Deputy Chief of Party, Colombia Responsive Governance

Job Description

Project: USAID Colombia Responsive Governance Project

Position: Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP)

Period of Performance (on/about - to): Upon approval to October 7, 2024

Maximum Level of Effort: Full time

Base of Operations: Bogota, Colombia

Position Reports to: Chief of Party

Local Position Grade: 12

1. Project Background:

The purpose of the Responsive Governance (RG) Project is to enhance good governance, public financial management and effective service delivery in conflict-affected municipalities of Colombia in order to foster peace and prosperity. This Activity will strengthen the capacity of Colombia’s public institutions at the national and local levels to transparently and accountability plan, finance and deliver key public services and at the same time will empower citizens to ensure government accountability with the end goal of enhancing democracy, citizen trust, peace and prosperity. RG has five program objectives:

1. Government of Colombia (GOC) national-level institutions, policies, systems, and mechanisms strengthened to increase service delivery in targeted localities.
2. Public administration and financial management capacity of targeted conflict-affected municipalities improved.
3. Increased civil society, media, academia, and private sector engagement for effective and responsive local development.
4. Enhanced capacity of control institutions to oversee public resources in the health, education, and infrastructure sectors.
5. Rapid response capacity to adapt to changing circumstances and needs.

2. Role’s Purpose:

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) is responsible for leading the Responsive Governance Activity technical team to provide appropriate, consistent, effective, and regionally contextualized technical support and assistance in all target areas. S/he is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of all technical Objectives of the project and will ensure the integration of activities across Objectives to achieve overall Activity results. S/he directly supervises four senior Objective Leads in the design and implementation of project activities and mechanisms to ensure technical excellence and complementarity. The DCOP will implement systems and practices to ensure constant coordination and communication across objectives and will generate and capitalize on opportunities for cross-cutting successes and amplification of results across objectives. The DCOP will ensure that Objective Leads based in Bogota are supporting and facilitating technical leadership and ownership among regional field teams, rather than operating as top down managers. The DCOP will support ideation, design, and implementation of activities under the Activity Rapid Response Objective as needed under the direction of USAID and the COP. The DCOP will work closely with the COP and Activity Regional Director to ensure technical cohesion across objectives alongside geographic coordination across all Activity regional offices and target areas. Serves as Acting COP as needed if COP is away from the project.

Please note only Colombian nationals or candidates residing in Colombia with a valid work permit will be considered.

Objectives and Duties:

• In coordination with the COP, oversee management and implementation of all technical activities and directly supervise technical project staff.
• Support internal project coordination among technical, crosscutting, and operational project teams and insure appropriate technical inputs are provided across the project.
• Support external technical coordination between the project and USAID, other donors and projects, the Government of Colombia, and various local and international stakeholders.
• Evaluate the performance of project activities and prepare regular progress reports detailing results against strategic objective and intermediate result indicators.
• Coordinate technical inputs and strategic planning with operations, grants, subcontracts, MEL, and other cross-cutting teams on the Activity.
• Serve as Acting Chief of Party in the absence of the COP.

Qualifications:

• At least 12 years of progressively responsible management experience implementing multi-sector development programs with demonstrated strong project management and coordination skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in international development, peace and conflict studies, public administration, economics, law, or related field of study.
• Significant donor project implementation experience and proven knowledge of relevant implementation methodologies and approaches in a combination of the following areas; public financial management, municipal service delivery, local governance, transparency improvement, civil society engagement, and/or other relevant technical themes.
• Ability to effectively interact with government counterparts, local organizations, and private sector executives.
• Deep knowledge working in PDET areas.
• Experience working in Colombia and familiarity with the country’s socio-economic landscape; demonstrated experience implementing complex governance programs in Latin America or similar country contexts.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Fluency in English and Spanish.

About the Organization

DAI is an employee-owned global development company. For 40 years, we have worked on the frontlines of international development, tackling fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governments, and instability. Currently, DAI is delivering results that matter in some 60 countries. Our integrated development solutions turn ideas into impact by bringing together fresh combinations of expertise and innovation across multiple disciplines—crisis mitigation and stability operations, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, HIV/AIDS and disease control, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Our clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and national governments.