Deputy Chief of Party, USAID/Niger Increasing Pathways to Learning

Summary

Save the Children is seeking a Deputy Chief of Party, Operations (DCOP) for an anticipated five-year USAID-funded Non-Formal Education Activity in Niger. This $25 million activity will target out-of-school adolescents and youth, particularly girls and those affected by conflict and crisis, who do not have access to safe, equitable and contextually relevant learning opportunities needed to strengthen their resilience and contribute to their communities. Specific areas of focus anticipated include strengthening foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, social emotional learning (SEL), and soft skills, building resilience capabilities and assets, and strengthening pathways between non-formal to formal education.

The DCOP reports directly to the Chief of Party and ensures quality implementation of high impact interventions that meet stated goals and reporting requirements. The DCOP will work with the COP and other senior staff in coordinating with USAID, key stakeholders, implementing partners, and government representatives to ensure strong operational collaboration between consortium members and will apply SCI tools and procedures in close coordination with Country Office support services. The role will guide standard logistics, procurement, sub-awards, staffing, planning and administrative operations to ensure their effectiveness, efficiency and compliance across all Activity levels. The DCOP will manage the implementation of key Activity interventions throughout the target districts, oversee the work of the regional managers, security, partner and grants management, and follow up with CO support to have efficient operational support for the Activity team. The position will be based in Maradi for the five-year period of performance.

This position is contingent upon donor approval and funding.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

• In collaboration with the COP and other senior staff, ensure the successful implementation of project activities according to the contractual requirements with the donor and government (i.e., that all activities and deliverables are completed within the agreed timescale and budget, reports are submitted as per agreed schedules, and any other requirements or criteria are fulfilled).
• Design and regularly update detailed annual work plans and ensure these are used by the team appropriately to monitor progress towards completion and achievement of program objectives.
• Ensure technical alignment of programmatic and financial reports for the donor, government, and Save the Children. This includes working closely with the COP and other project staff to ensure reports are of the highest technical quality and submitted in a timely manner to the donor. Comply and adhere to the grant compliance regulations of Save the Children as well as USAID.
• Mentor and supervise direct reports to achieve their work plan objectives, and to contribute to the achievement of the overall program goals.
• Maintain good working relationships with officials, government ministries, implementing partners, and the international and local NGO community.
• Be fully aware of USAID’s and Save the Children’s grant compliance regulations and processes and contribute to their dissemination to the project team and local partners.
• Monitor regional-level activities, identify challenges, and develop appropriate reporting and results of project activities for the COP including progress and annual reports.
• Coordinate closely with the SC offices in administrative and HR matters, especially regarding operations and financial matters as they relate to the program.
• Attend and actively participate in periodic program meetings and ensure a summary of progress and challenges are prepared and presented with follow-up actions as required.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant area of expertise preferred, such as business administration, education, or international development. Bachelor’s degree required.
• Prior experience as DCOP, Project Director or Operations Lead, ideally within Niger or West Africa.
• Minimum of five years of professional experience in supporting, managing and/or implementing complex projects.
• Prior experience in matrix management.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with government representatives, private sector entities, local community organizations, donors and other stakeholders, particularly at the sub-national level.
• Demonstrated operational experience with programs working in conflict-affected areas, and ideally with education programming.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate successfully with individuals and teams at all levels.
• In-depth knowledge of USAID approaches, regulations, compliance, and reporting requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire and enable others through teamwork, training, and capacity building to realize organizational objectives.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in French. English language skills preferred.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.
• Personal commitment to gender equality, child rights and social inclusion.

About Save the Children

No matter your role when you join Save the Children, each and every day you will challenge yourself to devote your skills, talent and expertise to changing the world for kids. It’s an ambitious goal, and a meaningful one no matter how you see yourself professionally: an accountant, a writer, a data analyst, a teacher, a driver, a designer, or any one of the hundreds of dozens of roles we’re looking to fill every day.

You see, Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Our work for children and their families requires that we commit—at every opportunity—to work together to identify and dismantle persistent systemic and structural racism, inequality, and any other forms of discrimination in this country and beyond. As an anti-racist organization, Save the Children will not tolerate discrimination in any form—in our employment practices, amongst our staff, in our leadership or toward the people we serve. We stand in solidarity with all people to fight for equal rights, justice, inclusion, and belonging.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children’s policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at the risk of any kind of child abuse. All our representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.