Chief of Party at Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH)

The Position:

• The Chief of Party (CoP) will lead the overall management and implementation of an anticipated USAID-Funded Primary Health Care Improvement Program (UPHIP). The CoP will serve as the principal liaison between the consortium and USAID ensuring the effective, high-quality, and timely delivery of project outcomes.

Purpose of the Role:

• The Chief of Party will be responsible for the overall strategic leadership, management, and execution of the project, ensuring it meets the donor’s objectives and expectations. The CoP will oversee project operations, staff, and resources, and ensure compliance with donor regulations, organization policies, and country laws. Additionally, the CoP will lead programmatic and financial reporting, stakeholder engagement, and ensure the sustainability and institutionalization of project outcomes.

Specific Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

Program Leadership and Management

• Provide overall leadership and management of the project, ensuring the achievement of project goals, objectives, and expected results.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of project work plans, ensuring alignment with project deliverables, donor requirements, and the overall program strategy.
• Ensure the integration of gender, social inclusion, and sustainability considerations into all aspects of project design and implementation.

Technical Oversight

• Ensure technical excellence and high standards in the implementation of project activities, providing guidance and expertise in RMNCAH and Health Systems Strengthening
• Coordinate the development and use of monitoring and evaluation systems to track and assess program progress and impact.

Donor and Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary point of contact with the donor, fostering strong relationships and ensuring that the donor is informed of all major project developments.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with key stakeholders, including government counterparts, local organizations, the private sector, and civil society, to support the success and sustainability of the project.
• Represent the project and organization in relevant forums, including donor meetings, conferences, and external communications.

Financial and Operational Oversight

• Oversee project budgeting and financial management, ensuring that project resources are used effectively and efficiently, and that all expenditures align with donor guidelines and organizational policies.
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of financial reports, programmatic reports, and other deliverables as required by the donor.
• Lead efforts to ensure project compliance with all legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements.

Staff and Team Management

• Lead the recruitment and onboarding of key project personnel, ensuring that the team is equipped with the skills and expertise necessary for the successful execution of the project.
• Provide supervision, mentorship, and capacity-building for project staff, ensuring strong team performance and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation.

Deliverables

• Develop and submit annual work plans, budgets, and performance monitoring plans.
• Ensure timely submission of high-quality reports, including quarterly, semi-annual, and final reports, to the donor.
• Ensure the successful implementation of all project deliverables in line with the agreed timeline and budget.
• Oversee the development of case studies, best practices, and success stories for external communication and knowledge sharing.

Ensure the project leaves a sustainable impact and that lessons learned are institutionalized within the organization and partner institutions.

Required Experience

Educational Qualifications and Experience:

Essential

• A Medical Degree and Master’s Degree in Public Health
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive management experience in development programs, with at least 5 years of experience as a Chief of Party/DCoP or similar leadership position.
• Proven track record in managing large-scale, multi-sectoral, donor-funded programs, preferably in Nigeria
• Demonstrated experience in program design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Strong knowledge of donor regulations and requirements (e.g., USAID, DFID, EU, etc.).
• Excellent leadership, team management, and interpersonal skills.

Minimum Qualifications

Preferred

• Experience working with national, state and local government counterparts and building institutional capacity.
• Experience with integrating cross-cutting themes like gender, youth, and social inclusion.

Competencies

• Leadership and Strategic Thinking: Ability to lead a diverse team and develop strategic initiatives to achieve program objectives.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience in presenting to donors and high-level stakeholders.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical skills and ability to resolve complex programmatic and operational issues.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and with diverse communities.
• Financial Acumen: Proven ability to manage large budgets and ensure financial compliance.

Reporting Line:

The Chief of Party will report to the Chief Executive Officer and will work closely with USAID AoR on the project, local government authorities, and relevant stakeholders.