Deputy Chief of Party

POSITION TITLE:                                             Deputy Chief of Party (contingent upon funding)

COUNTRY PROGRAM:                                      Pakistan

RESPONSIBLE TO: Chief of Party

STATUS: Full-time

SUPERVISORY CAPACITY: Project Staff

DATE: Contingent on EAC funding

COUNTRY PROGRAM MISSION

The American Refugee Committee (ARC) is an entrepreneurial humanitarian organization that assists displaced people to move from vulnerability to resilience, from impoverishment to well-being, and from exclusion to inclusion. Since 2002 ARC has been providing humanitarian relief and development assistance in Pakistan through meaningful engagement with refugees and internally displaced people, innovative human-centered programs, and rigorous attention to outcomes. ARC provides multi-sectorial programs that include primary and reproductive health, health clinic management, GBV programming, water and sanitation, shelter, and emergency response.

Through the EAC project and with local partners, ARC strives to help enroll one million out-of-school children in quality primary education schools while strengthening and building on existing formal and alternative education systems in Pakistan.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

 The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) will work closely with the Chief of Party (COP) to manage day-to-day operations of the EAC project. As a member of the National Leadership Team, the DCOP will assist the COP in shaping the strategic direction of the ARC Pakistan EAC project and ensuring quality programs are designed and implemented. S/he will directly supervise the senior technical coordinators and will take the lead in coordinating project development and implementation. The DCOP will also oversee the coordination and preparation of all reports to donors.  He/she will provide final review of reports, ensuring accuracy of content and timeliness of report submission.

 In close collaboration with the COP, the DCOP will serve as a key ARC liaison for donors, host government officials, and multi-sector coordination focal points.  He/she is responsible for representing ARC in all relevant technical/sector coordination meetings in Islamabad, and provide feedback/advice to field technical and program staff, and to the COP.

 In the absence of Chief of Party, the DCOP will assume overall responsibility of the project.

MAJOR AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

PRIMARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES  

 Project Implementation and Accountability

• Provide overall technical direction and assist in the management of project activities and operations.
• Oversee project design, provide technical support, and successfully engage local and external partners for effective implementation of the project.
• Support COP in providing daily management of the project and oversight of staff and partners responsible for design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Ensure that the project teams are properly trained, roles and responsibilities are properly assigned and the team is able to implement the project agreed deliverables.
• Manage the day-to-day communication with the donor and key stake holders.
• Assist the COP in managing financial, technical, operational and planning oversight of the project.
• Provide opportunities for effective learning, sharing, and innovation, through reflection and regular dialogue among program teams.
• Conduct regular visits to field offices and project sites to monitor program performance. Provide feedback to staff on gaps and areas for improvement and identify needs for ongoing capacity building.
• Supervise the project monitoring and evaluation plans and implementation.

 

Representation and Coordination           

• Coordinate and communicate with key actors: donors, host government, international agencies and NGOs, as assigned by the COP.
• Attend relevant monthly program sector technical coordination meetings in Islamabad, in coordination with the Sector Heads.  
• In coordination with the Sector Heads, strengthen ARC’s technical relationships with relevant line ministries at the federal level through regular meetings, consultations and updates on ARC’s project.
• Facilitate clear and timely links between technical/coordination discussions in Islamabad and similar discussions in the field ensuring that ARC staff on both sides are better informed and adequately prepared to participate.  
• Regularly attend INGO forum meetings with COP and represent ARC at such meetings whenever the COP is absent.

 

Reporting                                                                                                                                

• Design and manage calendar of reports due and individual timelines for all grants, to ensure staff is aware of and understand reporting requirements and deadlines
• Conduct comprehensive reviews/edits on all program narrative and financial reports, and other documents to ensure quality of before submission, to ensure quality control and conformity with ARC and donor needs.
• Provide regular project updates to HQ and in country offices of ARC donors.

 Personnel Management

• Conduct performance appraisals and identify training needs for direct reports.
• Coach and mentor team members to enable them to take on leadership roles.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the COP.                                                  

EDUCATION, TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

• Master’s degree in Business, Management, Education, International Development, Human Development, or related field.

• 7-10 years’ experience working on community development projects, with at least 3-5 years experience in a working on education-related programming.
• At least 3 years’ experience in a supervisory position.
• Demonstrated experience and skills with program implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and budgetary development.
• Experience working with and coordinating with donors, INGOs, national NGOs and government agencies and working with local partners.
• Knowledge of the regional political and social conditions
• Excellent management, communication and organization skills
• Excellent writing and analytical skills
• Excellent MS Office skills including Word, Excel and Access database
• High level fluency in both oral and written English.
• Experience working in Pakistan a plus.
• Strong leadership skills, proven experience in strategic planning, overseeing large programs and ability to effect and manage change effectively.
• Demonstrated experience in program design, planning and implementation, including proposal writing, budgeting, value for money, and participatory program approaches.
• Demonstrated advanced communications, presentation and inter-personal skills.

KEY BEHAVIORS & ABILITIES

• Proven ability to coordinate, manage and delegate work appropriately
• Analytical and creative thinking for rapid solutions
• Good communicator with strong interpersonal and negotiation skills to deal with persons of various cultural and educational backgrounds.
• High ethical standards
• Excellent strategic thinking, process management and problem solving skills
• Collaborative, results-oriented management style
• Ability to navigate complex situations with diplomacy
• Ability to take initiative; be resourceful and innovative
• Ability to work under stress and with tight deadlines

 

American Refugee Committee is an Equal Opportunity Employer offering employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.  American Refugee Committee complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.