Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic development and post-crisis stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Chief of Party
Requisition Number: 17-0331 Location: Abuja
Position Summary
The Chief of Party (COP) will be based in Abuja, Nigeria, and will provide overall technical, administrative, and financial management and leadership to the Reacting to Early Warning and Response Data (REWARD) project, funded by USAID.
He/she will be the team’s interlocutor with USAID, ECOWAS, sub-contractors, consultants, national and local grant recipients, host governments (if and where applicable), and other key stakeholders.
Reporting & Supervision:
The COP is the second final implementing team authority on management issues including staff, operations and logistics, and financial management.
He/she will report to the Project Director, located at Creative’s headquarters.
Primary Responsibilities
The COP will have principal responsibility to:
Provide oversight of local, regional, and national capacity development efforts, including working with key regional West African partners and civil society organizations
Provide overall management and leadership of technical, administrative, operational, and logistical direction in compliance with Creative and USAID policies and regulations
Design and supervise the implementation of the project related tasks including technical trainings, capacity building, grants management and implementation, monitoring, and evaluation
Serve as primary liaison with the USAID and implementing partners on management and technical design and implementation of the project deliverables
Maintain collaborative relationships with the project partners, sub-contractors, consultants, key stakeholders, and other implementing partners
Manage and supervise the work of project personnel and identify issues and risks related to program implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate program adjustments
Assure that all assistance provided under the contract, whether by international or local experts/personnel, is technically sound and appropriate for the needs to be addressed
Serve as the primary point of contact for information on the progress and status of all activities under the contract and establish appropriate mechanisms to ensure that activity progress and specific implementation concerns are regularly and promptly reported; and
Oversee the compiling, writing and submission of key technical and financial reports, including the M&E, annual workplans, monthly, quarterly, and annual technical and financial reports. Pay attention to the details and provide a final product to be delivered to USAID
Required Skills & Qualifications
At least 10 years of senior management experience, managing complex international programs (implementation, logistics, budgeting, staffing) preferably those funded by USAID and those conducted in West Africa
Master’s degree in Public Administration, Political Science, International Relations, Conflict Resolution, Peacebuilding or related field required
Especially charismatic, professional credentials to be able to establish close and trustful relations, and interact directly with the client and partners regarding programmatic, strategic communications, and contractual issues
Exposure to conflict early warning and response programming and experience in conflict and post-conflict environments preferred
Demonstrated ability in the concepts, principles, methods and techniques of delivering development programs in close collaboration with partners
Demonstrated skills in effectively working, coordinating and negotiating with regional institutions and organizations, donors, other USAID projects, U.S. embassies, local organizations and partners
Ability to successfully manage and develop staff in a multi-country and multi-cultural setting as demonstrated by past experience
Ability to manage USAID contracts and all required reporting requirements and attention to the details
Ability to perform internal control functions to manage day-to-day operations of the project; and
Fluency in speaking, reading and writing in English, desirable in French.