Deputy Chief of Party, USAID/Ghana Youth Activity at IREX

Summary of Position:

IREX seeks qualified Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) candidates to support the USAID-funded Ghana Youth Activity. The Activity will support rural and urban youth in northern Ghana with a range of sustainable opportunities, tools, and support systems that enable youth to improve their livelihoods, increase their abilities to contribute as both economically and socially productive individuals, promote peace, and become engaged community members. The activity will give special attention to the needs of girls, the disabled, and other disadvantaged groups. Based in Accra, the DCOP will support the Chief of Party in the management of the program and provide high-quality technical inputs to achieve program objectives.

Only citizens of Ghana or permanent residents with work authorization will be considered.

This position is contingent on funding.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• Support the COP in providing overall day to day management and coordination of project technical and administrative personnel and functions.
• Fulfill the role of the Chief of Party in that person’s absence.
• Ensure effective coordination between program activities as well as between field, country office, and HQ staff to maximize efficiency and impact
• Manage and supervise a team of technical staff.
• Provide technical expertise across program activities aiming to support rural and urban youth in northern Ghana with a range of sustainable opportunities, tools, and support systems.
• Design activities that enable youth in northern Ghana to improve their livelihoods, increase their abilities to contribute as both economically and socially productive individuals, promote peace, and become engaged community members.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and learning; program communications; and program reporting.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Ghanaian citizenship or residency with work authorization is required.
• At least eight (8) years of relevant experience leading youth-focused programs with a master’s degree in a relevant field such as business, economics, education, international development, non-profit management, etc.; or a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with at least 10 years or relevant experience also considered. Successful track record of at least five (5) years supervising, managing, and implementing USAID-funded programs and or other related donor-funded programming.
• In-depth understanding of positive youth development and proven track record delivering inclusive multi-sectoral programming that strengthens youth access, participation, and systems.
• Extensive experience in improving youth livelihoods by supporting activities focused on a range of sustainable opportunities, tools, and support systems.
• Work experience with disadvantaged groups, such as girls, the disabled, and other disadvantaged groups preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to advise host country contacts at the ministerial level, and create and maintain effective working relations with international and local stakeholders, NGOs, local partners, and U.S. Government Agencies
• In-depth understanding of the local youth context, including key youth actors, policies, donors, and initiatives. Previous experience as a Deputy Chief of Party or another senior managerial role on an international donor-funded program;
• Tangible results in building administrative and technical capacity of youth-serving or youth-led local organizations.
• Proven experience building consensus among diverse actors.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills including conflict resolution abilities.
• Excellent communication and writing ability in English and local Ghanaian languages required.