Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP)-Operations at Palladium International

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

• The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) – Ops shall provide support to the COP with strategic leadership and oversight to the activity. S/he shall have depth and breadth of technical expertise and experience, a solid professional reputation, interpersonal skills, and professional relationships to fulfill the requirements of the activity description, and close working relationships with key stakeholders in Kenya. The DCOP must have experience managing large, complex activities and demonstrated experience working with and through the private sector. Primary duties and responsibilities include:
• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team of the program and supports the COP in leadership and oversight of project staff and activities. As such, provides senior leadership, management oversight, and coordination on all matters project-wide.
• Co-lead and oversee programmatic functions, i.e., development of work plans, budgets, quarterly/annual reports, and ensure effective implementation of program strategy with integrated lessons and best practices
• Maintain effective and open communication throughout the project with Chief of Party, USAID, Project Director, Objective Leads, project operations teams, and other relevant stakeholders
• Collaborate with different stakeholders to foster country-driven, inclusive, locally-relevant strategies to improve and assure forest conservation and resource management practices.
• Lead and/or reviews and monitors programmatic functions, i.e., development of work plans and budgets and quarterly/annual reports and ensures effective implementation of program strategy as articulated by in the work plan.
• Serve as Acting Chief of Party when s/he is unavailable
• In collaboration with local staff in-country, identify program opportunities and potential local partners as needed.
• In collaboration with the M&E officers ensure relevant staff use, maintain and regularly upload data to the project M&E system.
• Participate in and/or prepares necessary project-related reports, including presentations and white papers.
• Provide analytical and evaluative techniques to identify, consider, and resolve issues or problems.

Required Qualifications

• At least 10 years’ experience managing large and complex activities, preferably in the Eastern African region and preferably experience with market-led agricultural, resilience and/or financial programmin
• Advanced degree in in business administration, project management, public policy and management, or finance related fields.
• Must demonstrate commitment to market-led, private sector engagement approaches
• Excellent managerial and operational experience, preferably in managing large donor projects involving coordination with multiple implementing partners or institutions in Kenya or the region, and sub-recipient / complex partnering relationships, preferably in Kenya
• Experience with activity design as well as development and management of projects, preferably including both community-level and national-level activities.
• Experience with a donor, contractor or international NGOs in a relevant sector such as natural resources management, environment/biodiversity, forestry, land use management, or agriculture.
• Demonstrated Financial management experience (including budgeting) and knowledge in establishing systems and overseeing program start-up.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience managing USG and/or other major donor-funded projects with a focus on knowledge and expertise in financial rules, regulations, and oversight at a senior level
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in developing activity work-plans, budgets, managing implementation, staff, and short-term technical assistance
• Excellent communications, organizational, and interpersonal skills