Pact is an international nonprofit that works in nearly 40 countries building solutions for human development that are evidence-based, data-driven and owned by the communities we serve. Founded in 1971, Pact works with partners to build resilience, improve accountability, and strengthen knowledge and skills for sustainable social impact.

Programs – Pact strives for a world where all people are heard, capable, and vibrant. The Programs Team helps realize this objective by bridging program management, technical support, and business development, enabling Pact to achieve its global strategy. We ensure program excellence through continuous learning, monitoring and evaluation and provide organizational and industry-wide thought leadership by leveraging a complementary set of cross-functional, multi-disciplinary skills, expertise, and experiences. The Programs team: influences progressive change through the development and implementation of global and regional strategies and business plans; supports advancement of innovative solutions; pursues new business opportunities; and drives effective internal and external engagement to maximize Pact’s impact across the globe. Across all aspects of its role, the Programs Department adheres to and promotes a culture of inclusion, accountability, and respect.

Pact seeks an experienced Chief of Party (COP) for the anticipated USAID/RDMA-funded “Empowering the Truth Tellers: Asia Investigative Reporting Network Activity” (AIR Network) project, an Associate Award under the Civil Society and Media-Strengthened Together and Advancing in New Directions (CSM-STAND) leader with associates award. AIR Network aims to strengthen capacity, networking and collaboration among Asian investigative journalists and newsrooms that produce cross-border investigative reports of regional and global importance on transborder crime and corruption. The geographic scope of this program includes the countries of Southeast Asia (specific locations TBD) and will take place over a period of five years. This position is contingent upon award.

The COP will be responsible for technical leadership and the overall management and operations of the Activity. The COP will supervise high-quality project implementation, with a focus on achieving the project goals and USAID/RDMA development objectives. With a particular emphasis on employing a highly adaptive and collaborative management style, the COP will take a leadership role in coordinating activities across all relevant parties, including USAID, the Governments of the Regional countries, civil society organizations, media organizations or associations, and implementing partners. The COP will also oversee all project staff and sub-partners for results-oriented planning, leadership, and coordination of project activities.

 

The specific duties to be carried out by the successful candidate are listed below:

• Ensure high-quality, results-oriented technical programming through hands-on guidance and support grounded in the project’s strategic objectives and approved annual workplans. Oversee evidence-based adjustments in programming to achieve greater impact.
• Serve as the primary liaison with the USAID Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) on management and technical matters.
• Ensure compliance with USAID rules and regulations and Pact processes, procedures, and best practices.
• Through an adaptive and collaborative management style, coordinate the implementation of activities across project staff and partners, ensuring a “one team approach” and successful integration of activities.
• Provide strategic management and oversight of the project’s sub-award portfolio.
• Represent the project at conferences, working groups, and other meetings.
• Serve as security focal person and always ensure the safety and security of project staff.
• Prioritize interventions and strategies that are responsive to Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) considerations and ensure a conflict-sensitive approach for all activities.

• Master’s degree with eleven (11) years work experience or bachelor’s degree with at least thirteen (13+) years work experience
• At least six (6+) years management experience
• Demonstrated understanding of the role of media and civil society in Southeast Asian countries.
• Experience building capacity, networking and/or collaboration between civil society organizations and/or media actors in Southeast Asian counties.
• Record of successfully building and effectively managing a diverse team of employees and managing multiple international consortium partners.
• Experience managing projects with large sub-award pools.
• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with government and civil society stakeholders.
• Demonstrated skills in problem solving and consensus building.
• Knowledge of USAID rules, regulations, and policies.
• Fluency in English (oral, writing, and reading).
• Ability to travel internationally.

• Demonstrated experience working in or supporting the media sector, including leading investigative journalism-focused activities.
• Familiarity and established relationships with investigative journalists and media houses in Southeast Asia.
• Knowledge of the political, social, and economic context of Southeast Asian countries and their relationships with one another.
• Demonstrated experience leading or contributing to effective accountability and/or anti-corruption focused interventions.
• Demonstrated understanding of most pressing issues concerning gender inequality in media in Southeast Asian countries.
• Fluency and/or working proficiency in one or more languages spoken in the region (oral, writing, and reading).
• Nationals of Southeast Asian countries are encouraged to apply.