grade: Mid/Senior level - Mid/Senior - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
    • Biology and Chemistry
    • Agriculture and Forestry
    • Climate Change
  • Closing Date: Closed

International Potato Center POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Ref: 17-61/COP/IRS/AM

Chief of Party

TheInternationalPotatoCenter(CIP) isseekingahighlyskilled,results-orientedChiefofParty (COP)who will be responsible for the technical leadership and operational oversight of SERVIR Amazonia and will serve as the principal institutional liaison to USAID. He/she is responsible for ensuring development and implementation of the sustainability roadmap for SERVIR Amazonia. SERVIR Amazonia is a joint USAID/NASA opportunity to help the Amazon region (Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Guyana, and Suriname) to improve environmental management and resilience to climate stress by strengthening the capacity of governments and other key stakeholders to integrate Earth observation information and geospatial technologies into development decision-making.

The Center: CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research-for-development organization with a focus on potato, sweet potato, and Andean roots and tubers. Its vision is of roots and tubers improving the lives of the poor. CIP is dedicated to achieving food security, improved well-being, and gender equity for poor people in root and tuber farming and food systems of the developing world. CIP works with partners to contribute high quality science, technology, and capacity strengthening for sustainable science-based solutions. CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru, with staff and activities in over 30 locations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. CIP is a member of the CGIAR which is a global agriculture research partnershipforafoodsecurefuture.Itsscienceiscarriedoutbythe15researchcenterswhoaremembers of the CGIAR in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations.

The Position: The Chief of Party will represent the hub in regional and wider contexts and be responsible for the hub’s activities. He/Shwill be based in the Amazonian Region, and involve work in Peru, Brazil, and Colombia.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Project Management:  Provide management, leadership, and strategic vision in all aspects of project implementation.  Ensure that project implementation is responsive to target communities and partners and aligned with CIP core values, strategic plan and guiding principles.  Monitor adherence to grant agreement, CIP policies and procedures and relevant external rules and regulations including the CGIAR.  Select, oversee and advise performance of partners and sub-grantees. As responsible manager for all technical and financial reporting to the donor, ensure timeliness, quality, and responsiveness to donor requests in all areas of reporting.  Ensure that monitoring of project indicators is timely and of excellent quality to support reporting and adaptive management.  Promote the project with stakeholders, the donor community, and the general public in Ethiopia through sound and innovative communications.
  • Representation and Resource Mobilization:  Represent the project SERVIR Amazonia, USAID with Government of Brazil, Peru and Colombia, and NGOs.  Develop and maintain a high level of understanding of donor priorities, country plans, and planned funding initiatives.  Build and manage strong and productive partnership and implementing partners and facilitate learning and knowledge exchange across the entire project partnership.  Participate in regular review meetings with USAID and ensure that the project is well understood and highly regarded by the donor and all project partners.
  • Staff Management, Professional Development and Team Building:  Create a work atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development of excellent personnel at all levels.  Promote accountability by conducting staff annual performance reviews with direct supervisees, and ensuring that all staff members are effectively using the performance planning and management system.
  • Project Support Operations:  Ensurethedevelopment,implementationandmonitoringoffinancialandoperationalpolicies and procedures for constant compliance with all CIP and donor policies, regulations, and requirements.  Ensure project quality through implementation of country-specific project reviews and use of comprehensive M&E systems.  Coordinate with finance, procurement, and M&E project staff to ensure operational systems are in place to support field offices and activities including logistics, procurement, security, operational, and human resources.
  • Gender:  The Chief of Party is expected to take a leadership role in the mainstreaming of gender sensitive project interventions, through support and promotion of gender throughout all areas of the project.
  • Safety, Security and Risk Management:  The Chief of Party is expected to oversee the implementation and continual review of the country security guidelines and security management plan, and manage all security issues in consultation with the regional and HQ.  In coordination with the Safety and Security Manager ensure the consistent monitoring and analysis of the security environment and adherence by all staff to the CIP security protocols and procedures.

Selection Criteria:

  • A graduate degree (Master’s Degree or higher) in a field of study relevant to SERVIR Amazonia such as GIS/Geography, natural resources management, biodiversity, climate change, sustainable development, or international development.
  • Ten years of professional experience in managing scientific/technical projects, in progressively more responsible posts. The projects managed will have included the production of new scientific tools to meet client needs and requirements. Management includes the development of work plans and control of budgets.
  • Proven ability to communicate, coordinate, and effectively work with diverse stakeholders, including senior government officials, and including in regard to politically sensitive topics.
  • Proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse partners and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams.
  • Proven success in building a client base and partnerships, including with the private
  • sector, strongly desired.
  • Strong communication skills, both interpersonal and written, to fulfill the diverse technical and managerial requirements of the program and to effectively coordinate with a wide range of regional stakeholders.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills in at least two of the following languages: English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
  • Knowledge of USAID policies and procedures as related to program management required.
  • Knowledge of the political, social, cultural, environmental, and development context of Amazonia based on on-the-ground experience.

Conditions: Employment contract will be for an initial three-year term (with a three-month probation period) with possibility of renewal, subject to availability of funding. Any offer made with regards to this vacancy isconditional to the formal awardoftheafore-mentionedgrantto the CIP-ledconsortium. Salary willbeinternationallycompetitive,paidinUSdollars,andcommensuratewithexperience.CIPpridesitself on its collegial and supportive working environment, which allows space for personal and professional growth.

Applications: Applicants should apply online through our CIP’s Job Opportunities website

(http://cipotato.org/open-vacancies/), including a letter of motivation, a full C.V. with the names and contact information of three references that are knowledgeable of the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. Screening of applications will begin on 26 September, 2016 and will continue until the post is filled. All applications will be acknowledged; only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Learn more about CIP by accessing our web site at http://www.cipotato.org

CIP is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified women and professionals from developing countries are particularly encouraged to apply

This vacancy is now closed.