Chief of Party (USAID Guatemala I-wash)

MCDI is currently seeking candidates to serve as the Chief of Party (Project Director) for the anticipated, five-year USAID-funded Guatemala Integrating Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services (IWASH) Project. The Project will work with local municipalities and the private sector to ensure rural Guatemalans have a reliable water service that is chlorinated and adequate for human consumption, improved sanitation facilities, and establish the habit of practicing optimal hygiene behaviors. The Chief of Party (COP) has overall responsibility to lead and manage the project and is accountable for all project deliverables and results, with full accountability and authority for the development, execution, and monitoring of the project including: vision and technical strategy; project management; documentation and communication; client and stakeholder relationships; and coordination and synergy with other MCDI projects. This is a key position on the project team and is contingent upon award to MCDI. Essential Job Functions:

• Provide overall leadership, strategic direction and management to ensure the quality of processes and results of all Project activities;
• Provide overall management and oversight of the operational, technical, financial and administrative aspects of the Project;
• Act as a main point of contact with the donor and as the key liaison between the donor, the Government of Guatemala, project implementing partners and other key stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Project;
• Provide oversight to ensure that the Project monitors its progress and performance and achieves the Project benchmarks as per the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan;
• Direct the annual work planning and budgeting and reporting (quarterly and annually) process in accordance with USAID rules and regulations;
• Contribute to the knowledge management aspects of the Project, to include gathering and dissemination of lessons learned and best practices;
• Supervise all Project senior and key staff, and provide capacity building to Project staff as necessary;
• Ensure the Project has appropriate representation at high-level stakeholder meetings and national and/or regional WASH working groups;
• Ensure participatory and gender sensitive processes are promoted.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience Required:

• Advanced degree in business or public administration, WASH, public health, or other related field is desirable;
• At least 10 years of progressive experience managing WASH or public health or development Projects in Latin America or other resource-limited settings, including demonstrated financial and human resource management experience;
• Proven experience in managing complex Projects of similar size ($30 million, encompassing an expansive geographic area and activities that involve coordination with the government and private sector at different levels);
• Demonstrated experience interacting and maintaining relationships with high-level stakeholders and host country government officials;
• Experience in capacity building and training in WASH-related technical areas, i.e., water quality, community-led approaches to sanitation and hygiene, SBCC, etc.
• Demonstrated leadership and experience in WASH design, strategic planning, budgeting, management and supervision, monitoring and evaluation;
• Experience working with USAID and knowledge of USAID rules and regulations are preferred;
• Strong management and problem solving skills;
• Highly computer literate, familiar with Projects for word-processing, spreadsheets, database management, presentations, and electronic communication;
• Prior experience working in Guatemala is strongly preferred.
• Full professional proficiency in English and Spanish;
• Preference will be given to qualified local national candidates.

Location: Guatemala City, Guatemala Schedule: Full-time Grade 11 Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest and curriculum vitae to bdjobs@mcd.org by July 23, 2021. Compensation will be based on USAID FSN scales.