Democratic Republic of the Congo: Chief of Party, DRC

Overview

Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is seeking a Chief of Party for a potential five-year USAID-funded program to integrate efficient and quality medical, psychosocial, legal and economic activities to prevent or/and support survivors of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the DR Congo. The program will focus on four main pillars of: medical response, psycho-social support specifically the expansion of Cognitive Psychotherapy interventions, legal assistance, and socioeconomic reintegration. The new program will include a behavior change communication component to address communities, and specifically men and youth. The program will add restorative justice to complement the formal system and potentially address damages and compensation; engaging local researchers and institutions in data collection and analysis. The program will work in up to 10 health zones in Eastern Congo.

The Chief of Party leads and manages the project and is accountable for 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(s) stakeholder(s) relationships; and coordination and synergy with other MSH projects and collaboration with MSH Country Representative and the Country Operations Management Unit (COMU) where applicable. This accountability includes effective contribution to business and resource development activities - including positioning, intelligence gathering, and proposal development - that contribute to fueling MSH’s mission.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Project Results:

a. Oversees implementation of program activities and provides high quality technical and strategic leadership, managerial oversight, and administration of the project.
b. Serves as the primary project liaison from MSH to the donor and is accountable for the achievement of results, ensuring quality of services is maintained at the highest standard, and that all project objectives and deliverables are met.
c. Safeguard MSH’s reputation by ensuring that financial, contractual, technical, and political integrity is maintained and strengthened.

2. Technical Strategy and Vision:

a. In collaboration with MSH technical team and project staff, develop (update and adapt as needed) and execute project results framework, performance monitoring plan, technical strategy, M&E plan and annual work plans as per contract/agreement requirements, MSH technical frameworks and standards, and RMS guidelines.

b. Work closely with the DCOP and Senior Technical Officer on development and monitoring of technical plans and subcontracts.
c. Ensure appropriate and timely documentation and dissemination of key results and deliverables for maximum project impact and business development using a variety of communication strategies and media.

3. Project and People Management:

a. Ensure effective contract/agreement implementation in strict compliance with contract/agreement clauses, MSH and donor policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
b. Ensure project staffing, structure and reporting relationships are aligned with project needs, local context and available resources.
c. Manage and mentor the project team as per MSH policies and guidelines and implement an effective performance-management program including regular check-ins, annual appraisals, supportive supervision, rewards, training, coaching, team building and career development support.

4. Client and other Stakeholder Relationships:

a. Build and maintain strong working relations with key internal and external stakeholders, beneficiaries, prime and subcontractors, suppliers and partners. Provide effective and timely responses to inquiries and concerns.
b. Lead high level communication, presentation the project and lessons learned to external and internal audiences
c. Identify and keep track of new business opportunities, communicating them to the relevant internal MSH stakeholders.

5. Coordination and Synergy:

a. Collaborate with the MSH Country Representative and participate as required in activities organized in the context of MSH Representation in country.
b. Ensure harmonious collaboration with and cost-effective use of the Country Operations Management Unit.

Qualifications and Experience

1. Master’s degree in Public Health, Social Work, Public Policy or Gender related field;
2. At least 10 years of progressive leadership and management experience in projects related to gender-based violence, reproductive health and/or women’s empowerment;
3. At least 8 years’ experience in the development of strategic and operational plans with senior management teams working with Ministries of Health and/or related public sector agencies or high level technical inter-agency groups.
4. Demonstrated experience managing similarly complex projects in emergency contexts similar to DRC, involving management of multi-million dollar budgets/portfolios and coordination with multiple programs and partner institutions, including experience managing USAID projects;

5. Must have a solid understanding of SGBV response approaches, including health, case management, legal, and socioeconomic reinsertion interventions, and SGBV prevention approaches;

6. Research or program experience in at least one of the SGBV program areas: medical; psycho-social, community empowerment; or economic integration.

7. Demonstrated subject-matter expertise in technical content relevant to the project.

8. Demonstrated leadership and management abilities with excellent emotional intelligence.

9. Prior experience and success directing similar or larger international donor-funded projects in DR Congo or any fragile state.

10. Familiarity with USAID regulations and administrative procedures in the implementation of donor assisted projects required.

11. Proven record of aligning diverse, multi-level teams with project mission and vision.

12. Track record of strong commitment to sharing knowledge, documenting experiences, supporting creative initiatives, and sharing credit.

13. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships across government ministries and sectors, with senior-level colleagues, particularly interacting productively, proactively, and comfortably with national and sub-national government officials and institutions, NGOs, private sector groups, USAID, professional organizations and donor organizations.

14. Demonstrated strategic agility, diplomacy, conflict management, team building, written and oral communication, and negotiation skills. Gender perspective required.

15. Fluency in written and spoken French and English. Swahili desired.

https://jobs-msh.icims.com/jobs/9286/chief-of-party/job