Job Description:
The Institute of International Education (IIE) is hiring a Chief of Party (CoP) for our USAID/Burma Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program (DISP). We invite you to join a team united by a single goal: to transform our interconnected world into a network of more peaceful and equitable societies. IIE’s team members share a belief that when education transcends borders, it opens minds, enabling people to go beyond building connections to solving problems together.
Learn more about IIE, our culture and commitment to DEIA here.
If you are a job seeker in need of an accommodation to navigate our careers site or apply for one of our jobs, please click here to learn more.
Job Summary:
This position will work with the USAID Programs. IIE leverages the power of international education to support the work of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) worldwide in scholarship and fellowship management, workforce development, university partnerships, and local capacity building. IIE has an experienced home office team that provides management support to each USAID project it administers and has comprehensive guidelines and processes in place to support technical approaches, financial management, compliance, and local capacity development.
The five-year USAID DISP activity, which was launched in August 2023, supports current and future community leaders of Burma, particularly those from vulnerable groups, in gaining access to quality higher education learning opportunities by offering regional and local higher education scholarships, grants, and a variety of higher education opportunities via multimodalities that strengthen the overall educational landscape of Burma. Through DISP, individuals of all backgrounds will earn higher education degrees, receive professional certifications, and gain access to contextualized curricula through short- and long-term training in Burma and throughout select countries in the region.
The Chief of Party (CoP) will have oversight for field operations, supervise staff, oversee and adjust program activities as needed to achieve the strategic vision of the Activity, ensure fiscal integrity and management of Activity expenditures, and lead the development of quality and timely deliverables.
Essential Functions:
• Provides strategic program and team leadership, management and establishes and implements the direction of the program. In collaboration with USAID, sets a clear strategic vision and plan for the program through the development of annual workplans.
• Builds strategic partnerships with USAID/Burma senior leadership and contract team; program partners; USAID implementers; HEI partners; and grantee organizations. Keeps abreast of developments in Burma and the region that could impact progress towards achieving DISP goals. Coordinates with USAID to adapt program activities as needed to address threat multipliers and leverage openings that advance outcomes.
• Coordinates with IIE USAID team members in Burma, Thailand, and the US on program activities, budgeting, grant management, compliance, reporting, and other project related issues. Ensures high-quality and timely completion and submission of all required deliverables and ensures project is compliant with USAID contractual requirements. Provides timely communication to the IIE USAID team in DC and works collaboratively with IIE HQ finance, contracts, IT, HR teams.
• Builds the capacity of the DISP Team, through coaching and mentoring, to ensure a cohesive, integrated approach to all work. Works closely with project team members to plan, execute, monitor, and refine the implementation of all program activities and deliverables. Ensures that all final deliverables to USAID are comprehensive, accurate and meet the goals of the program requirements.
• Provides office leadership including oversight of USAID and IIE compliance requirements, in-country finances, tax reporting, budgeting, and procurement. Ensures that all compliance issues follow USG, IIE, and relevant Burmese policies and procedures. Ensures alignment with IIE established procedures, identifies gaps, and makes recommendations for successful program implementation.
• Represents IIE at meetings with the US Embassy, USAID, partners, scholars, universities and other stakeholders.
Job Requirements:
Education and Work Experience:
• Requires an advanced degree and at least ten (10) years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• At least ten years of experience leading donor-funded scholarship or higher education programs, preferably for USAID-funded programs.
• Master’s degree in a relevant field such as education or international development.
• Knowledge of the Burmese educational landscape and current operating environment.
• Proven supervisory and team leadership experience of diverse, multi-disciplinary staff.
• Experience working in Burma or similar Southeast Asian and South Asian countries is required.
• Experience and ability to establish solid working relationships with multiple stakeholders including USAID, Burmese and regional education institutions, non-profits, scholars, staff, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to manage complex budgets, develop quality and timely deliverables, and utilization of monitoring and evaluation data to improve program activities.
• Demonstrated leadership, strategic thinking and planning, management, and presentation skills.
• Fluency in English required.
• Ability to live in Thailand and travel to Burma as required by the program.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Experience managing USAID-funded awards preferred.
• Fluency in Burmese preferred.
Salary and Benefits:
IIE offers a robust suite of benefits to team members including medical, dental, and vision plans, paid time off and holidays, student loan and tuition reimbursement programs, professional development reimbursement program, retirement plans and a family medical leave benefits. Please visit our careers page for further details.
The Institute of International Education (“IIE”) has a hybrid work environment that allows team members a combination of in-office work and telework at any of the locations listed above.
Work Conditions & Physical Demands:
Essential functions are performed in a general office setting with low noise. Job demands may require long periods of sitting; telephone work and/or computer work, as well as interactions with other team members and external stakeholders. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
IIE is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.
In 1919, the founders of the Institute of International Education believed that international education could build a more secure and equitable world. Today, we touch the lives of more than 29,000 people in 180 countries each year through the programs that we administer, helping to educate the next generation of leaders and serving as a lifeline to the world’s most imperiled students, scholars, and artists.
As we look ahead to IIE’s next 100 years, we extend thanks to our partners, donors, and higher education institutions that share our commitment to deepening ties among individuals and nations. We are privileged to administer The Fulbright Program, Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, and the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on behalf of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). In addition, we provide support for ECA’s EducationUSA network.
Our work with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) includes The Language Flagship and Boren Awards. These programs promote language learning, enabling better communication between the United States and other nations. IIE collaborates with a range of foundation, corporate, and government partners – such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – to strengthen democracies and to touch and improve countless lives.
By supporting IIE, you are providing life-changing opportunities for students and scholars around the world.
