Deputy Chief of Party/Operations Director - Advancing Women for Resilient Agricultural Supply Chains (AWRAS)

Job

Job Title : Deputy Chief of Party & Operations Director

Contract : Advancing Women for Resilient Agricultural Supply Chains (AWRAS)

Level of Effort: Long Term Technical Assistance (LTTA)

Position Overview

DAI seeks a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) / Operations Director for the USAID-funded Advancing Women for Resilient Agricultural Supply Chains (AWRAS) program. The DCOP / Operations Director will oversee the project's day-to-day operations, ensuring that all activities are implemented efficiently and effectively. This includes managing logistics, procurement, and administrative functions. This a long-term position based in the United States.

USAID is establishing a partnership with a cohort of private-sector actors to develop innovative approaches to addressing sustainability challenges in their agricultural supply chains by embedding gender-responsive activities in their core business, agricultural value chain, and sustainability strategies.

The partnership aims to establish a shared understanding of market-based, core business solutions that promote women’s equal access to and control over resources, opportunities, and decision-making authority in agricultural supply chains as a key strategy for achieving sustainability goals. Interventions will build upon the initiatives already led and implemented by partners, leveraging lessons learned and successful practices to enhance knowledge sharing and develop effective implementation tools. The partnership will align efforts between corporate partners and USAID to address constraints and capitalize on opportunities to advance environmental sustainability by embedding gender equality into core business operations. The partners involved in this activity were selected based on their ongoing work and significant learnings from gender equality and women’s empowerment initiatives and their commitment to sustainable agriculture. By building upon their current efforts, they aim to scale these initiatives within their own supply chains, share best practices, and influence the industry for greater impact. Their active engagement and experience in gender equality and women’s empowerment initiatives make them ideal contributors to this partnership.

By identifying and implementing a common theory of change and measuring outcomes, the project will foster synergy and coherence among the private sector partners and bilaterally with USAID.

The Deputy Chief of Party/Operations Director is a key member of the project leadership team. They will play a pivotal role in overseeing adherence to DAI’s USG Operations Manual, USAID regulations, agreement requirements and limitations, financial policies, procedures, controls, and reporting systems. The individual will manage the program operations and ensure effective execution and compliance across operational functions, including finance, grants, administration, logistics, human resources, and procurement. They will oversee the project operations team and serve as Acting Chief of Party (COP) in the COP’s absence.

The DCOP/Operations Director will report to the COP.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the project's day-to-day operations, ensuring that all activities are implemented efficiently and effectively. This includes managing logistics, procurement, and administration.
• Oversee project's resources, including budget, personnel, and materials. Ensure that resources are allocated to meet project needs and maintain financial compliance with USAID requirements.
• Provide overall operational leadership for the partnership, serving as a liaison to USAID and the private sector partners as required and at the direction of COP;
• Contribute to the planning, implementation, and monitoring of all project activities to ensure they align with the project's goals and objectives;
• Support development of project Work Plans and other deliverables as required, and participate in other strategic planning and work sessions as requested;
• Responsible for coordinating documentation requirements with various departments, i.e., procurement, grants, logistics, human resources, inventory management, and other areas;
• Responsible for providing necessary training to staff on DAI USG Operations Manual policies and procedures and client compliance requirements, as applicable;
• Supervise and mentor key program and operation team members and consultants;
• Responsible for effective delivery of products and services, staffing, compliance, and other functions of the project’s operations team;
• Ensure compliance DAI and USAID policies and procedures (and systems, as applicable), and with local labor, tax, and other laws;
• Maintain communication with DAI's home office staff on administrative and operational aspects of the project;
• Coordinate across DAI business units to ensure efficient management of technical and financial resources;
• In coordination with the Project Management Team in DAI Bethesda, manage project budgeting and forecasting, including annual budgets of revenues and expenditure as well as quarterly forecasts against budget statements (accruals, pipelines, etc);
• Develop and maintain comprehensive financial management tools (i.e. monthly and quarterly reporting) and provide timely and accurate financial reporting to USAID, presenting findings in both written and oral presentations as required;
• Ensure compliance with all DAI financial systems, including the accounting system, cloud software for backup documentation, DAI's project management system (TAMIS) as applicable.
• Manage all financial and administrative matters, ensuring the operations and finance team on AWRAS is in full compliance with USAID and DAI policies and procedures;
• Manage independent consulting/subcontracting relationships to ensure integration with AWRAS’ vision/purpose/outputs; and
• Participate and contribute to quarterly performance and risk management reviews by identifying and rating risks while working in coordination with project and home office project management to design time-bound and accountable mitigation actions.
  
  
  

Qualifications & Skills Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience and a college degree in a relevant field such as international development, business administration, public administration, or a related area preferred . Masters degree preferred.
• Extensive experience managing operations for large-scale, complex projects, preferably with USAID or other international donors
• Experience managing at least one large-scale, complex project budget (e.g. over $20 million with multiple activities with in-kind contributions and/or funding sources)
• Experience with Private and Public Sector Partnerships preferred;
• Experience working with projects incorporating a gender perspective in agriculture and/or environment topics preferred;
• Strong knowledge and experience in operations management, including logistics, procurement, grants, and administration
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse teams in a fast-paced environment;
• Strong knowledge of USAID rules and regulations;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including a track record of successful coordination and effective working relations with a wide range of stakeholders;
• Demonstrated ability to responsibly and ethically handle sensitive and confidential information;
• Strong communication skills in writing and presentations in English.
  
  
  

Compensation & Benefits:

This position and any offer extended is contingent upon project funding and client approval.

For employees working the United States, the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to be between $115,000 to $145,000. Actual offers will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, qualifications, relevant education, experience, skills, seniority, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Eligible U.S. based employees, will be able to enroll in medical, dental and vision insurance, plus a 401(k)-retirement plan with a company match. Additionally, employees will be eligible for company-paid annual leave (vacation & holidays), sick leave, parental leave; as well as short- and long-term disability coverage. Detailed information will be provided at the time a formal offer is extended.

For employees working outside of the United States, compensation and benefits will vary based on location.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting discrimination in all forms, nurturing respect for our interpersonal relationships, and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.