Chief of Party (COP) at EngenderHealth

Job Summary

• The Chief of Party (COP) will provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the anticipated USAID Funded quality improvement activity in Nigeria.
• The COP will ensure high-quality programming and will sustain the financial and operational integrity of the activity.
• The COP will serve as the project’s senior-most manager, with the responsibility and authority to direct the team and project resources towards the fulfillment of project goals and objectives.
• The COP will also serve as the “face” of the project with key stakeholders, such as USAID/Nigeria, Ministry of Health, the Government of Nigeria, and relevant INGO and CSO collaborators.
• The COP will liaise with the Deputy Chief of Party/Technical Director to ensure the soundness of the project’s technical direction; will work closely with the Financial and Operations Director to ensure that project resources are well-managed and in compliance with USAID rules and regulations
• Will collaborate with the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Director to ensure that the project’s MEL and knowledge management (KM) functions are well-executed; and will work with the Country Representative to ensure smooth operations in all states of implementation.
• The COP will oversee program implementation, manage the project team and consortium members, and facilitate adaptation and course correction where needed.
• The COP will be responsible for the timely and accurate delivery of all reports and other project products.

Essential Functions

• Serve as the project’s senior-most manager, directing the team and project resources towards the fulfillment of project goals and objectives.
• Ensure strong coordination and a positive working relationship with USAID/Nigeria and ensure that the project is responsive to USAID needs and expectations.
• Build, strengthen, and sustain relationships with other key stakeholders (such as the Government of Nigeria, Ministry of Health, local NGOs, other USAID-funded implementing partners, and private sector entities) to collaborate on shared goals, maximize value added, and avoid duplication of efforts.
• Manage relationships with consortium partners and ensure effective collaboration.
• Oversee the project’s implementation progress, facilitating adaptations and course corrections where/when necessary to achieve goals.
• In collaboration with the DCOP/Technical Director, ensure the soundness of the project’s technical direction.
• In collaboration with the Finance and Operations Director, ensure fiscally responsible implementation in full compliance with the laws, regulations, policies, and procedures of USAID, Nigeria, and EngenderHealth.
• In collaboration with the MEL Director, ensure that the project’s MEL and KM functions are well-executed.
• Provide first-class leadership to the development and submission of quality deliverables in accordance with the terms of USAID award.
• Oversee a team of senior technical and program management project staff, ensuring strong communication and coordination with and between all team members, and with EngenderHealth’s regional and global technical advisors.
• Supervise initiatives and approaches that will promote ’USAID’s objectives on localization, gender equality, diversity equity and inclusion, stakeholder and private engagement, and sustainability in project implementation.
• Work with other project personnel and EngenderHealth leadership to proactively mitigate potential or actual risks that may adversely affect project implementation.

Requirements
Must possess the following requirements with or without a reasonable accommodation:

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, or related advanced Degree in a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively increasing responsibility in managing successful international development assistance and health programs.
• Demonstrated understanding of the primary healthcare (PHC) landscape (including various technical disciplines such as FP, maternal health, nutrition, immunization, malaria, policy/advocacy, gender, youth and social inclusion, behavior change communication, etc.) landscape in and knowledge of USG health initiatives in Nigeria.
• Demonstrated capacity in managing results.
• Working knowledge of and/or experience with USG-funded programs, with experience as COP or Deputy COP preferred.
• Proven record of building teams and fostering collaboration to achieve program goals, meet program milestones, and produce quality program results.
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of the PHC system in Nigeria and experience in the design and implementation of PHC programs, at scale.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in working collaboratively with other donors, host country institutions, and international organizations
• Excellent past performance references.
• Demonstrated leadership in working and collaborating with other donors and a wide range of USAID and other donor-funded organizations.

Essential Soft Skills:

• Committed to EngenderHealth’s core organizational values of reflection, inclusion, integrity, respect, and transformation.
• Exceptional leadership qualities and depth and breadth of management expertise and experience.
• Excellent negotiation skills with a demonstrated capacity for negotiating with senior government officials or executives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Preferred Skills, Abilities and Functions:

• Relevant experience in West and Central Africa, especially Nigeria.
• Ability to travel up to 35% as required.