Deputy Chief of Party for the USAID Supporting Albania's EU Accession through Market Competitiveness

Job Description

USAID Albania Supporting Albania’s EU Accession through Market Competitiveness Deputy Chief of Party

Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) is a leading U.S. nonprofit organization that catalyzes private sector growth and creates economic opportunity for people and communities across the economically developing world. Since 1964, we have delivered lasting solutions that have resulted in more than 1.5 million jobs in 139 countries. We partner with businesses, cooperatives, entrepreneurs, jobseekers, and governments to sustainably build capacity, create jobs, and grow enterprises. We share proven skills and experience that improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities around the
world. Our major funders today are the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), among others.

IESC is seeking a Deputy Chief of Party for the upcoming USAID Albania Supporting Albania’s EU Accession through Market Competitiveness Activity. The objective of the fiveyear Activity is to help accelerate Albania’s accession to the European Union (EU) through
improved competitiveness and EU market integration. The Activity prioritizes interventions under two Objectives:

Objective I: Policy and legislative reforms drafted and instituted that advance Albania’s compliance with EU acquis and address relevant supply and demand factors of corruption to support Albanian food value chains’ market competitiveness.

Objective II: Selected value chain actors within the food industry apply compliant EU policies, operations, and business practices to produce high quality products, and demonstrate increased competitiveness and ability to face the EU market pressures.

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) will report to the Chief of Party (COP) and will be responsible to meet the Activity’s technical objectives, maintain good working relationships with host government officials, private sector, and partners, manage program staff, and
provide the management and leadership necessary to ensure a high-quality delivery of services. This includes managing financial resources, program staff, maintaining good working relationships with the private sector, and partners, and ensuring high-quality delivery of services. This position will be based in Tirana, Albania and is contingent upon program award. Candidates should be available to join the activity around June 2024.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support all aspects of project implementation, including technical direction, engagement with public and private sector partners, and oversight of project activities and results.
• Manage day-to-day technical activities, ensuring that results are achieved onschedule and in line with USAID expectations.
• Provide technical leadership on policy reform, agricultural market systems development, private sector engagement, and export development.
• Develop a clear outreach strategy for systematically engaging the public and private sectors.
• Actively engage in new partnerships and maintain existing partnerships among the public sector, private sector, business associations, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Maintain frequent communication with and be a primary technical contact for the programmatic stakeholders.
• Contribute to required USAID reports and deliverables including annual work plans and reports, and all periodic Activity progress reports.
• Serve as acting COP when COP is on leave or away from post.

Qualifications

• A master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field such as agriculture, international relations, business/management, or economics; or a bachelor’s degree with at least eight years of professional experience and six years of supervisory experience.
• Prior experience in the development of high value agri-food value chains is highly preferred with demonstrated ability to drive programming that increases enterprise, profitability, improves productivity, and generates exports.
• Proven experience effectively working and building strong relationships with a broad range of counterparts and stakeholders, including high-level public sector officials, the private sector, and other development partners is required.
• Experience in supporting the alignment of policy and regulatory frameworks with the EU acquis to advance EU accession is preferred.
• Experience working with or on international donor-funded projects improving the private sector environment is a plus.
• Must have demonstrated ability to work in a rapidly evolving environment and with shifting local partners, and on multiple competing priorities.
• Must understand the challenges and opportunities of the agri-food sector in Albania including challenges and opportunities faced by input suppliers, producers, processors, traders and buyers, as well as the support services, workforce, and the enabling environment that forms a dynamic market system.
• Strong managerial, administrative, and writing skills are required.
• Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) skills and experience is preferred.
• Fluency speaking, reading, and writing in English and Albanian are required.
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity.

About the Organization

IESC is a leading U.S. nonprofit organization that fosters private sector development in the economically developing world. Since 1964, we have delivered lasting solutions that have resulted in more than 1.5 million jobs in 137 countries. We partner with businesses, cooperatives, entrepreneurs, jobseekers, and governments to sustainably build capacity, create jobs, and grow enterprises, sharing proven skills and experience that improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities around the world. Our major funders today are the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), among others.