Chief of Party (COP)

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Position Title: Chief of Party (COP)
Location: Islamabad
Country: Pakistan
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
CARE is a leading humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting global poverty and providing lifesaving assistance in emergencies. Established in 1945, CARE operates in over 100 countries, with a mission to empower individuals and communities to achieve social justice and improve their quality of life. The organization focuses on various sectors, including education, health, and economic development, and employs thousands of staff worldwide, working collaboratively with local partners to implement impactful programs.

Job Overview:
The Chief of Party (COP) for the USAID-funded Foundational Learning Activity in Pakistan will play a crucial role in enhancing student learning outcomes in reading and math while preventing school dropout. The COP will provide leadership, management, and technical direction for the project, ensuring effective implementation, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of activities. This position requires a strategic thinker who can liaise effectively with USAID, government counterparts, and local partners, while managing and supervising program personnel and subcontractors. The COP will oversee program work planning, performance management, and strategic communication, ensuring that all program assistance is technically sound and appropriate. This five-year program is expected to operate within a budget range of $10-$24.99 million and is subject to USAID approval and project funding.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The COP will lead the project by providing vision, direction, and technical guidance. Key responsibilities include overseeing the overall management and implementation of the project, ensuring alignment with project work plans, and supervising and mentoring senior technical staff and consultants. The COP will motivate teams to deliver results by fostering a strong team dynamic and open communication. Promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in operations and program implementation is essential. The COP will build and maintain productive relationships with USAID, host government, project partners, and key stakeholders, serving as the primary liaison among all project stakeholders. Additionally, the COP will manage operational, financial, and administrative priorities, direct planning and budgeting processes, and create or adapt management systems in line with CARE’s standard operating procedures. The role also involves designing and overseeing an annual project cycle in accordance with USAID’s planning cycles, ensuring documentation and dissemination of findings, and leading in the coordination of information dissemination activities that share project achievements and results. The COP will oversee the monitoring and evaluation function, including the preparation of all required reports and deliverables.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in Education, International Development, Social Sciences, or a related field. A minimum of 10-12 years of relevant senior management experience in international development is required, specifically in roles such as Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, or in senior management positions on humanitarian or development projects. Technical experience in education systems, youth development, skills training, and capacity building is essential. Experience managing USAID cooperative agreements and/or contracts is also required, along with strong financial management, budgeting, and project operations oversight abilities. Familiarity with the Pakistani context is preferred, as is experience in recruiting, developing, and managing staff and teams. Candidates should demonstrate skills in building and maintaining relationships with host governments, donors, and local organizations.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as Education, International Development, or Social Sciences is required for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of international development and education systems, which are central to the role of Chief of Party.

Experience:
The position requires 10-12 years of relevant senior management experience in international development. Candidates should have a proven track record in roles such as Chief of Party or Deputy Chief of Party, or in senior management roles on humanitarian or development projects. Experience in managing USAID projects and cooperative agreements is highly valued, as is experience working in Pakistan.

Languages:
Fluency in English, both spoken and written, is mandatory for this position. Strong oral and written communication skills are essential, along with excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills. While English is the primary language required, knowledge of local languages may be beneficial but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This position is a Key Personnel role subject to USAID approval and is contingent upon project award and funding. National and international candidates are encouraged to apply. The position is based in Islamabad, Pakistan, and may require travel within the country as security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security conditions allow. The role is expected to be full-time, with a focus on long-term project sustainability and impact.