Deputy Chief of Party, Addressing Education in Northeast Nigeria Activity at FHI 360

Requisition: 2017200285
Locations: Yola - Adamawa and Abuja

Job Description

• FHI 360 is seeking qualified Deputy Chief of Party candidates in anticipation of a solicitation by USAID for a new project, the Addressing Education in Northeast Nigeria Activity.
• The project will help to ensure equitable access to certified basic education opportunities in Nigeria, specifically addressing the needs of youth in Nigeria’s conflict-affected northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe. Other states or locations may be included in project activities.
• The Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP) will serve as the project’s technical coordinator responsible for ensuring that the project’s technical approach is tailored to the to the unique challenges and opportunities in each of the states where the project operates.
• The DCOP will work closely with the project offices in each state, ensuring that key counterparts and stakeholders are engaged appropriately, that project MEL is used to monitor and improve program delivery, and that high quality deliverables and reports are realized in a timely manner.
• Specifically, the DCOP will serve as the primary liaison between the project leadership and project teams at the state level to provide the technical direction and quality oversight for the successful and flexible implementation of activities to increase the capacity of education authorities to plan, manage, and oversee education services in areas impacted by violence and displaced populations.
• This individual will ensure that project resources are allocated appropriately to meet the needs of teams in each state in support of project strategies to augment the availability of appropriate instructional materials and trained teachers needed to provide conflict-sensitive, flexible, and high quality basic education that addresses the academic and emotional needs of students.
• The DCOP will oversee project teams in each state, including technical, finance, and operations personnel, ensure successful, flexible, and adaptive implementation of project activities in each location.

Major Responsibilities In coordination with the Chief of Party and project leadership, the DCOP will be responsible for:

• Providing technical direction and oversight of state level implementation teams
• Supporting positive relations with the government counterparts and program partners at each location
• Working with project offices in each location to ensure a shared vision for project activities and outcomes, address implementation challenges, and encourage the sharing of best practices and project successes
• Monitoring activities in each location against the approved work plan and ensuring alignment with the project monitoring plan
• Overseeing the accuracy and technical quality of all project deliverables, including periodic performance reports, financial and technical reports, training materials, and instructional materials
• Supervising in-country project personnel, including technical, finance, and operations personnel at each state-level project office
• Ensuring that project technical teams have the technical and administrative support needed to ensure high quality and timely implementation of activities.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Education, International Development, or related field required
• 8 years of relevant project management experience providing technical leadership to major donor funded education and development projects, preferably with activities or components relating to education in conflict and crisis environments
• 2+ years of senior project leadership of USAID or US government funded projects
• Technical and/or project management experience in the education sector in Sub-Saharan Africa, preferably in Nigeria or West Africa
• Proven ability to work and manage activities in challenging environments, specifically locations with shifting security and uncertain political contexts
• Willingness to travel throughout Nigeria, including rural areas and locations with limited security infrastructure
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively work with USAID and international donors, government counterparts, and project stakeholders
• Excellent team building and supervisory skills
• Fluency in written and spoken English required; proficiency in Hausa and/or other Nigerian local languages preferred.