POSITION TITLE: Chief of Party

LOCATION: Auki, Malaita, Solomon Islands UNIT: Agriculture, Resilience and Water Unit

REPORTS TO: Associate Director PROGRAM SUMMARY: Winrock International (WI) is seeking an experienced and dynamic Chief of Party in its Auki project office to support the five-year, USAID-funded Solomon Islands Strengthening Competitiveness, Agriculture, Livelihoods, and Environment – Natural Resource Management (SCALE-NRM) Program.

The SCALE-NRM Program will foster conservation economies at a community scale that provide opportunities for income generation from NRM and drive provincial and national government commitment to natural resource governance. As USAID’s flagship NRM initiative in the Solomon Islands, SCALE-NRM will pave the way for future USAID investments in promoting competitive, sustainable, and inclusive economic development. SCALE-NRM has three objectives: Promote a people-centered approach to resource governance, which will leverage the traditional connection among Solomon Islanders and a track record of communities organizing themselves around specific opportunities. Strengthen markets for conservation through provincial and community-driven schemes that ensure communities have options to pursue alternative livelihoods and participate in diversified economic opportunities from environmental conservation. Build the capacity of government in implementing a holistic, ecosystem-wide approach to NRM, which includes ecosystem health, land-use, climate change adaptation, and economic development.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

The COP primary responsibilities include providing overall leadership, management, and general technical direction of the entire program, ensuring an integrated vision among different components and actors, and focusing on achieving the results defined in the agreement. S/he will serve as the main point of contact with USAID and government, private sector, and community stakeholders. S/he will work with USAID/Pacific Islands to coordinate the design of any required assessments, analyses, evaluations, staff, consultants, mentors, volunteers, and potential sub-Recipients to form teams with the necessary skills and experience. S/he will manage quality control and reporting on results, oversee budgets and financial accounting and work with headquarters staff on compliance development of budgets and pipeline analyses. The COP is expected to play a lead role in program operations and community relationships. S/he is responsible for overall managing the program to deliver results for USAID. The COP will be expected to identify issues and risks related to program implementation in a timely manner and propose appropriate program adjustments.

The position requires significant coordination skills, and broad general and technical knowledge. Leadership experience and skills to ensure coherency and consistency. Coordination: Serve as the principal liaison with the donor, key government officials, and international and local organizations, representing Winrock International. Coordinate and collaborate with conservation organizations, private sector firms, community members, industry groups, government counterparts, other donor projects and funders, research institutes, and other relevant parties to leverage resources and maximize results. Technical: Provide technical direction to natural resource management, livelihood, and community engagement technical areas. Design and lead interventions that sustainably build the capacity of staff and key stakeholders in communities, national and local organizations, the private sector, government, academic institutions, and processors. Monitor project performance through indicators and evaluate program effectiveness and results. Apply a collaborative learning and adaptive management approach to iteratively evaluate project results and impact. Institute adjustments to replicate and scale successful activities and course correct activities that are not yielding desired results. Oversee and contribute to annual deliverables communication products that showcase the progress of activities and achievement of program results to USAID and the general public.

Administration and Leadership: Lead program implementation, coordinating with a wide range of stakeholders – including government agencies, civil society organizations/community groups, local and international NGOs, international donor/funding agencies, and private sector. Provide high-level oversight for project administrative functions including financial management, human resources and procurement while ensuring compliance with Winrock policies and principles and USAID rules and regulations. Provide supervision, support, and direction to long- and short-term staff and technical consultants. Maintain close communication with Winrock home office and USAID to provide ongoing, informal updates of project progress. Work in close partnership with the donor to ensure alignment of project with the donor’s strategic goals and objectives, and application of program-wide learning and collaboration. Prepare and submit annual work plans and quarterly reports on the progress of activities and achievement of program results and monitor the implementation of these plans. Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND BACKGROUND:

Education: Academic degree in agribusiness, international development, economics, business management, natural resource management, agricultural or rural development, or relevant field. Master’s degree or higher strongly preferred. Minimum qualifications: Minimum 10 years of experience managing agriculture training and extension programs, value chain or agri-business projects, or natural resource management program is required. Pacific Islands experience strongly preferred. At least 8 years of experience and/or technical knowledge in designing, managing, and evaluating development projects and activities, including experience in portfolio management and implementation, particularly related to natural resource management development.

Demonstrated ability to be collaborative across projects, flexible, and creative and successfully lead an intercultural team in development and post-conflict context. Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, including the ability to build and manage cooperative high-level relationships and motivate subordinates. Demonstrated experience managing forestry, natural resource management, or sustainable development programs preferred. Experience in financial management and oversight, ensuring implementation remains within scope, time, and budget of similar size projects. Prior experience managing programs and/or leading locally led solutions in the Pacific Islands is a bonus. Prior COP or team leadership experience on multi-million-dollar USAID projects strongly preferred. Skills/Knowledge: Ability to diplomatically supervise staff and coordinate activities with partners from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. Ability to build coalitions and networks with public and private sector actors that can provide synergies and sustainable solutions. Must be comfortable in a high-level representational role as well as interacting with beneficiaries. Demonstrated understanding of USG M&E frameworks and reporting systems. Skills in knowledge management, qualitative and quantitative analytical methods, data analysis, collaboration, learning and adaptation (CLA) approach preferred. Excellent management, communication, and organizational skills are required. Excellent computer skills (word-processing, spreadsheets, and databases) are required. Knowledge of USAID policies and procedures related to project management is strongly preferred. Fluency in English language is required, proficiency in Pijin and native languages is a bonus.

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people and value diversity and inclusiveness. Winrock recruits, employs, trains, promotes and compensates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, or any other basis protected by law. At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation. Winrock knows that its success comes from the hard work and steadfast dedication of its diverse workforce. Winrock remains committed to maintaining diversity, inclusion and equity across the entire organization