Job Opportunity: Chief of Party, INSPIRE Project [Closed]

About the Project

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded the Investing in Sustainability and Partnerships for Inclusive Growth and Regenerative Ecosystems “INSPIRE” Project to the Gerry Roxas Foundation on September 14, 2021.  INSPIRE is a five-year project that aims to contribute to NRSG’s goal of advancing natural resource resilience, security, and governance through the increased participation and critical engagement of CSOs, media, indigenous peoples (IPs), local communities, and the private sector.

About the Post

The Chief of Party (COP) provides overall leadership, technical guidance, and supervision to the INSPIRE project team in the implementation of its strategic approaches. The COP takes the lead in planning and directing project resources to achieve Project goals and objectives. The COP coordinates with the GRF Executive Director in ensuring that the Project is implemented in accordance with USAID policies and procedures as contained in the cooperative agreement. The COP also takes the lead in coordinating with USAID Contract Office and its Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR), with both private and public sector partners, and with all other key stakeholders of the Project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Specifically, the COP performs the following functions:

1. Provides leadership and effective management of the day-to-day execution of financial, administrative, technical, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities in line with the project’s work plan and ensures that these activities meet the standards and expectations of USAID and GRF;
2. Facilitates the crafting of strategic plans, activity monitoring and evaluation (AMEL) plan, as well as other tools and guidelines for the project and for its partners and grantees;
3. Ensures that project design and approaches are aligned with USAID thrusts and priorities as well as that of the Philippine Development Plan on natural resource management;
4. Develops and leads the initiatives in Private Sector Engagement (PSE) and facilitates Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in support of INSPIRE activities;
5. Ensures the timely and complete submission of high-quality contractual deliverables such as work plans, operations manuals, quarterly and annual progress reports, success stories, financial reports, and other reports required by USAID;
6. Provides inputs in the development of the project’s grant-making mechanism, crafting of solicitation and guidelines and processes for review of project concept papers, co-development of project proposal with applicants, and field validation of proposals for final review and approval of USAID;
7. Provides inputs and high-level technical analysis to proposals submitted to INSPIRE’s grant-making facility for potential award and leads the deliberation meetings on projects to be endorsed to USAID, providing inputs on relevance, feasibility, and alignment of proposals with INSPIRE goals and objectives;
8. Leads the coaching and mentoring sessions to enhance organizational competencies of the project team, its partners, and grantees;
9. Leads the networking effort with other ongoing USAID initiatives for complementation, partnership, or potential convergence of services and activities, including cross-cutting issues like gender equality; and
10. Manages and builds synergy among partner organizations and grantee beneficiaries, and maintains a strong working relationship with government representatives, USAID Contracting Officer and COR, USAID Programs Officials, and other pertinent stakeholders that can contribute to the success of the project implementation.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in social or environmental science, community development, or other relevant technical fields;
• At least ten years of relevant experience in managing and implementing large donor-funded developmental programs for diverse areas;
• Minimum of ten years of professional experience working on, designing, and/or implementing projects in at least one of the following areas: biodiversity conservation, environmental governance or policy, natural resource management, local capacity development, sustainable landscapes, and/or protected area management.
• Experience working as a USAID project Chief of Party or other similar senior management post for projects or initiatives of the same scope, size, and complexity is preferred;
• Proven track record in successful attainment of program management’s goals and objectives;
• Demonstrated ability to establish and manage partnerships and relationships that are critical to the success of the project;
• Demonstrated strong ability to coordinate with high-level stakeholders for institutional and governmental support;
• Demonstrated ability to oversee a highly diverse team toward achieving project objectives;
• Previous work experience initiating programs that involve gender mainstreaming is preferred;
• Excellent writing and speaking skills in English;
• Strong skills in financial and personnel and organizational management; and
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and unquestionable integrity.

Submission Instructions

Interested applicants should send their Curriculum Vitae and a cover letter highlighting relevant experiences. Include a list of three references with contact information. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted by GRF.

Send applications via email to: [email protected].

The deadline for applications is at 5:00 PM, March 31, 2023.

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