Chef of Party

Search is currently seeking a seasoned Chief of Party for the remaining 18 months of a four-year national project funded by Freedom House through the USAID-funded Human Rights Support Mechanism. The project, titled “Niger Access to Justice and Human Rights Activity,” aims to reduce vulnerability to violent extremism in Niger by addressing core grievances that drive extremism in VE prone areas. This includes strengthening the conflict mediation and dispute resolution capacity of customary justice and other informal structures at the local level, improving access to the formal justice system through legal assistance and awareness raising, and strengthening the ability of the Government of Niger and Civil Society Organizations to address human rights violations. The project is implemented in three regions of Niger.

Responsibilities

The Chief of Party will be responsible for the following:

• Oversight for all aspects of the specific project implementation.
• Leadership of the project(s) within the country office and/or across conflict geographies
• Leadership for staffing and employee development
• Leadership with donor engagement
• Contributions

Program Implementation

• Ensure quality utilization of project work plan, reporting, M&E, compliance, partnership/sub-agreement, stakeholder engagement.
• Liaison directly with the donor financing the project.
• Provide technical oversight, administration, grant and contract administration and management, ensuring quality, impact and cost effectiveness of the project.
• Provide expertise guiding the project vision and direction, on managing large conflict, rule of law and human rights activities.
• Hold overall responsibility for assuring that all assistance provided under the award is technically sound and appropriate for the needs to be addressed.
• Effectively implement the project vision through overseeing the efficient, quality and impactful delivery of all projects’ intervention axes (1) strengthen the conflict mediation and dispute resolution capacity of customary justice and other informal structures at the local level, (2) improve access to the formal justice system through legal assistance, awareness raising, and targeted efforts to link citizens with the formal justice system, and (3) strengthen NGO and CSO ability to address human rights violations.

Reporting

• Ensure quality and compliant reporting in line with donor rules and regulations.

Compliance

• Demonstrate leadership in understanding and enforcing compliance, capacity building and coaching of staff and partners, and oversight of expenditure verifications and/or project audits.

Financial Management

• Ensure quality and timely financial management, in compliance with donor rules and Search policies.

Personnel Management

• Oversee recruitment and retention of key management staff for project.
• Ensure onboarding and training to adhere to Search and donor policies and procedures.
• Oversee multiple activities simultaneously, including hiring, mentoring, performance management and supervising local personnel.
• Hold overall responsibility for adequately managing and supervising the work of all field staff, long‐term staff, short‐term staff, consortium partners, and/or sub‐partners, as proposed.

External Engagement

• Lead communication with key donors, government, media and partner organizations.
• Ensure that project teams are integrated into appropriate networks to update context and conflict analysis, and coordinate with other projects in similar domain.
• Manage the relationship and act as the primary point of contact with USAID, Freedom House and project partners with regards to activity implementation, compliance, collaboration, and management matters relating to the project.
• Represent Search and the project at high level events and meetings, including public speaking engagements on relevant topic areas.

Program Management, Quality, and Project Design

• Collaboration with the Institutional Learning Team to ensure reflective practice and adaptive management in line with USAID’s requirements.
• Ensure that all relevant project staff understand and utilize the theory of change, the logical framework and the necessary Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) tools for the project.
• Contribute to adaptations or extensions of project.
• Contribute to design of adjacent programming areas within the country or regional portfolio, drawing on insights from project.
• Liaise with Search’s internal teams including Niger team, regional team (Dakar-based) and global HQ teams in Washington DC.

Operations

• Ensure compliance of staff and partners to Search, donor and country rules and regulations.
• Ensure adherence to logistical and security architecture of the country or regional implementation landscape.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree (or higher) in Peace and Conflict Studies, Development, Political Science, International Affairs, Human Rights, Rule of Law or other relevant subjects.
• Minimum 13 years of relevant experience, including
  • Minimum 5 years of senior management experience in managing large scale conflict, rule of law and human rights projects.
  • Minimum 2 years experience as Chief of Party, Team Leader, or similar position, managing an international donor funded project over $10 million.

Preferred Qualifications

• Senior management level experience (Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, or Senior Advisor) of a USAID project is a significant advantage.
• Experience managing grants and contracts under grants for complex projects. Proven ability to manage all aspects of grant and contract administration, and technical assistance staff with a commitment to teamwork.
• Professional experience and knowledge of West Africa’s political and civil society landscape and deep familiarity with access to justice, human rights, and conflict resolution issues. Such experience in Niger is a stronger advantage.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of and familiarity with US Government international assistance program requirements, preferably USAID.
• Proven ability to manage technical assistance teams and leading multidisciplinary teams while developing a common vision.
• Knowledge and experience of conflict, rule of law, and human rights sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to foster a culture of respect and inclusion.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and French.

Search offers a competitive salary and benefits package.