About IREX:
IREX is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to building a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world by empowering youth, cultivating leaders, strengthening institutions, and extending access to quality education and information. Founded in 1968, IREX has an annual portfolio of over $100 million, work in more than 100 countries worldwide with offices in 20 countries, and a global staff of 600.
Position Summary:
IREX seeks qualified Chief of Party (COP) candidates to lead Employ, an anticipated five-year USAID-funded workforce development activity in Cambodia. This initiative is designed to equip Cambodians with job skills tailored to sectors that are driving inclusive and sustainable growth and economic diversification, and that will allow them to compete for and thrive in the jobs of tomorrow. Based in Phnom Penh, the COP will be responsible for technical leadership, administrative oversight, and overall coordination of the activity. S/he will serve as the principal institutional liaison with USAID and key stakeholders. S/he will manage staff and ensure the Activity achieves stated goal and results and meets reporting requirements, as well as ensure the quality, timeliness, and efficiency of all products and interventions generated under the Activity.
Summary of Responsibilities:
- The Chief of Party will be responsible for creating and implementing a strategy to enhance Cambodiaโs workforce in key sectors.
- Oversee monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting to ensure the program adapts as needed to meet objectives and learning is acquired and shared broadly to maximize impact and sustainability. Contribute to project communications and reporting.
- Provide strategic and technical leadership to the program, including a comprehensive vision for transformational outcomes for the activityโs intermediate results.
- Serve as principal liaison with USAID and develop productive collaborative relationships with a wide range of key stakeholders including government officials, other donors and implementers, civil society and private sector partners, training institutions such as universities and vocational training institutions, program beneficiaries, and others.
- Develop strong collaborative, supportive, and mutually respectful relationships with diverse team members, with other leaders at IREX, and with leaders at key stakeholder and partner organizations.
- Ensure program activities are implemented on schedule, within budget, and coordinated to maximize efficiency and effectiveness across regions.
- Oversee program budgeting and forecasting, financial management, compliance and subgrants management.
- Oversee and help to drive a private sector engagement strategy.
- Integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout program implementation while also promoting an evidence-based positive youth development approach.
- Supervise, manage, and mentor program staff, lead recruitment of specialized technical staff.
- Represent IREX publicly and support its organizational development.
- Ensure that IREXโs safety and security policies and procedures are applied to all program and staff operations.
- Other duties, as assigned.
Required Skills and Qualifications:
- Bachelorโs degree in Economics, Business Administration, International Development, social sciences, or a related field; Masterโs degree preferred.
- Minimum 10 years of progressive international experience working in workforce development and/or private sector engagement in Cambodia and/or the Southeast Asia region.
- Successful track record of supervising, designing, managing, and implementing complex donor-funded technical assistance projects (with strong preference for past USAID-funded project management experience).
- Ability to establish strong working relationships with education sector stakeholders, private sector leaders, international donors, and other stakeholders.
- Proven leadership qualities and excellent management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to track and manage budgets and plan both strategically and creatively to meet project objectives.
- Experience working with private and public sector partners to leverage additional sources of funding to meet project objectives preferred.
- Ability to provide written reporting in English for the project; proficiency in Khmer preferred.
- Strong representational and organizational skills.