Chief of Party, MCH Activity - Laos

Job Description

We are currently seeking a Chief of Party (COP) for a USAID-funded integrated maternal child health and nutrition activity in Laos. The purpose of the five-year program is to accelerate gains in nutrition, maternal, newborn and child health outcomes.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

The COP will be responsible for providing strategy, technical leadership and overall management direction for the project. This person is also responsible for project inputs, program strategy, external representation and coordination with project counterparts, USAID, the Government of Laos, other donors within the sector and other programs as necessary. The COP is ultimately responsible for compliance with the agreement results and the oversight of project activities which will meet the stated objectives of the project.

• Responsible for overall management of the activity, including liaison with USAID’s AOR team, partners and program staff in country office and beyond.
• Build and lead a strong team for the MCH activity that functions well.
• Work with Senior Management in country and HQ to ensure appropriate management structures and related support is functioning across the activity.
• Ensure the quality of technical interventions in collaboration with technical experts. Monitors activity implementation in close collaboration with partners together with activity team.
• Ensure proper budget management and oversight of funds in line with SCI, SCUS, and USAID systems.
• Oversee the coordination of implementation consortium, including partner roles, performance, reporting, and compliance.
• Responsible for quality and timely development and delivery of periodic activity plans and reports.
• Assure the quality of final documentation of results in collaboration with technical experts.
• Lead the activity team to apply results-oriented focus to planning, implantation, monitoring and reporting.
• Ensure program documentation and sharing of learning and results across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including civil society, UN agencies, donors, and government partners.
• Represent the activity with government leadership and advocate for approaches and innovations to be adopted in government plans, policies, and programming.
• Serve as the senior SC liaison of the MCH activity to USAID and SC technical teams
• Build and nurture relationships with USAID as well as with other USAID-funded Cooperating Agencies working in the health and nutrition sector (implementing partners) and proactively identify opportunities to collaborate or share approaches.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years’ experience managing health and/or nutrition programs in developing county contexts and ideally, in Asia;
• Post-graduate education (master’s or higher) in public health, nutrition, health sciences, or related field;
• Solid understanding of health systems strengthening approaches and social and behavior change and communications approaches as they relate to maternal and child health care and nutrition
• Proven history developing and maintaining relationships across a diverse range of stakeholders such as government, UN, civil society and other development partners;
• Experience managing a project of similar or related nature, size, and complexity and demonstrated experience in management of large inter-disciplinary teams;
• A history of productive involvement with governmental systems, processes and service delivery models in developing countries;
• Demonstrated problem solving and decision making skills, collaboration experience, creativity and willingness to innovate; commitment to fostering development of national teams
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in culturally diverse teams
• Strong working familiarity with USAID regulations and policies;
• Ability to work in and across diverse institutional structures;
• Fluent oral and strong analytical, written English communications skills is required;

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Asia, with experience in Laos preferred;
• Knowledge of Lao or Thai language preferred but not required.

Why you should join the Save the Children Team…

Save the Children US offers outstanding benefits that include health, dental, vision and life insurances, pet insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program, 403(b), generous vacation, personal sick leave, family leave, parental/adoption leave, commuter benefits, dress for your day, and much more.

Click here to learn more about how Save the Children US will invest in YOU!

About Save the Children

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

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About the Organization

Save the Children invests in childhood – every day, in times of crisis and for our future. In the United States and around the world, we are dedicated to ensuring every child has the best chance for success. Our pioneering programs give children a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. Our advocacy efforts provide a voice for children who cannot speak for themselves. As the leading expert on children, we inspire and achieve lasting impact for millions of the world's most vulnerable girls and boys. By transforming children's lives now, we change the course of their future and ours.