RTI International is seeking qualified candidates for the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) to support implementation of an expected five-year USAID Feed the Future Livestock Market Systems Development Activity that will support activities in Kenya’s Arid Lands.
The Livestock Market Systems Development Activity will support USAID’s Feed the Future Initiative to improve household incomes, productive assets, and resilience to drought and other shocks. Illustrative objectives are likely to include: diversified livelihood options, increased inclusiveness of value chains, improved nutrition, improved capacity to peacefully manage conflicts, and community-based natural resource management. The goal of the program is to enable people, households, and communities to escape poverty and chronic vulnerability and strengthen their resilience so they can do so sustainably, in the face of complex risk and recurrent shocks and stresses.
The DCOP will assist the COP in project oversight, managing for results, and technical, administrative, operational, and logistical management. The DCOP will have direct oversight of the program’s operations and M&E functions and will serve as the acting COP, as needed.
This position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya with frequent travel to the Northern Counties.
Responsibilities:
Support the Chief of Party with overall management, including oversight of technical teams, personnel, and subcontractors; support capacity building of actors in targeted value chains;
Serve as RTI’s alternate liaison to USAID, government counterparts, private sector, local organizations, and program partners when COP is unavailable. Establish a close working relationship and ensure strong communication with USAID;
Assist the COP to ensure timely project implementation, monitor project activities, and ensure quality;
Provide technical and/or operational guidance and serve as a subject matter expert in designated technical area;
Track and report on programmatic achievements as required for project deliverable reporting. Produce technical and/or operational reports and updates for reporting and project success stories;
Ensure effective coordination and synergies between policy-level, market-level, and community-based activities, while managing heavy procurements, deliveries, and other related logistics;
Coordinate and oversee the activities and operations of regional project offices; and
Serve as Acting COP in the absence of the COP.
Organizational Learning: As part of RTI’s commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit a certain percentage of their time to learning activities that benefit RTI as well as themselves.
Minimum Qualifications:
· Bachelor’s degree in international development, livestock, agriculture, business, economics, or related field of study required; Master’s degree preferred;
· 9 years of overseas experience, including five years in a senior management position;
· Experience in value chain development and agribusiness is desired;
· Demonstrated ability to build consensus and to recruit and develop high performing teams; demonstrated ability to manage international and national staff;
· Strong understanding of USAID rules and regulations, especially for compliance;
· Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues;
· Proven experience managing a large, complex team in multiple field offices;
· Strong written and oral communication skills in English, including report writing and editing;
· Previous experience in Kenya or the Horn of Africa is highly preferred; and
· Knowledge of Kiswahili and relevant local dialects (e.g. Somali, Borana, Turkana, etc.) is preferred. d
HOW TO APPLY:
To Respond: Individuals are invited to submit a curriculum vitae (CV) with current contact information and details (including achievements) of relevant experience to F_Agrecruit@rti.org**. All applicants should list the position they are applying for as the subject line in their e-mail.**