The Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) to provide strategic leadership in achieving the project objectives of the anticipated United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Empowered Communities Activity in Ethiopia. The purpose of the five-year Activity is to achieve better health and nutrition outcomes through evidence-based community engagement and empowerment, ownership of health and strengthened social accountability systems, and local capacity-building interventions. The COP will provide overall direction and leadership for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Activity to ensure results and targets are met. The COP will establish strong working relationships with USAID and implementing partners, Government of Ethiopia, non-state actors including CSOs, CBOs, FBOs, community structures and other partners and stakeholders to create a shared vision for the Activity that will improve community ownership of health and strengthen social accountability systems. The position will be located in Addis Ababa. The position is contingent upon the award.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Provide strategic leadership and vision to the Activity and serve as the representative of the project with USAID, Government of Ethiopia, implementing partners and stakeholders.  

• Provide programmatic, administrative, financial and managerial oversight to all aspects of the Activity; coordinate effective implementation of research and program activities, including the development of work plans and facilitation of timely implementation; develop annual program implementation budgets and monitor budget expenditures; manage and supervise local staff across regions and departments

• Lead project staff, non-state actor grantees, and other partners and stakeholders in developing the Activity’s vision, mission, philosophy and principles to ensure a common and shared framework for implementation 

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with USAID, Government of Ethiopia, and other partners and stakeholders to improve coordination and sustainability of the project’s activities

• Foster collaboration among partners and stakeholders to help advance innovative solutions for the Activity and support the development of new partnerships  

• Lead and direct the work of the Activity in accordance with sound management practices, policies and financial systems; accountable for all operational, technical, financial, and human resources components of the Activity  

• Provide oversight of sub-grant management in alignment with USAID’s Localization Agenda and New Partnership Initiative (NPI)

• Apply practices and principles that prioritize equitable representation of marginalized and disadvantaged individuals and communities and drive values of diverse perspectives and managerial structures in the design and implementation of activities

• Model and promote capacity-building practices among staff and partners and demonstrate integrity, responsiveness, and other values central to CCP’s mission

• Keep abreast of U.S. and Ethiopia laws, as well as JHU policies, as they apply to her/his job duties and responsibilities

• Represent the Activity at the national, regional and local level and serve as the liaison with USAID and other key stakeholders 

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervises Key Personnel specified by the Activity 

• Provides oversight to the teams reporting to those positions 

• Accountable for the performance and actions of non-state actors awarded under the Activity 

Reports to: Country Director, Ethiopia  

Required no_: 1 (one)

Duration of Employment: 1 year with possible extension 

Job Requirements

Qualifications 

• Minimum 10 years’ relevant experience in managing and implementing complex multimillion-dollar public health programs, USAID projects preferred

• Master’s Degree or higher in social sciences, management, international development or business administration, health-related field

• Demonstrated genuine commitment to inclusionary and equitable principles 

• Excellent financial, administrative, and management skills 

• Experience working as a senior or key staff in two or more of the following key areas: (1) community engagement; (2) health systems strengthening; (3) management and strengthening of non-state actors, (4) human rights, (5) democracy and governance, (6) health technical area such as family planning, RMNCH, nutrition

• Willingness to travel to project sites, as required

Language Skills: Must be fluent in written and spoken English

Desired qualifications and attributes

• Ability to build a vision and framework for the program with USAID, Government of Ethiopia, non-state actors, and other partners

• Excellent interpersonal, facilitation, and problem-solving skills and ability to motivate and foster teamwork among partners working in multiple locations

• Strong leadership qualities including integrity, professionalism, and fairness

• Ethiopian nationals are strongly encouraged to apply

How to Apply

Candidates with the required Knowledge, skills proven experiences are invited to submit a resume and brief cover letter via e-mail, to ccpeth-hr@jh.edu no later than October 23, 2022.  

Note:  Use “Chief of Party” as the subject line of your e-mail 

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