Position Available – University of Rhode Island (Fiji-based): OurFish OurFuture Deputy Chief of Party

April 29, 2024

Project Overview

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) OurFish OurFuture Project is a cooperative agreement awarded by USAID that seeks to address the drivers of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing that are degrading coastal fisheries and biodiversity and negatively impacting local livelihoods, food stability, and maritime security in the Pacific Islands region. The five-year project (2021-2026) is implemented by the University of Rhode Island (URI) in collaboration the Locally-Managed Marine Areas Network International Trust (LMMA), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and The University of the South Pacific (USP). The project aims to collaborate closely with the Pacific Community (SPC), other fisheries organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs), and relevant government authorities focusing at regional, national and community levels across six countries in Micronesia and Melanesia: Palau, the Federated States of Melanesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands (SI), and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The Role

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP) will provide oversight of project administration and management; coordination of work planning and reporting; financial administration; human resources; and partner coordination, including the selection and negotiation of subawards. The DCoP directly supervises all finance and administrative staff. The position will be under contract with URI and reports to the Chief of Party. The position location will be at the University of Rhode Island (URI) foreign branch office in Suva, Fiji. The position will work closely with all OurFish OurFuture program staff located at both the University of Rhode Island (URI) Coastal Resources Centre (CRC) Office in Rhode Island, USA, and the Suva, Fiji, URI Foreign Branch. 

Key Responsibilities

Technical

  • Support the Chief of Party in the development of annual work plans, including developing scopes of works and budgets for the URI branch office and local subawardees.
  • Coordinate and consult with project subawardees, government agencies and working groups to ensure their smooth functioning and active participation of stakeholders for assigned key result areas.
  • Provide timely and ongoing information on activity status, progress and required adjustments to the CoP and URI home office PI.

Finance and administration

  • Contribute to project planning, including the development of annual work plans and budgets; help guide and oversee the alignment of the budget to expected results.
  • Assist in preparing contract terms of reference for local advisors/consultants/sub-awardees in conjunction with the CoP. Supervise all subawards as assigned by the CoP.
  • Ensure staff and sub-awardee understanding of, and compliance with all USAID Uniform Guidelines and University of Rhode Island financial and administrative operating policies and procedures.
  • Provide mentoring and capacity development support to local subawardees.
  • Oversight of adherence to URI’s Coastal Resources Center Field Office Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
  • Ensure the cost-effective use of resource, including thorough review of budgets.
  • Act as the liaison between URI and local counsel and the Government of Fiji as it relates to the URI branch office establishment and management.
  • Oversee the operations of the URI Branch office, including office leases, etc.
  • Responsible to ensure that financial transactions for the Project’s work plan implementation align with approved budgets and agreed upon financial procedures and protocols.
  • Approve expenditures from the Project as outlined in the URI’s Coastal Resources Center Delegations of Authority (DOA).
  • Approve and ensure accurate financial clearings to URI coordinator, on time, each month.
  • Approve and ensure accurate partner invoicing and compliance.

Human Resources

  • Supervision of staff as outlined in the Project’s organizational chart. This includes all finance and administrative positions.
  • Complete annual personnel performance evaluations of direct-report staff.
  • Assist the CoP in the organization of team building sessions among personnel and with key project partners.

Required Qualifications

The Deputy Chief of Party position requires the following qualifications:

  • Exemplary professional experience in international program management, preferably including senior management experience at DCOP or equivalent level.
  • At least 10 years of senior management and supervisory experience
  • At least 5 years of technical experience in a relevant field
  • Experience working on donor funded projects focused on one or several of the following areas is preferred: fisheries and coastal resource management, marine protected area management, policy development, governance capacity building, and conservation enterprises.
  • Experience building capacity of local partners.
  • Minimum of a master’s degree in a relevant field.
  • Proven leadership in the administration of programs similar to the scope of OurFish OurFuture.
  • Experience in building and effectively supervising a diverse team of employees.
  • Proficiency in English (both spoken and written).
  • Authorized to work in Fiji preferred.

Compensation & Benefits:

An attractive package will be offered to the successful candidate based on appropriate qualifications, experience and skills.

Contract Duration:

Contract duration is for 1 year and to be renewed annually upon positive annual performance through the end of this project being October 2026.

Job Description

For more information on the role and job description, please email info@ourfish.crcuri.org

How to Apply:

To apply please email all of the following, in order, in one single PDF file to the OurFish Chief of Party on email only at rjimmy@ourfish.crcuri.org and cc the CRC Project Manager at pfreeman@uri.edu:

  • Cover letter
  • Resume or CV (must include contacts of 3 recent referees) 

Deadline: Application will close at 4.00pm (Fiji Time) on 26 May 2024. The position remains open until filled.

This Project follows US Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity laws and does not discriminate in consideration or hiring of individuals.