Chief of Party, USAID/Jordan Public Action for Water, Energy and Environment Project

Company Profile:  ECODIT LLC (www.ecodit.com) is a small business dedicated to working with governments, businesses, and local communities to promote sound water, energy, and environmental management and local development around the world.

ECODIT is currently implementing the Jordan Public Action for Water, Energy and Environment Project (http://jordanpap.com/), a nationwide education and behavior change communication program funded by USAID/Jordan.  This five-year (2009-2014) program seeks to encourage “green lifestyle” behaviors, promote sustainable policies related to water, energy, and solid waste, and partner with diverse interest groups using proven behavior change methods and conservation and efficiency technologies/practices. Key project components include (1) a US$4.5 Million pool of competitive grants to be awarded to local NGOs, including non-profits and private companies; (2) non-competitive grants and contracts to educational institutions to promote more interactive teaching methods concerning environmental education (about US$1Million in value); (3) design, fabrication and installation of a water and energy exhibit at the Children’s Museum Jordan (over $1M); and (4) a series of capacity building activities including an intensive social marketing training program.  The Public Action Project has a staff of about 25 employees.

Position Summary: The Chief of Party (COP) has overall responsibility for achieving project goals and submitting project deliverables.  She/he will manage the project, with substantive input and in close collaboration with the Senior Social Marketing / Communication Expert and the Operations & Grants Manager on the long-term PAP team, to ensure that project outputs meet the highest applicable standards of quality and excellence and comply with contractual requirements. 

Responsibilities: The Chief of Party will:

• Manage the project’s human and financial resources at the Field Office (FO) to ensure that all tasks are implemented, deliverables are submitted, and project goals are met as cost-effectively and flexibly as possible, on time, within budget, and in compliance with applicable USG regulations and company policies;
• Maintain frequent liaison with the USAID Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR) (and the Contracting Officer [CO] as necessary) for regular updates, feedback, and guidance;
• Assume lead responsibility for producing and submitting to USAID all programmatic reports including work plans, progress reports, and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) reports;
• Assume direct lead responsibility for implementing and updating the M&E Plan;
• Oversee the development and implementation of scopes of work for subcontractors and short-term technical assistance (STTA) personnel;
• Mentor and evaluate the performance of key local long-term project staff and subcontractors;
• Manage the input of the Social Marketing /Communications Expert and the Operations & Grants Manager as members of the PAP Management Team (who are assigned specific functions and responsibilities according to their respective areas of expertise);
• Coordinate with other relevant projects and programs of USAID, other donors, and GOJ and NGO partners;
• Develop and maintain positive and productive relationships with GOJ agencies, NGOs, and other key project partners; and
• Maintain frequent contact with the ECODIT Home Office (HO), which will provide technical and admin backstopping support to the FO working under the supervision of the COP.  In particular, prepare and submit “three-month rolling plans” to the HO and use them as a basic project implementation and staff management tool.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in a relevant field
• Minimum 15 years of relevant professional experience (e.g., social science research, change management, water demand management, water/energy conservation and efficiency, behavior change)
• Significant experience managing large, complex, donor-funded development projects (US$5 Million plus, 10+ staff) – preferably in the Middle East
• Prior experience with USAID projects, procedures, policies, regulations and reporting requirements; past Chief of Party experience highly desirable
• Demonstrated M&E experience of complex projects and experience building the capacity of local partners (government, civil society and the private sector)
• Strong verbal and writing skills in English; Arabic desirable
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills and demonstrated experience in strategic planning and organizational management
• Strong communication skills – internal project communication (among the project staff and DC-based home office), communication with the client (USAID CO, COTR, and other program officers), and representing the project in front of external audiences
• Ability to motivate and lead multi-disciplinary team

Interested candidates should send their CV and a cover letter in English. Please put “Application for PAP COP” in the subject of the email.  ECODIT will respond only to a selection of qualified applicants.  No phone calls please.