Background:

SoCha, LLC is contracted to provide Monitoring, Reporting, and Capacity Strengthening (MRCS) support to complement and augment the Department of State’s (DoS) Foreign Assistance efforts in the Office of West African Affairs. Current demand is focused primarily in the countries of Niger and Burkina Faso.

Scope of Work

The Chief of Party (COP) is the leader of the team, responsible for overall implementation, performance and results, as well as team and client management. Special emphasis is placed on the management, implementation and quality control of Third Party Monitoring (TPM) services. S/he will be responsible for the following:

1. Communications and Information Management

1. Maintain two-way communication throughout the project with client, team, SoCha Home Office, subcontractors and other relevant project organizations
2. Represent Company interests with stakeholders in DoS engagements
3. Prepare periodic reports on progress towards project objectives
4. Establish criteria, guidelines, and formats for project plans and reports, in line with SoCha Home Office standards, methodologies and directives
5. Ensure quality control across the deliverable production cycle

2. Personnel Management

1. Motivate staff to perform effectively toward project objectives, through communication, team building incentives, and responsiveness
2. Define personnel needs and scopes of work
3. Manage work done by team members
4. Conduct annual performance reviews and recommend salary adjustments
5. Recommend and support decisions related to contract termination in coordination with Home Office and HR policies.
6. Deal with personnel issues and concerns of team members, ensuring their welfare and safety along with the Home Office HR team

3. Contract Management

1. Execute contract in compliance with contract provisions
2. Oversee the management of contract finances, commodity procurement, inventory and general logistics
3. Represent SoCha by protecting its contractual interests

4. Management of Planning, Implementation, and Monitoring Activities

1. Define, gain consensus, and maintain the vision guiding implementation
2. Identify and pursue targets of opportunity in line with the goals of U.S. Foreign Assistance
3. Direct and monitor execution of activities within the work plan, ensuring that there is consensus on project objectives, and advance adaptive work planning with team members
4. Ensure work orders are high quality and completed on time; conduct final review of reports to be submitted to the client
5. Determine causes and effects of deviations from work plan and maintain open communication with client
6. Anticipate potential future problems in time to ensure that preventive measures can be taken

5. Other duties as appropriate

Required Qualifications:

1. A minimum of 10 years of demonstrated relevant project management experience in developing countries, preferably in West Africa
2. Master’s degree in a relevant field such as international development, statistics, economics, or another relevant field
3. Excellent written and spoken English and French are required.
4. Demonstrated experience in evaluation methodology, statistical analysis, experimental design, and/or data collection and analysis is required
5. Familiarity with Third-Party Monitoring complexity-aware monitoring required
6. Strong interpersonal and oral communications and presentation skills
7. Demonstrated experience in managing teams that have diverse backgrounds and skills
8. Experience working with a diverse group of stakeholders, including donor/development organizations, government officials, and project beneficiaries

*The position starts immediately and will be based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso with frequent travel to Niger.

Note: Due to current visa and access constraints in Burkina Faso and Niger, this position requires candidates who are able to travel and work in these countries without significant visa limitations.