Chief of Party – Youth Engagement Activity at World Vision Kenya

Purpose of Position

The Chief of Party (CoP) will lead a major Wholistic Youth Empowerment Project that will be implemented in selected counties in Kenya with a focus on the utilization of evidence to develop and support county-level models that empower youth and connect them directly to social and economic opportunities to improve their livelihoods and well-being.

The CoP shall have a keen understanding of the unique Youth landscape in Kenya and the political, social and economic dynamics that contribute to the status of youth employment in Kenya.

S/he will be involved in high level public decision making processes on youth technical, vocational education and training; youth participation in governance and development affairs; with a specific focus on influencing public decision that would result into more decent and equitable employment and wealth creation opportunities for the youth in Kenya.

Major Responsibilities, 50%

• Strategic Program Leadership, Implementation and Reporting
• Direct and oversee grant implementation, ensuring that all strategic objectives are met through proper design, staffing, implementation and quality assurance
• Technical leadership, staff management and administrative oversight of the program
• Manage grant/project budget within approved spending levels and ensure accurate and timely financial reports to donors and SO staff.
• Manage, sub-recipients, and engagement with youth leaders and other stakeholders and ensure quality, timeliness, and efficiency of all products and activities generated under the grant.
• Provides strategic leadership and supervision of sub-grantees and sub-contractors while ensuring the security, feasibility, and sustainability of the program and contribution to Child wellbeing outcomes.
• Ensure grant/project expenses are reasonable, allocated as per assigned budget, prudent and spent in accordance with donor rules and regulations to ensure low risk audits
• Establish and maintain effective project reporting, evaluation, and communication systems. Submit timely accurate and professional reports that meet donor requirements
• Supervise a team of senior level national staff with skills across a diverse set of technical areas
• Ensure proper technical capacity of staff to manage complex donor-funded projects
• Lead grant staff and short-term consultants
• Consistently look for more effective and efficient implementation methods and opportunities to increase impact
• Participate and conduct on-going lessons learned with key staff and partners/sub-grantees

End Results Expected

• Grant program results achieved on time, on target and on budget, as agreed to in grant agreement
• Grant is delivered on time, on target and within allocated budget
• Financial reporting is accurate and delivered on time
• Audit reports indicate low risk findings
• All program expenses are compliant with WV and donor requirements
• High standards of quality assurance and reporting
• Coordinated technical response in program implementation
• Strong performance and teamwork of grants staff
• High quality of program deliverables
• Positive impact on beneficiaries
• Strong stewardship of resources
• Strategic Engagement and Donor Relations, 25%
• Manage proactive and responsive relationship with grant donor in close collaboration with World Vision Support Office, Field Regional Office and National Office.

End Results Expected

• Donor satisfaction with grant implementation and views World Vision as a partner of choice.
• Partnerships, Networking and Collaboration, 10%
• Principal institutional liaison to the donor, National and County Government Departments and agencies, Civil Society Organizations, the Private Sector partners and Youth led networks.

End Results Expected

• The priority needs of the youth in Kenya taken into consideration during government decision making processes
• Resource Mobilization, 10%
• Research new funding opportunities and develop and write funding proposals, if second phase of the grant or cost extension is planned

End Results Expected

• All planned activities are sufficiently funded
• Other duties assigned, 5%

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Master's degree in either Development Studies, Sociology, Political Science, Education or related field or equivalent qualifications in grant management and a technical field in developing countries
• Minimum 10 years of extensive development experience managing large USAID grant-funded projects, especially those that focus on youth empowerment
• Proven ability to manage technical assistance teams
• Knowledge of and familiarity with international assistance program requirements, preferably USAID and/or other funding agencies their policies and regulations
• Keen understanding of the unique political, social and economic dynamics of the country and ability to work carefully and collaboratively to maintain productive relationships with the various government entities and influence high level public decisions by the executive and legislative arms of government
• Proven ability in the management of large integrated grant-funded projects in developing countries
• Familiarity with USAID programs, their history and their development; mastery of USAID regulations governing such programs
• Ability to integrate teams of professionals around common goals
• Demonstrated accomplishment in working with host-country professionals, ministries and with donor colleagues in country
• Strong presentation and report writing skills

Additional work experience

• Experience of leading large and diverse teams
• Experience in leading and managing large grants in a complex environment.
• Experience as a CoP/PD or senior expert advisor required
• Experience managing sub grants and contracts under grants for complex projects
• Strong leadership qualities and depth and breadth of technical and management expertise.