Education Development Inc Vacancies

EDC is one of the world’s leading nonprofit research and development firms. EDC designs, implements, and evaluates programs to improve education, health, and economic opportunity worldwide. Collaborating with both public and private partners, we strive for a world where all people are empowered to live healthy, productive lives.

EDC is committed to diversity in the workplace.

The Ghana Innovating project in Accra, Ghana has an opening for a Chief of Party (IV), reporting to the Project Director in EDC’s International Division in Washington, D.C.

Job Description

Job Title: Chief of Party

POSITION SUMMARY

Ghana Innovatingis a USAID contract, funded for 10 million USD across four years. It is designed to support the current portfolio of literacy projects in Ghana by promoting a culture of home-based reading grounded in local language. It will augment current classroom-level interventions by promoting reading in the community and the home by adopting a SBCC strategy and promoting it at national, regional, local and family levels. The SBCC strategy will pivot around tailoring culturally appropriate strategies informed by local ASER results, a broad program of small grants to local organizations that develop plans to promote literacy at the family level, and strategic partnerships formed with the private sector to promote home based reading.

The Chief of Party will oversee all project operations in Ghana. He/She will manage relationships between the project donors, cooperating partners and relevant Ghanaian government entitities. He/She will also interact with subcontractors, private sector partnerships and media institutions. While a candidate with senior management experience is required, those with experience in Social Behavior Change Communicaiton, early grades reading and/or small grants administration is also preferred.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The person in this position is expected to communicate clearly and courteously; to develop and maintain positive relationships with clients, consultants, collaborators, co-workers, field sites, and funders; and to work respectfully with EDC colleagues. The job requires adherence to EDC policies & procedures.

The Chief of Party (IV) has overall responsibility for leading and managing an international project’s administrative, programmatic, technical, and operational aspects in the field — in collaboration with Project Director and in accordance with EDC, funder, and host country requirements — to achieve project success. S/he

• Strategizes, sets priorities; leads implementation, and reviews technical progress

• Establishes, maintains, and is responsible for the ongoing administrative and financial operation of project offices with accountability to home office

• Develops and monitors budgets, records, databases, and reference information

• Determines resource needs and oversees resource use

• Selects, hires, and supervises staff and subcontractors; assigns roles & responsibilities; manages performance

• Meets contractual obligations

• Implements regulatory compliance directives appropriate to the host country & funder

• Develops policies & procedures to improve efficiency and quality, in conjunction with home office

• Recommends prospective business development opportunities; may conduct comparative or competitive analysis

• Conveys organizational philosophy and values

• Will oversee communication staff who implement a national SBCC strategy

• will oversee financial grants staff who implement a small grants program nationally

• will oversee community literacy staff who support home-based reading initiatives

The Chief of Party (IV)

• Is responsible for partnering successfully with home office project director, Center, Business Services, expatriate and local staff

• Is a representative of EDC and the project in the host country, interfacing with the ministry, or other government leaders, the funder, and others; builds positive client, vendor, and funder relations

• Demonstrates diplomacy and leadership to foster an atmosphere of teamwork, productivity, creativity, fairness, equity, and innovation, in support of EDC’s commitment to diversity

• Negotiates and mediates effectively

• Interacts with large numbers of program participants or team members, guiding feedback exchanges, facilitating problem-solving, and providing expertise

• Oversees administrative and logistical coordination; secures consensus about priorities and competing workload demands

• Supervises technical, management, and administrative staff; directs and coordinates work of team leaders &/or project managers

• Manages and coordinates activities of subcontractors and all partners to create synergy

• Organizes and coaches teams

• Fosters excellent communications among all parties, including with EDC home offices

• Oversees training programs, workshops, conferences, or other collaborations

• Travels

QUALIFICATIONS

This position requires educational achievement; excellent writing skills; demonstrable initiative, creativity, and flexibility; ability to work independently and effectively in groups; and strong interpersonal & organizational skills. Specific requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree

• Master’s degree or PhD preferred

• With Bachelor’s degree, 12+ years related experience, including a minimum of 8 years supervisory/project management or program development experience

• With Master’s degree, 10+ years related experience (as above)

• With PhD, 8+ years related experience (as above)