Chief of Party (CoP) USAID/ Marine Biodiversity Conservation Activity for the Western Indian Ocean

The University of Rhode Island, Coastal Resources Center seeks a Chief of Party to lead a five-year USAID-funded Marine Biodiversity Conservation Activity for the Western Indian Ocean.

The COP will provide overall program leadership, management, and technical direction.

The COP will be a personal services contract and not a staff position with the University of Rhode Island.

View below for complete job description, qualifications, and application instructions.

Applications due on a rolling basis.

Position Announcement:

USAID/ Marine Biodiversity Conservation Activity for the Western Indian Ocean

Chief of Party (CoP)

The University of Rhode Island, Coastal Resources Center (https://web.uri.edu/crc/) seeks a Chief of Party to lead a five-year USAID-funded project for marine conservation, sustainable development, and governance in the Western Indian Ocean. Key investment areas of this project include sustainable management of natural resources, protected areas, locally managed marine areas, complimentary natural resource production for household uses, governance, sustainable development and IUU fishing. The project will be implemented regionally and in specific sites in the region. The CoP will provide overall program leadership, management, and technical direction. The CoP will work closely with the Nairobi Convention and national fisheries ministries, national parks, environment, and territorial planning agencies, universities and research institutions, local NGOs, and other marine and coastal stakeholders. The project is anticipated to start by June 2025. The CoP will be based in the Western Indian Ocean Region. This position is contingent upon receipt of donor funding and candidate approvals by the donor. This position will be a personal services contract and not a staff position with the University of Rhode Island.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide technical supervision and administrative oversight for all activities and at all levels.
• Responsible for all aspects of coordination and communication, including with USAID, national governments in the region, other donors, the private sector, universities, and other counterparts. This will include other USAID biodiversity projects in the region.
• Oversee program work planning, performance management, and strategic communications.
• Responsible for implementation of activities defined in approved annual work plans and ensuring that all program assistance is technically sound, high quality and delivered on time.
• Ensure program’s strategic objectives and performance targets are fully accomplished.
• Oversee program’s monitoring and evaluation and learning system supporting use of data as the basis for measuring performance and adapting project interventions.
• Develop synergies with other donor projects and local institutions.
• Ensure staff, sub-recipient, and contractor understanding of, and compliance with all USAID and University of Rhode Island financial and administrative operating policies and procedures.
• Manage and supervise the work and performance of program personnel, sub-recipients, and contractors.
• Supervise all project staff, their performance relative to contract terms of reference (TORs), and deliverables.
• Develop and manage program budget, including tracking of financial and material resources.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of project finances against project progress and outcomes.
• Develop TORs for local consultants and sub-contracts.
• Provide written and oral reports to USAID when requested.
• Oversee program communication strategies, including compliance with donor’s branding and marking requirements.
• Provide quarterly programmatic reports to project manager at the Coastal Resources Center.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree required in Fisheries Management, Natural Resource Management, Marine Policy, Sustainable Development Program Administration and Management or relevant fields of study related to the project.
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in similar position in fields related to results and objectives of the project required for the successful implementation of this project.
• Proven exceptional leadership as project director or chief of party in the design, management, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of similar size and complex international donor support projects with skills in strategic planning, management, supervision, and budgeting.
• Knowledge of USAID and other donor policies and procedures as related to project management.
• Proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse public and private partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams.
• Technical understanding of coastal management, marine protected areas, coastal livelihoods and value chains, fisheries, including Illegal Unreported and Unregulated fisheries and international fisheries dynamics, as well as managerial experience in the region is highly desirable.
• Work experience in the region and knowledge of the regional and local political, social, cultural, environmental, and development context is strongly preferred.
• Ability to work collaboratively with government stakeholders, international donors, and local partners at the national and sub-national levels; record of building capacity of local partners.
• Ability to travel frequently throughout the region as required.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required, and French is preferred. Working knowledge of another local language a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Application Instructions:

To apply, submit a cover letter, CV, and three references (all in English) to the following email:

COPWIO@crcuri.org. Email subject line: Chief of Party WIO

Deadline: Immediately on a rolling basis.

URI is an equal opportunity employer committed to the principles of affirmative action.