Chief of Party – USAID Sri Lank

Position description

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years’ experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 6,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects.

RTI’s Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI’s experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.

The RTI Center for Governance promotes strong, stable societies by empowering people and strengthening institutions. Building on the RTI’s decades-long legacy of leading governance projects around the world, the Center works to increase transparency and accountability, mitigate corruption, and help government actors to better deliver on the needs of citizens. Boasting a global reach, the RTI Center for Governance includes partners, expertise, and learning from major initiatives spanning sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. The Center leverages RTI’s longstanding local partnerships to bring together governments, civil society, the private sector, and communities to define problems and jointly create sustainable solutions in countries around the world.

Project Description 

The purpose of the anticipated $10-20M USAID activity is to strengthen Sri Lanka’s democratic and economic governance reform efforts by bolstering good governance, transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption. The anticipated program will be based in Colombo.

Position Description 

The COP will be responsible for overall project performance, management, and execution, ensuring that all project deliverables are of highest quality and within budget and compliance for small to mid-size projects. This position will provide project planning, oversight, leadership, and coordination. The COP will build and maintain strong and favorable client, government, partner, community, home office, and team relations. The COP may provide technical assistance and support activities where necessary.

Position is contingent upon award and funding.

Responsibilities
 

• Hold primary responsibility for project performance and budget management. 
• Lead planning, oversight, and coordination of all project activities and personnel, including operational and technical aspects.
• Ensure all project deliverables exceed expectations and are managed within budget. 
• Manage client relations and serve as primary liaison and RTI Representative with the client and stakeholders regarding overall policy, resource mobilization and allocation, joint initiatives, and coordination of project management and planning.
• Ensure internal integration of project activities through 1) the annual work plan and budgeting process; 2) creating/maintaining an effective project management team; and 3) overseeing an effective monitoring, evaluation, and learning system.
• Provide leadership and oversight for areas such as Finance, Operations, Reporting, Public Affairs, Fund Management, and Human Resources; liaise with Regional Office and business partners per policy and practice.
• Ensure that all staff receive adequate security and operational support and that Standard Operating Procedures are implemented.
• Manage all aspects of staffing and creating and maintaining a clear organizational structure with specific roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines. 
• Ensure management systems are operational to track expenditures (including labor) and monitor same against the Program work plan and budget, according to both company policy and client standards and regulations.
• Develop and implement practices to ensure a high level of staff morale and retention.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and 15 years of experience, Master’s degree and 12 years of experience, PhD and 8 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience and expertise in the implementation of large and complex projects relating to democratic and economic governance reform efforts, including activities focused on good governance, transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption.
• Ten (10) years of progressive senior management experience on international donor programs of similar size with strong skills in strategic planning, management, supervision, procurement, and budgeting. Demonstrated experience managing technically, operationally, and geographically diverse teams.
• Five years of substantive experience working with counterparts at various levels of government, private sector leaders, and other stakeholders in strengthening civil society engagement, governance, and economic reform.
• Experience working with civil society and government organizations in Sri Lanka highly preferred.

Application instructions

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