Democratic Republic of the Congo: Deputy chief of party

Chemonics seeks a deputy chief of party for Accès, Lecture, Retention, et Redevabilité (ACCELERE!1) project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). A five-year, $134-million early grade reading project jointly funded by USAID and the U.K. Department for International Development, ACCELERE!1 is working to improve equitable access to education and learning outcomes for girls and boys. The project supports education service delivery in at least 25 education sub-provinces across Haut Katanga, Lualaba, Kasaï Central, Kasaï Oriental, Equateur, and other provinces in both government schools and those administered by religious networks that are recognized by the DRC government. ACCELERE!1 supports the government of the DRC to increase equitable enrollment to quality education, improve education quality, and improve education governance and accountability by stakeholders. In addition, efforts to support educational access for out-of-school youth through accelerated learning programs will include the above-mentioned provinces and North and South Kivu. The deputy chief of party will be based in Kinshasa. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities include:

• Oversee the project’s operational and technical activities, local subcontractors, and annual and quarterly work plans
• Manage development and implementation of project materials and training plans
• Ensure effective communication, coordination, and cross-fertilization throughout all the project’s work in improving access, quality, and governance in support of early grade reading
• Ensure the coaching approach is implemented effectively, including oversight of reading mobilizers
• Providing inputs as needed for project monitoring and evaluation
• Oversee and guide operational and logistical aspects of field-based sites in target sub-provinces
• Support procurement team with development of technical specifications as needed
• Oversee project grants program, ensuring compliance and technical quality throughout the grants lifecycle
• In collaboration with provincial team leaders and component leads, ensure that project activities are results-oriented, produce high-quality deliverables, and meet reporting requirements
• Oversee adherence to implementation schedule and work plan and ensure cohesion between the project’s result areas
• Engage in technical meetings and maintain positive relationships with DRC government officials and implementing partners

Qualifications**:**

• Master’s degree or foreign equivalent in education, public or business administration, international relations, social sciences, or other relevant field
• Minimum 10 years of experience, including at least eight years of overseas experience with technical or operational issues related to a range of education and development work, policy development, decentralization, education and conflict, and community engagement
• Minimum seven years of experience in program management, with a strong technical background and demonstrated success in managing subcontracts or subgrants with international consortiums, including local organizations, NGOs, communities, and parent-teacher associations
• Experience in working on USAID or other donor-funded education projects preferred
• Teaching experience preferred
• Knowledge of the DRC education system
• Demonstrated ability to work under difficult circumstances and form productive relationships with host-country counterparts at the national and subnational levels
• Experience in Africa; experience in West and Central Africa and the DRC or other fragile and conflict-affected country preferred but not required
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Professional-level English and French communications skills, in both speaking and writing

Please submit your updated CV and statement of interest to ACCELEREDCOP@chemonics.com by April 10, 2018. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.