Interim Deputy Chief of Party

Team Summary

The Program Implementation team oversees the implementation of Search’s programs and projects in its country offices, in accordance with Search and donor policies and procedures. They are responsible for the full life cycle of the project, from the start-up phase to the full close-out. This involves designing work plans, implementing activities, reporting, financial management, and staffing management. The Program Implementation team collaborates with other departments, including Finance, Institutional Learning, Programs, Global Affairs and Partnerships, Human Resources, and Information Technology.

Role Summary

Search is seeking an experienced senior leader to assist the Chief of Party of a project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Niger. The primary goal of this Activity is to reduce vulnerability to violent extremism by strengthening tools to address core grievances that drive extremism in VE prone areas of Niger. This is a short-term employment for an initial period of 3 months minimum.

Responsibilities

• Supports specific aspects of project implementation.
• Leadership of the project(s) within the country office and/or across conflict geographies
• Supports a Project Director with leadership for staffing and employee development and donor engagement

Program Implementation:

• Support the Chief of Party (CoP) in the management and general technical direction of the activity, ensuring an integrated approach with various internal departments and external stakeholders to achieving project results.
• Oversee technical implementation at the national and local levels, including ensuring deliverables as outlined in the Work Plan and contract.
• Lead the design and development of in-country activities around alternative dispute resolution, and conflict mitigation.

Reporting:

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

Compliance:

• Provides adherence to compliance, capacity building and coaching of staff and partners.

Financial Management:

• Establishes tools to support quality and timely financial management and capacity building of staff

Personnel Management:

• Manages recruitment of key management staff for project and the onboarding and training to adhere to Search and donor policies and procedures
• Build the capacity of local staff in both technical skills and subject matter expertise.

Internal Engagement:

• Contributes to communication with internal departments
• Coordinate with other members of the Senior Management Team including Directors and Advisors.
• Liaise with Search’s internal teams including Niger team, regional team and global HQ teams in Washington DC

External Engagement:

• Contributes to communication with key donors, government, media and partner organizations.
• Maintain technical liaison and relationships with project partners, advisors and experts in the field of justice provision and human rights.
• Represent the project with relevant stakeholders, including public speaking engagements on relevant topics.

Program Management, Quality, and Project Design:

• Collaboration with the Institutional Learning Team to support relevant project staff with understanding and utilizing the logical framework and the necessary Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) tools for the project
• Coordinate with the M&E team to ensure real-time learning, adaptation, and course correction, as needed.

Operations:

• Support compliance of staff and partners to Search, donor and country rules and regulations
• Infuses Organizational Values into All Work
• Other Duties That Are Broadly in Line with the Above Key Contributions as Assigned.

Education and Experience

• Typically BS/BA degree in the Social Sciences, Law, Peace and Conflict Studies, International Development, International Affairs, or other relevant field.
• Minimum 12 years’ experience, including at least 5 years of management or advisory experience, in related fields.
• Higher education can substitute for years of professional experience
• Strong subject-matter expertise and technical competencies on traditional justice systems and conflict mitigation, with good knowledge of access to justice and human rights
• Strong research and/or monitoring and evaluation background, with experience using assessment data to design and develop programmatic interventions.
• Professional experience and knowledge of Niger and the wider Sahel region, and familiarity with traditional justice systems in this context is a distinct advantage.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with U.S. Government international assistance program requirements, preferably USAID, and/or other bilateral funding agencies.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team in multiple locations.
• Demonstrated ability to foster a culture of respect and inclusion.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and French. Working knowledge of local languages is a plus.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• Usual office environment conditions.

Supervisory and Budget Responsibility

• Manages one or more direct reports and/or consultants and/or manages one or more functional areas