Chief of Party – USAID Nepal Agricultural Transformation Activity

About Corus: Corus International is the parent of a family of world-class organizations working to deliver the holistic, lasting solutions needed to end extreme poverty once and for all. We are a global leader in international development, with 150 years of combined experience across our brands. Our nonprofit and for-profit subsidiaries include IMA World Health and its fundraising brand Corus World Health, Lutheran World Relief, CGA Technologies, Ground Up Investing, and Farmers Market Brands. Our more than 800 employees around the globe are experts in their fields and dedicated to helping the world’s most vulnerable people break the cycle of poverty and lead healthy lives. Further details about the organization can be found at: https://corusinternational.org

Corus International’s country portfolio in Nepal has worked alongside the Nepal government, donors, and a variety of local and international partners since 2009. Programs reach marginalized communities through market systems facilitation, agriculture, food security, livelihoods, enterprise development, and disaster risk reduction activities. The portfolio includes a focus on both sustainable development and humanitarian assistance activities and operates out of Kathmandu.

About The Job: Lutheran World Relief is seeking a Chief of Party to lead an anticipated USAID-funded Agricultural Transformation activity. The 5-year project with focus on 1) Agricultural productivity, competitiveness, and diversification increased; 2) Enabling environment for private sector investment in agriculture and equitable access to market systems improved; 3) Climate and economic resilience of women, youth, and marginalized communities enhanced; and 4) Capacity of national agricultural research institutions and extension systems strengthened.

The Chief of Party will serve as the primary liaison with USAID, Government of Nepal, other implementing development partners working in Nepal, and Corus International’s headquarters, and relevant project stakeholders fostering collaborative working relationships. S/he will ensure the project’s goals, objectives, and strategy are achieved and that contractual requirements are met on time and within budget. S/he is responsible for directing the project team with an integrated vision, applying effective leadership and strategic planning skills, management experience, outstanding interpersonal skills, and strong written and oral communication skills. The Chief of Party supervises the day-to-day work of staff, overseas project implementation to ensure quality programming. The Chief of Party also ensures that all management systems, from technical to M&E to finance, actively support timely and accurate project reporting and cost effectiveness for successful implementation of the project. The Chief of Party also is responsible for ensuring compliance with Corus’s policies and procedures and USAID rules and regulations, including responsibility for ensuring sub-awardee compliance and monitoring the quality of program implementation. The competencies required to be successful in this position include a theoretical and practical understanding of global agricultural market systems and resilience areas; personnel and project management skills; the ability to motivate and lead teams; and the demonstrated ability to operate at advanced levels of authority and accountability for achieving results.

The position will be based in Kathmandu, Nepal and will report to Country Director.

Actual hiring is contingent upon signed agreement and USAID approval. Nepali nationals are highly encouraged to apply.

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 Nepal, 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 Nepal
• 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 (regional, 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 (seeds, fertilizer, irrigation, and agricultural equipment) in Nepal, 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 $5 million is required
• Knowledge of and experience with USAID rules and regulations required
• Deep knowledge of the political, social, and economic context of Nepal required, with experience working in Nepal 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 fluency with professional proficiency in writing required; knowledge of Nepali is an asset
• Willingness and ability to travel to project sites within Nepal

LWR/Corus International is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). As such, Corus makes employment decisions and provides equal employment opportunity without regard to an applicant’s or employee’s race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, and local laws. If you need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please notify Corus’s Human Resources department.