Chief of Party

Job Description

Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) is a leading U.S. nonprofit organization that catalyzes private sector growth and creates economic opportunity for people and communities across the economically developing world. Since our founding in 1964, we have delivered lasting solutions across 139 countries.

IESC is a valued partner to people and communities throughout the economically developing world. We share proven business skills and experience with entrepreneurs, jobseekers, businesses, farmers, cooperatives, and governments. We also offer resources—human, technological, financial—that sustainably build capacity and empower communities. Our long legacy of strengthening developing economies is matched by our vision for the next generation: a world with economic opportunity for all, where people and communities thrive.

Our major funders today are the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), among others.

IESC is seeking interested and qualified individuals for the Chief of Party (CoP) position to lead the USDA Food for Progress Trade Safe (TraSa) Project in the Dominican Republic (DR) through the remaining period of performance (ending September 2027). This $19.9 million project, now entering its fifth of seven years of implementation, improves the efficiency, coordination, and transparency of the trade, commercialization, and safety of food and agricultural products. The project supports the implementation of science and risk-based sanitary and phytosanitary measures, standards, and regulations. TraSa is strengthening the DR’s food safety system and enhancing the capacity to facilitate trade in food and agricultural products. Ultimately, TraSa is expanding the DR’s local, regional, and international trade in agricultural products; increases agricultural productivity; and improves consumer access to safe foods. To achieve this, TraSa builds farm and institutional capacity in sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS), improves the application of the risk management system at the border, and leverages private sector investment to further develop cold chain systems.

The CoP will work full-time and be based in Santo Domingo, DR and report to the IESC Home Office Associate Vice President of Trade and Enterprise.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES

• Provides overall management, support, vision, and technical direction for all project tasks and supervises full-time employees, consultants, and sub-partner/contract inputs.

• Serve as the primary liaison with USDA Foreign Agricultural Service in Santo Domingo.

• Manages the development and execution of technical plans, including a yearly work plan, and procedures to achieve project tasks, objectives, and planned results.

• Provides financial management and accountability for all project activities, including compliance with expenditure projections and identification of remedial actions necessary to keep expenditures on track.

• Supervises completion of timely and high-quality deliverables for agreement compliance, including monthly steering committee bulletins, the semi-annual reports, and success stories.

• Communicates with IESC’s Home Office (HO) to report on project progress and to coordinate project activities with IESC HO support.

• In conjunction with the IESC HO support team, ensures that managerial, administrative, and financial procedures comply with provisions of the Cooperative Agreement, U.S. Government (USG) regulations (including 2 CFR 200), and IESC policies.

• Oversees procurement of selected services according to USG and IESC procedures in coordination with IESC HO compliance office.

• Manages project funds and approves expenditures in accordance with IESC and USG procedures, cost principles, and regulations, following closely and in a timely fashion, the working budget of project funds.

• Provides a positive image of the project through the participation in meetings, conferences, and other opportunities conducive to publicizing and promoting the project’s achievements.

• Manages and supervises 5 senior staff effectively, fostering professional development of staff.

• Creates good working relationships with the client, the government beneficiary, and other stakeholders. This includes monthly meetings with the assigned USDA international programs analysts as well as responding or supporting responses to USDA questions or concerns.

• Provides formal project progress updates and upcoming activities to TraSa Steering Committee via a quarterly meeting, a monthly TraSa Bulletín (three-page project newsletter), and ad hoc success stories.

• Schedule and organize public events to highlight USDA contributions through the TraSa project to the Dominican audience.

• Supports a positive working relationship with IESC partners, consultants, and other agencies.

• Performs other duties and responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in business, trade, agriculture, organizational development, or similar area preferred. Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required.

• Minimum 15 years’ professional experience with demonstrated increased responsibilities in managing complex development challenges, with at least five years in a senior leadership of agricultural trade projects managing technical and operational staff members.

• Previous experience as a Chief of Party or country director on projects of similar complexity.

• Strong interpersonal skills with proven ability to productively engage a wide range and levels of organizations (producers, government, private sector, NGOs, research institutions).

• Excellent managerial skills and demonstrated ability to lead teams and work effectively and collaboratively in team environments.

• Excellent understanding and knowledge of USG regulations, administration, management, reporting procedures, and systems.

• Strong communications and technical skills, fluent in English and Spanish, with excellent presentation skills required for reporting to client, the project steering committee, and public and private counterparts.

• Experience working in the Dominican Republic and the Latin American region preferred.

• Prior experience managing project close-outs preferred.

All applicants must have the ability to live and work in Santo Domingo, with travel to the Dominican regions as required.

Our organization is committed to promoting an inclusive workplace that values every individual and their diverse backgrounds and experiences.   

IESC’s employee-led diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) committee guides IESC’s efforts to become an even more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. The committee creates strategic accountability for DEIA related results, provides governance and oversight on DEIA efforts, and promotes organization-wide communication on progress.   

IESC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to achieving a diverse workforce in which all applicants and employees receive equal treatment regardless of their personal characteristics. IESC is committed to providing employment opportunities for all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, marital or family care status, military or veteran status, status as a victim of domestic violence, political affiliation or any other category protected by applicable law.

About the Organization

Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) is a leading U.S. nonprofit organization that catalyzes private sector growth and creates economic opportunity for people and communities across the economically developing world. Since our founding in 1964, we have delivered lasting solutions across 139 countries. 

IESC is a valued partner to people and communities throughout the economically developing world. We share proven business skills and experience with entrepreneurs, jobseekers, businesses, farmers, cooperatives, and governments. We also offer resources—human, technological, financial—that sustainably build capacity and empower communities. Our long legacy of strengthening developing economies is matched by our vision for the next generation: a world with economic opportunity for all, where people and communities thrive. Our major funders today are the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), among others.