Chief of Party, DRC

Job Description

Position Summary

Freedom House’s Chief of Party (COP) will oversee a USAID-funded program to promote and protect human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DRC COP will be responsible for leading all areas of program management including implementation, financial management, staff supervision, office management, communications, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, and leading and managing relationships with the USAID Mission. Furthermore, the COP will be responsible for managing implementing partners and sub-grantees. This position will be based in Kinshasa, DRC and will report to Freedom House’s Regional Director for Africa.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in political science, international development, law, or related field
• At least 10 years of experience managing and implementing donor-funded rule of law, human rights, and/or civil society programs, including experience building the sustainability of local organizations and institutions required; experience working specifically on electoral violence, gender based violence, provision of legal assistance, and advocacy for reforms strongly preferred. Experience working on USAID-funded programs strongly preferred
• Fluency in English and French
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated ability to create and maintain effective working relationships with local partners, media, government officials, bilateral donors, as well as in-country and foreign experts
• Demonstrated experience leading/implementing large donor-funded projects required; experience doing so in DRC, West Africa, or Great Lakes region strongly preferred
• Understanding of political and social dynamics in DRC, and of Congolese civil society, strongly preferred
• Experience working as a Chief of Party or equivalent leadership position in volatile operating environments
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing activity work plans and budgets, managing program implementation, and short-term technical assistance
• Knowledge of USAID rules and regulations, and other donor approaches to rule of law and civil society development
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage a diverse team of employees, including expatriate and local staff
• Experience in mentoring, coaching, and skills transfer
• Ability to use productivity software such as MS Word, Outlook, PowerPoint; and Microsoft Excel

Essential Duties

• Provide overall strategic leadership and oversight of large, multi-year project to support civil society and human rights in DRC and successfully manage relationship with USAID Mission related thereto
• Ensure strong coordination and communication between implementing partners, and unity of program messaging
• Ensure quality, cost, and timeliness of performance of all project deliverables
• Oversee implementation of a monitoring and evaluation program for the project reflective of best practices in monitoring and evaluation
• Ensure compliance with USG rules and regulations and with applicable local laws and regulations
• Oversee daily operations of the office, which includes but is not limited to: financial management, general office administration, public relations, and staff management
• Network and liaise with local partners and beneficiaries, including government representatives, civil society organizations, international and regional bodies, and private funders
• Develop and sustain strong understanding of political developments and trends in DRC
• Travel extensively to project sites within DRC and occasionally within the region
• Other related duties as assigned

Work Environment and Physical Demands:
Essential functions are typically performed in an office setting. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer: This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job. It is not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks and duties. The responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder may differ from those outlined in the job description and that other duties, as assigned, may be part of the job. Freedom House may add, change, or remove essential and other duties at any time.

Qualified and Interested Applicants

We invite qualified candidates to complete an online application and upload a resume, and cover letter with desired salary.

Candidate cover letters should specifically address how their previous experience relates to the duties and qualifications listed above. Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted.

EOE M/F/D/V

About the Organization

Freedom House promotes the spread of freedom and democracy around the world through research, advocacy, and programs that support frontline activists. We are a leader in identifying threats to freedom through our highly regarded analytic reports, including Freedom in the World, Freedom of the Press, Freedom on the Net, and Nations in Transit. With 13 field offices and two U.S. offices, we support the right of every individual to be free.