Application Deadline: June 19, 2022

The Chief of Party provides strategic leadership and support to the project team to effectively deliver high quality programming and results for a project titled “My Choice for My Life”. The project has an ultimate outcome of contributing to the reduction of child early and forced marriage and poor sexual reproductive health of adolescent girls and boys in targeted woredas of Amhara and SNNP regions in Ethiopia. It will further support collaboration and collective action to advance gender equality and the empowerment of young women and girls. It targets to improve the lives of over 170,000 adolescents of which 75% will be girls. The project has a duration of five years and a budget of over 5.5 million EUR

 The project is now at the end of Y4 and has been approved for a 6 month No-Cost Extension. The Chief of Party is being brought in to ensure the project stays on track towards achieving the project’s goals and improving its overall standing amongst Plan International’s program quality KPIs (e.g. expenditure, outcomes and risk). The Chief of Party will provide strategic oversight for quality program deliverables and results achievement, financial management and compliance, team leadership, stakeholder and partner relations, and donor deliverables. In order for the Chief of Party to succeed it will be important for this role to be properly supported by the Country Leadership Team, Program Areas and My Choice for My Life project team.

The CoP reports to PIE’s Programme Director and has only one direct report, the Senior Project Manager.The CoP is responsible for the overall strategic direction, financial management and technical support for this large and complex project and has ultimate authority over the core team, consisting of Technical Project Specialists, and two regionally based Project Coordinators The team, under the leadership of the CoP, oversees project implementation, including coordination with all stakeholders involved in project implementation. The unit will support each of the implementing partners to execute the project in accordance with the approved project documents and the regulations of the bilateral donor. The CoP also works closely with PIE Head of Program Operations, Head of Program Quality, Program Area Managers for Amhara and SNNP Regions, Country Operations team, and the Canadian National Office.

Dimensions of the Role and Accountabilities

The CoP’s primary responsibilities include providing overall program leadership and management to ensure performance and adherence to donor regulations; ensuring synergies and an integrated vision among different stakeholders; and, directly managing the human resources of a Project Team. 

Program Leadership and Management

• Lead high quality, results-oriented program planning, implementation and reporting in compliance with donor, government and partnership agreements.
• Lead and oversee an annual program cycle for partners in accordance with donor’s annual planning cycle.

·      Ensure that all project team have clear understanding of their roles and have clear work plan on project deliverables

·      Ensure that project update meetings are conducted and action plans followed up Ensure that the Senior Project Manager and his team build capacities of partners to have clear understanding of the work plan and make sure all administrative and financial inputs are provided on timely manner

·      Maintain oversight and quality assurance for narrative and financial reports, ensuring they are submitted on time and are reviewed for quality before they are submitted to CNO.

• Ensure that local laws and operational policies, processes and protocols, including for security, are observed and respected.

Financial Management and Planning 

• Oversee program budget and expenditure to ensure alignment with planned activities and results
• Ensure needed budget documents are established and approved in relation to Plan International financial management and accounting systems.

·      Approve of all payments, travels and TORs

Monitoring, Evaluation and Knowledge Management

·      Assure effective monitoring and evaluations are completed to provide functional mechanisms for measuring the effects/impacts of the program.

·      Consolidate and disseminate program data and information to donor, government stakeholders, or relevant audiences.

Communication and Coordination

·      Foster strong coordination/collaboration among project team through regular coordination meetings/program reviews, joint field visits and action planning.

·      Act as the main focal point for CNO’s Senior Program Manager, and keep CNO up to date with strategic communication on the project including the change in the country context if it has implication on MC4ML project implementation

·      Work with PAMs to identify major challenges and provide direction.

·      Cultivate a positive relationship with CNO, PAs and Regional government departments.

·      Ensure that the Senior Project Manager organizes and facilitate National Project Steering Committee, Regional Technical Advisory Committee, and Project Management Team meetings as per the project work plan.

·      Ensure that the Senior Project Manager works with program staff and technical advisors to identify the technical support needs of the project and this support is provided.

·      Engage with CNO in donor communications and relations

Dealing with Challenges:

• The CoP is expected to work collaboratively with the project team and implementing partners and anticipate challenges to project implementation.
• The CoP works within a matrix environment that requires excellent working relationships and communication in solving problems or conflicts.
• The role requires the ability to analyze issues, determine key risks or adverse trends, and propose appropriate corrective measures.
• A capacity to arbitrate between parties and to find solutions to challenging issues in an evolving development/emergency context is necessary.

Other Responsibilities

·      Within the scope of the role, there will be additional assignments as needed.

·      Seek and promote innovative ideas, approach to ensure quality of work

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI)

·        Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GEI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

·        Ensures that the team members under supervision are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies;

·        Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in day-to-day work.

·        Ensures that Plan Ethiopia contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.  

Job Requirements

Qualifications/ experience essential:

·      Education at degree level or MA in fields such as Project Management, Social Studies, or evidence of relevant experience; 

·      Significant practical experience of project leadership in the sector

·      Demonstrable, progressive experience in management or administration of ASRHR/ Gender projects

·      Strong knowledge of, and experience with, procedures for managing government donor funded grants including Global Affairs Canada (GAC);

·      Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively without the need for close supervision;

• Experience of working for INGOs in senior positions – ideally in Ethiopia
• Previous Chief of Party/Project Director experience;
• Experience in child rights programming is considered an asset (non-essential);
• Proficient in computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications (e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, internet);
• Fluent in English

Skills and Behaviours:

·        Ability to develop and monitor a dynamic partnership between INGOs;

·        Ability to compile and finalize reports, analysis, briefing notes and prospective short-and medium-term management information;

·        Be able to take responsibility, make decisions and monitor implementation in a timely manner;

·        Ability to effectively lead interagency meetings and occasionally develop and deliver quality, participative and coordinated training;

·        Strong project, financial and human resource management skills;

·        Strong negotiating, facilitation & influencing skills;

·        Strong analytical skills and problem-solving skills;

·        Ability to work under pressure in an evolving security context;

·        Strong oral and written communication;

·        Ability to work in a multidisciplinary & multicultural environment;

·        Strong team-building and motivational skills;

·        Ability to develop and put in place systems and processes to manage and share large quantities information;

·        Demonstrated collaboration experience, creativity and willingness to innovate;

·        Demonstrated ability to implement projects with rigorous timelines and deliverables and to track program quality through donor approved monitoring and evaluation systems;

·        Ability to work with diverse sets of stakeholders, such as local partners, government officials, donor representatives, and international staff;

·        Ability to respond on short notice, multi-task and meet deadlines; 

·        Proven leadership, inter-personal and cross-cultural skills, and ability to build and motivate diverse teams. 

How to Apply

The closing date for the application is June 19, 2022. Qualified candidates should submit their application with the links provided below.

For internal applicants:

https://performancemanager5.successfactors.eu/sf/jobreq?jobId=43719&company=PlanInt

For external applicants:

https://jobs.plan-international.org/job-invite/43719/

Note: This position is only open to Ethiopian Nationals, who must be eligible to live and work in Ethiopia. Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply

Please note that: 

• Applications and CVs written in English will be accepted and
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• We are not accepting CVs that are not sent through the indicated links.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

More information about Plan International can be found on http:// plan-international.org

References will be taken and background and anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plans Child Protection Policy. Plan operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all persons meeting the skills and experience required.

As an international child centered community development organisation, Plan International is fully committed to promoting the realization of children's rights including their right to protection from violence and abuse. That means we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. We must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk. .