Chief of Party - USAID GRIP

Job Description

Organization Overview

Abt Associates, a global leader in technical assistance, program implementation, and international development, pioneers new approaches in governance, energy, health, agriculture, food security, climate change, and economic growth—as well as monitoring and evaluating projects within these sectors. We work throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East for chiefly governmental clients, including the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Opportunity

Abt Associates seeks a qualified Chief of Party (COP) to lead the expected USAID-funded Green Recovery Investment Platform (GRIP). GRIP aims to mobilize increased financing for climate mitigation and adaptation interventions that leads to system changes and long-lasting impacts through three objectives: 1) Develop and scale effective partnerships and solutions to achieve transformational change, 2) Foster an inclusive enabling environment to build shared vision and accelerate collective action, and 3) Advance learning and development community capacity to mobilize catalytic private sector partnership. GRIP’s interventions will be inclusive of local marginalized and vulnerable community groups, including women, youth, and Indigenous Populations and further a green COVID-19 recovery.

The Chief of Party (COP) will manage program operations and administration and oversee technical tasks for GRIP. The COP will be responsible for collaboratively creating and implementing a strategic, long-term programmatic vision and for providing overall technical leadership and management for the activity. S/he will be the main point of contact with USAID, public and private sector partners, and other international organizations. The COP will manage a DCOP who will oversee day-to-day operations and a senior technical team, responsible for implementation of technical activities. The position is anticipated to be full-time for the five-year duration and is intended to be based in Rockville, Maryland with the option for flexible telecommuting. The position is contingent upon the activity’s award and USAID approval. The tentative start date is around September 2022.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Provides overall technical leadership, management oversight and strategic direction for the activity.
• Serves as the primary liaison with USAID Washington and Missions, other key US Governments organizations, private sector institutions, senior local government officials and counterparts, and the donor community.
• Supervises the activity’s senior technical team to ensure a focus on core results, achievements of annual work plan and targets, and timely/effective implementation of activities to achieve GRIP’s three objectives.
• Supervises the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) responsible for day-to-day activity operations including finance, accounting, procurement, recruiting and HR functions in compliance with USAID, US Government, and Abt Associates policy and regulations.
• Monitors the progress and pace of the activity’s implementation, assuring that the full potential of the activity is realized through the promotion of high-quality work and internal control.
• Responsible for ensuring activity deliverables and reporting meet high quality standards set by USAID and Abt Associates.

Qualifications

• An advanced degree in finance, international development, environmental studies, business, or a related field.
• At least 12 years of progressive experience leading the mobilization of private and public finance to scale up climate change interventions; experience with catalyzing private sector finance for adaptation and nature-based solution projects is desired.
• Experience managing donor-funded climate change projects as a senior manager; Chief of Party experience international development, environmental studies, business, or a related field working with USAID Washington projects preferred.
• Experience managing complex demand driven technical projects in developing country contexts.
• Strong background in collaborating with private financial institutions to mobilize scalable and sustainable climate change projects and building networks and relationships with those key actors involved in successfully funding climate change projects.
• Experience building the capacity of large organizations, such as USAID or other large donors, to sustain, develop and expand financing.
• Experience working across and developing climate solutions that support various sectors including agriculture and food security, health, clean energy, biodiversity conservation, and natural resources management.
• Demonstrated ability to develop collaborative working partnerships with a wide variety of stakeholders, including national governments, the donor community, private sector, civil society, and academia.
• Experience working with and including marginalized or vulnerable communities into decision making processes.
• Knowledge of the US Government’s commitments to support developing countries’ mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change and how those commitments can support national policies, plans, and NDC pledges.
• Good understanding of how COVID-19 has impacted developing countries, the disproportionate impact it has on vulnerable populations, and how climate-driven solutions can aid in economic recovery.
• Excellent interpersonal, diplomacy, and leadership skills, including the ability to manage high-level relationships and motivate subordinates.
• Strong skills in verbal and written communication required.
• Fluency in English required.

Salary Range: $172,000/yr to $275,000/yr

Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits.

Disclaimer: Abt Associates will never ask candidates for money in exchange for an offer of employment.

About the Organization

The International Development Division focuses on improving the lives and economic well-being of people in lower and middle-income countries. We command technical expertise in health, agriculture, climate change, food security and governance—as well as in international evaluation. Our multi-layered health portfolio includes policy, health promotion and disease prevention, health finance, and health systems management. In partnership with government clients and local experts, our high-quality programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East are known for impact and innovation.

At Abt Associates, we are committed to creating a lasting culture of equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that in order to achieve full participation, our practices must be free of prejudice, discrimination, and bias that result in inequitable outcomes. We are actively working to advance equity for everyone, and while we still have much work to do, we know that racial and cultural diversity are an asset to our business and the communities where we live and serve. Our ongoing commitment is focused on creating business practices that advance racial and social equity, investments in community impact programs for the benefit of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), and expand upon project work related to racial equity and social justice.