Chief of Party - USAID-funded Private Sector Activity at CORUS International

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide overall management, strategic direction, and technical leadership to the project to achieve expected project results within budget and timeframe
• Serve as principal liaison to USAID and the Government of Kenya, ensuring high levels of coordination, while nurturing relationships with all key stakeholders (including partner organizations at the national and subnational level) on administrative, financial, and programmatic matters related to the project
• Liaise with USAID partners and other donors, as well as implementing partners and stakeholders, to ensure coordination of and harmonization with other relevant agriculture, market systems, economic growth, private sector engagement, and Feed the Future activities in Kenya
• Lead project teams (e.g., technical, program, finance, and operational staff) to ensure program tasks, deliverables, and responsibilities are met; staff management includes hiring, supervising, and mentoring project staff
• Oversee project deliverables, including ensuring report preparation and high-quality timely submission, and ensuring cross-cutting issues are effectively integrated into project implementation
• Direct preparation of annual work plans, project activity updates, and other project-related communication and reporting materials
• Represent the project in all technical, policy, and programmatic fora at all levels (county, national, and international)
• Ensure compliance with USAID rules and regulations

Qualifications:

• Advanced graduate degree in agricultural economics, business administration, international development, governance, or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience, with progressively increasing responsibilities and duties in a field related to the successful implementation of the project, such as agriculture, agribusiness, market systems development, value chain development, and/or private sector capacity building for improvement of market systems.
• Proven technical expertise using market systems and facilitation approaches to strengthen agricultural value chains and agricultural inputs, including at least eight years of senior-level management experience working on international donor agency-funded projects.
• Familiarity with USAID's approaches to market systems, agricultural inputs in Kenya, and/or small/medium enterprise development approaches in support of such development.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining strong relationships with government agencies, international donor agencies (USAID, WB, FCDO, UN agencies, GF, etc.), and private sector stakeholders.
• Experience collaborating and coordinating with local and national host government agencies and aligning program activities and results with national strategies.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities, including technical, management, and evaluation expertise for complex programs in resource-constrained countries; prior experience as a Chief of Party for USAID-funded projects over $25 million is required.
• Knowledge of and experience with USAID rules and regulations required.
• Deep knowledge of the political, social, and economic context of Kenya required, with experience working in Kenya preferred.
• Strong staff supervision skills and demonstrated ability to coordinate programs with partners from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences; demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong communication skills, including both written and oral presentation skills; proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse public and private partners.
• English and fluency with professional proficiency in writing required; knowledge of Swahili is an asset
• Willingness and ability to travel to project sites within Kenya.