This position is contingent on approval of the USDA McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program Activity grant.
Proposal Summary
The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) helps support education, child development and food security in low-income, food-deficit countries around the globe.
The program purchases nutritious packaged U.S. agricultural commodities from American farmers, ranchers, and producers and seeks to combine locally procured commodities to support school feeding and maternal and child nutrition projects. The McGovern-Dole projects address two strategic program objectives 1) Improved Literacy of School-Aged Children, and 2) Increased Use of Health, Nutrition and Dietary Practices.
FH Culture
All we do, and how we do it, seeks to promote God’s beauty, goodness, and truth in a broken world. As such, we are defined by our ability to make people’s lives measurably better; our ability to deliver impact is the measure of our collective success. For we know that we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has already prepared in advance for us to do. At Food for the Hungry, we operate under a set of values called Heartbeat Values.
Job Summary
The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) will work under the supervision of the Chief of Party to plan and oversee the implementation of this activity. Excellent oral and written communication skills in both English and Spanish are required. The DCOP will assist the COP in the technical, administrative, and managerial functions necessary to ensure effective program implementation, coordination, compliance, and timely delivery.
In addition to serving as a senior program manager, the DCOP is expected to bring relevant technical expertise in child development–related programming, such as child nutrition, education quality, school systems strengthening, or closely related fields, in order to meaningfully contribute to technical oversight and decision‑making. The DCOP will liaise regularly with government counterparts, consortia partners, and community leadership, and will lead or support processes related to project approvals with relevant Ministries, as applicable. He/she will serve as Acting Chief of Party when the COP is unavailable.
Principal Responsibilities
- Support the COP in the development and implementation of a clear strategic vision, set of program approaches and timetable for interventions to achieve project objectives.
- Lead the national and local government consultation and permissions process through closely working with relevant ministries and agencies where applicable.
- In coordination with the COP, lead development of annual work plans and budget in close collaboration with the Project team and relevant government counterparts.
- Support the COP in the development and implementation of a clear strategic vision, set of program approaches and timetable for interventions to achieve project objectives.
- Lead the national and local government consultation and permissions process through closely working with relevant ministries and agencies where applicable.
- In coordination with the COP, lead development of annual work plans and budget in close collaboration with the Project team and relevant government counterparts.
- Coordinate with the Project team and relevant government counterparts to foster a smooth implementation of work plan activities, including facilitating technical and programmatic preparation and stakeholder consultations.
- Work in close collaboration with the Project team, and the FH country team and Global Service Center to prepare and submit deliverables and complete reporting requirements on schedule to USDA.
- Work with Finance and M&E staff to compile and submit necessary reports to FH Country Office, Global Service Center, donors, and government as required by local regulations.
- Support the COP to ensure that staff members adhere to the work plan to ensure that all targets and deliverables are met in accordance with the scope of work, and within budget.
- Supervise programs and operations staff and relevant consultants.
- Oversee the program support components (capacity building, safeguards, communication, MERL) to ensure they are in line with USDA strategies.
- Liaise with government at national and provincial levels, civil society organizations, private sector companies and other stakeholders to support delivery of the project objectives.
- Oversee local sub-grants and short-term consultants to ensure monitoring and quality of deliverables.
- When required by the COP, serves as an alternate point of contact and representative of the project with USDA, other donors, implementing partners and stakeholders.
- Support the COP in set up and implementation of project operational and financial systems to ensure compliance with USDA policies and procedures and harmonize with FH regulations.
- Support the COP to organize CLA (collaborating, learning and adapting) events with staff and partners regularly to anticipate, identify and address risks, issues, and gaps, in a timely and compliant fashion.
- Support the COP to establish and keep promoting a collaborative and positive work environment.
Other duties as assigned.
Job Level Skills and Behaviors
- Strong leadership, program and organizational management and communication skills, as well as sound analytical abilities.
- Proven ability to successfully lead an intercultural team in a development context, including supervising long-term field staff and short term international and local experts is required.
- Ability to travel up to 20% of time per year in the region and internationally, to at times insecure countries or locations.
- Demonstrated computer-operating skills, including proficiency in Google platforms, Microsoft Office products, and virtual technologies such as Teams and/or Zoom.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze complex financial data develop reports easy to read and use by other stakeholders.
- Vibrant personal relationship with Jesus Christ and Christian commitment to serving the poor and in full agreement with FH’s Christian beliefs.
Experience
- At least 7 years of experience with complex, fast paced, and politically sensitive field operations in developing countries, preferably in a fragile or transitional state environment or security-challenged environments; with 5-8 years of experience in public health or health science.
- Must have relevant work experience as a DCOP, or senior field management experience such as Project Director, Regional Director, or Country Director roles that require working closely with a donor, contractor, or international NGO, managing an office or program.
- Knowledge of M&E methodologies (USDA MERL and CLA processes preferred), quality assurance, and work planning processes.
- Experience working and negotiating with Government bodies, donors, and partners at all levels.
- Previous management experience on USDA/USAID projects.
Excellent oral and written communication skills in Spanish and English are required.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from senior leadership, Government representatives, USDA, board of directors, consortia partners and the general public.
Lenguage
Excellent oral and written communication skills in Spanish and English are required.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from senior leadership, Government representatives, USDA, board of directors, consortia partners and the general public.
Supervisor Responsibilities
Directly supervises staff. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints, resolving problems, etc.
Safeguarding Policy
FH strives to provide an environment free from sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment in all places where relief and development programs are implemented. FH holds a zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment. FH expects its employees to maintain high ethical standards, protect organizational integrity and reputation, and ensure that FH work is carried out in honest and fair methods, in alignment with the Heartbeat Values and safeguarding and associated policies. Violations to stated policies will be subject to corrective action up to and including termination of employment.
The responsibilities listed above are not all-inclusive and may be changed at any time.