The Organisation

Plan International is a girls’ rights organization that partners with adolescents and children around the world to overcome oppression and gender inequality, providing the support and resources that are unique to their needs and the needs of their communities. Working in more than 75 countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plan’s holistic, rights-based approach ensures that our project participants achieve their full potential with dignity, opportunity and safety. Our projects are designed in partnership with communities and strategically address systemic issues that often transcend sectors. As such, Plan demonstrates technical expertise across a range of intervention areas: education, health, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), protection and youth economic empowerment. In addition, Plan has a robust humanitarian response and disaster preparedness practice. With extensive local networks and community reach, Plan drives positive change through broad community participation, achieving sustainable results by actively engaging and providing services to individuals, families, communities and governments. Plan International has been working in Malawi since 1994.

Position Description

Plan International is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) for the anticipated USAID-funded Secondary Success Activity. The COP will oversee all aspects of this project, leading strategic planning and decision making, providing technical guidance, overseeing activities of the sub-recipients, and supervising staff. Serving as the key liaison with USAID, Ministries, implementing partners and other stakeholders, the COP will also establish and maintain an integrated vision among different actors while ensuring adherence to all project objectives, performance and reporting requirements, and donor regulations. S/he will oversee coordination of field operations and ensure that activities meet USAID and Plan standards. The position is contingent upon award of the project by the donor.

Responsibilities:

• Provide overall technical and managerial oversight and leadership for the project;
• Design and direct program activities in consultation with USAID and key stakeholders;
• Lead a team of technical experts, advisors, local partners, and other project staff;
• Serve as the primary in-country point of contact with USAID, partner organizations, national government stakeholders, and other donors and implementers;
• Ensure efficient and compliant management of financial resources;
• Oversee management, delivery, and monitoring of sub-grants;
• Supervise field operations, administration, logistics and procurement;
• Supervise program monitoring, evaluation, and reporting and ensure quality control and timeliness of all deliverables as required by the grant and donor;
• Assure full compliance with all USAID, Plan International, and other fiduciary regulations

Requirements:

• A Master’s degree or higher in international development, education, public policy, social sciences, or related field and ten (10) years of work experience, or Bachelor’s degree and fifteen (15) years of work experience;
• Previous experience with planning and implementing USAID funded projects, preferably in Malawi or East Africa;

• Substantial experience and knowledge working in Education, specifically at the secondary school level, including building on existing structures to increase the availability, access, and/or quality of education, including remedial skills, lifeskills, health and leadership, mentorship, and financial inclusion;
• Previous experience working and collaborating with education and other key stakeholders (government/implementors).
• Demonstrated knowledge of gender transformative programming and experience in implementing programs with gender-focused components;
• Proven leadership qualities, excellent program and personnel management skills;
• Fluency in English and excellent oral and written skills required.

Plan International’s Values in Practice

We are open and accountable

• Promotes a culture of openness and transparency, including with sponsors and donors.
• Holds self and others accountable to achieve the highest standards of integrity.
• Consistent and fair in the treatment of people.
• Open about mistakes and keen to learn from them.
• Accountable for ensuring we are a safe organisation for all children, girls & young people

We strive for lasting impact

• Articulates a clear purpose for staff and sets high expectations.
• Creates a climate of continuous improvement, open to challenge and new ideas.
• Focuses resources to drive change and maximise long-term impact, responsive to changed priorities or crises.
• Evidence-based and evaluates effectiveness.

We work well together

• Seeks constructive outcomes, listens to others, willing to compromise when appropriate.
• Builds constructive relationships across Plan International to support our shared goals.
• Develops trusting and ‘win-win’ relationships with funders, partners and communities.
• Engages and works well with others outside the organization to build a better world for girls and all children.

We are inclusive and empowering

• We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential
• We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge equality in our programs and our workplace
• We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives.

Location: Country Office, Lilongwe

Type of Role: Fixed Term

Reports to: Country Director

Grade: Level 18

Closing Date: 20 May 2024

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

Qualified females are encouraged to apply!!

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.