Job Description
Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years’ experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 5,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI's Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI's experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.
SG&R’s Water and Environment portfolio has delivered innovative, breakthrough solutions in key development sectors, including water sector governance, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, countering wildlife crime, forestry, protected area management, climate change, environmental policy, economic livelihood development, community engagement, and institutional capacity building.
SG&R’s Energy Division develops and implements low emission energy technology alternatives, raises private financing for energy infrastructure, brings efficiency to utilities, works with governments on legal and regulatory reforms to alleviate bottlenecks in energy generation and consumption, and increases access to green energy to sustain economic growth and reduce poverty. We serve as a chosen partner for USAID’s Power Africa program in sub-Sahara Africa and have a growing international energy portfolio of over $270 million across Africa, Asia, Europe and Eurasia, and the Pacific Islands.
Project Description
The purpose of the USAID Green Recovery Investment Platform (GRIP) is to partner with the private sector to mobilize finance and actions that support the transition to an equitable and resilient net-zero economy while stimulating recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. GRIP will be a management and technical assistance platform designed to facilitate partnerships, improve enabling policies and finance ecosystems, and enhance learning and capacity to address these challenges. It will catalyze finance for climate change mitigation and adaptation, clean energy transition, and nature-based solutions to increase the resilience of development outcomes. GRIP will be a signature tool USAID will use, combined with other mechanisms and actions, to work toward their climate finance goals, including leveraging an investment of at least $250 million to attract $3.5 billion in private sector financing to address the climate crisis over the next three years. The anticipated program will be based in Washington D.C. and will work with a wide variety of partners and governments worldwide.
Position Description
RTI is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) for the upcoming Green Recovery Investment Platform Project (GRIP). The COP will be responsible for overall project performance, management, and execution ensuring all project deliverables are exceptionally exceeded within budget and compliance for mid to large-size projects. This position will provide project planning, oversight, leadership, and coordination. The COP will build and maintain strong and favorable client, partner, community, home office and team relations. They may provide technical assistance and support activities where necessary. The COP will report to RTI’s Home Office and will be based in Washington D.C. with up to 30% travel expected.
Responsibilities of COP include, but are not limited to:
- Lead the mobilization of private and public finance to scale up climate change interventions; experience with catalyzing private sector finance for adaptation and nature-based solutions projects is desired.
- Lead project team in setting and achieving project goals, in collaboration with USAID.
- Sets vision and strategy for the project in partnership with USAID and build consensus around that vision and strategy internally and externally.
- Engage with USAID bureaus, USAID missions, and other USG agencies to develop buy-in SOWs, promote project activities, successes, collaboration, and learning.
- Engage with private sector leadership in the US and Globally to promote participation in GRIP.
- Manage the project team to ensure project objectives are being met.
- Oversee a growing network of Mission buy-in implementing partners (subcontractors) to enhance USAID’s access to new partners.
- Coordinate effectively with other donors supporting parallel programs globally.
- Represent GRIP at project learning events to the broader development community, local governments and stakeholders, financial institutions, private sector investors, and the global community.
- Lead planning, oversight and coordination of all project activities and personnel, operational and technical.
- Manage client relations and serves as primary liaison and RTI Representative with the client and stakeholders regarding overall policy, resource mobilization and allocation, joint initiatives and coordination of project management and planning.
- Ensure integration of project activities through 1) the annual work plan and budgeting process; 2) creating/maintaining an effective project management team; 3) overseeing an effective monitoring and evaluation system.
- Responsible for ensuring all staff receives adequate security and operational support and that Standard Operating Procedures are implemented.
- Manage all aspects of staffing and creating/maintaining a clear organizational structure with specific roles, responsibilities and reporting lines.
- Ensure management systems are operational to track expenditures (including labor) and monitor same against the Program work plan and budget, according to both company policy and client standards/regulations
- Responsible for developing and implementing practices to ensure a high level of staff morale and retention.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree and 18 years of experience, Master's degree and 14 years of experience, PhD and 10 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Ten (10) years of progressive senior management experience on programs of similar sized international donor programs with strong skills in strategic planning, management, supervision, procurement and budgeting similar size and scope. Demonstrated experience managing technically, operationally and geographically diverse teams.
- Substantive experience in international trade and investment for climate mitigation and adaptation, clean energy transitions, and/or nature-based solutions in the context of developing countries in partnership with private sector organizations in the United States, Africa, Asia, and/or Latin America.
- Experience in identifying and building pipelines of investment opportunities and in designing and implementing strategies for investment mobilization, and/or export promotion in various sectors.
- Experience in identifying and brokering public and private partnerships.
- Substantive experience working with counterparts at various levels of government, private sector leaders, and other stakeholders in strengthening civil society engagement, capacity, and participation.
- Experience working with large budgets and teams in developing countries with oversight of financial management and procurement functions.
- Proven ability to work under pressure, and with multiple concurrent demands.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong skills in project, managerial and administrative management.
- Proven knowledge and experience managing an international project with international and local staff.
- Knowledgeable and experienced with international development contracting policies and procedures, specifically USAID.
- Ability to build consensus and demonstrated ability to recruit and develop high performing teams.
- Strong leadership skills across various levels of staff and locations.
- Familiarity with international development systems, policies, finances and management in developing countries.
- Proficiency in English is required.
