Deputy Chief of Party, CAST

Job Description

• Provide leadership in Technical Department including strategic planning, activity design, team management, and work closely with other components to ensure smooth implementation of the project.
• Contribute to strategic direction and adaptive management processes from a technical and sector framework
• Ensure that field teams understand project goals and indicators and that activities contribute to positive M+E outcomes
• Monitor Technical partners (KSU and Auburn) including selection of consultants and curricula for maximum positive impact on program.
• Review advance notifications (ADNOTs) and end result contract (ERCs) drafts for technical consultants;
• Coach and guide in-country staff/consultants to ensure compliance under USDA, ASA regulations and policy guidelines, country specific laws and other related policies as appropriate;
• Maintain a detailed knowledge of the project schedule, timelines and milestones (including baseline development, assessments and external evaluations).
• Keep abreast of Royal Government of Cambodia strategies, studies, policies and programs/projects related to the agriculture and poultry value chains improvements
• Collect from the technical team and report timely, technical input into monthly, semi-annual and annual reports for further review by the COP and ASA-WISHH US-based staff.
• Contribute to annual work plan development, including editing, drafting, research, analysis for technical content.
• Oversee development and organization, then lead and/or co-lead technical sessions/workshops with implementing partners (sub-contractors) towards the achievement of results and enhanced coordination of efforts.
• Represent CAST project at technical and scientific conferences, workshops and meetings with Government Departments and key poultry and feed associations and networks.
• Contribute to the review of vouchers, payments, etc. as needed
• Participate in both in-house and multi-stakeholder team meetings to identify barriers to progress and formulate mitigation strategies/steps to alleviate these.
• In close cooperation with the ASA/WISHH COP, promote and facilitate integrated programming and coordination between implementing partners and other stakeholders including the Government of Cambodia, the nascent aquaculture association, subgrantee partners, private industry and academia.
• Oversee project staff in their implementation of operational and logistical activities such as conference and workshop/training preparations and implementation, translation services, land and air travel arrangements and other inputs that facilitate efficient and effective ASA-WISHH program implementation
• Maintain a working knowledge of donor and Cambodian government regulations and, in collaboration with COP, changes in ASA-WISHH policies or procedures needed to maintain compliance and provide information and program implementation guidance to other ASA-WISHH CAST in-country staff.
• Recommend new approaches, policies, and procedures to effect continual improvements in the efficiency of the ASA-WISHH program and operations.
• Practical knowledge and experience in managing USDA or USAID projects with strong background in managing and overseeing sub-contractors and partners.
• Strong background and experience in aquaculture value chains with practical experience in aquaculture production in pond and cage in Cambodia is required.
• Ability to manage time effectively, work independently, and exercise good, sound judgment
• Ability to plan, organize, direct and coordinate activities and manage multiple activities and team members.
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required.

About the Organization

Commercialization of Aquaculture for Sustainable Trade (CAST) Cambodia will increase domestic aquaculture productivity and capacity to build domestic demand for Cambodia-grown, quality-assured fish that achieve price premiums in the marketplace. This project will catalyze Cambodian aquaculture on a path toward larger market share in existing and future domestic and regional premium markets and will increase net incomes for sector stakeholders throughout the value chain. CAST’s theory of change is premised on the idea that aquaculture SMEs are best placed to drive commercial growth in the aquaculture sector – both to produce a consistent supply of quality fish and to drive market demand for quality-assured inputs and support services. CAST’s ten activities will address five overarching challenges: (1) low productivity of commercial aquaculture operations; (2) lack of high-quality inputs (such as feed and seed) in the marketplace; (3) weak market linkages for quality Cambodian-sourced fish; (4) underdeveloped small and medium enterprises in aquaculture and supporting industries; and (5) weak supporting policy environment. The activity design reflects a facilitative approach and four key levers of change: (1) improved market linkages for accessible affordable inputs and better access to premium markets, (2) knowledge platforms to improve access to information and support decisions throughout the value chain, (3) collective action to improve transactional efficiencies and market access, and, (4) improved enabling environments via a strong private sector-driven approach that leverages public-private partnerships. CAST is led by the American Soybean Association’s (ASA) World Initiative for Soy in Human Health program (WISHH) in partnership with Auburn University, Kansas State University and World Vision.

In accordance with Federal Law and USDA policy ASA/WISHH is prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. ASA/WISHH is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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