EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC)

Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity. Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work. 

EDC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Project Description

EDC is pursuing one or more potential funding opportunities in Bangladesh through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID Bangladesh seeks to bolster youth’s income; resilience to violent extremism/ and anti-democratic values; and to provide youth the skills and abilities to advocate for good governance and to improve Bangladesh’s self-reliance. The activities will build skills and empower in- and out-of-school youth to increase their employability, civic engagement and contribution to the economic growth of Bangladesh by targeting youth between the ages of 15 to 35 years of age, including high school and college-age students, with the following objectives: Increase civic awareness and resilience to anti-democratic and violent extremism values; Strengthen youth participation in community-improvements and decision-making processes; Improve the marketability and employability of youth to connect them to sustainable livelihoods and income generating opportunities.

Position Description

The Chief of Party (COP) will provide overall technical and administrative leadership and expertise for this activity and will serve as the primary authority for all decision making related to this activity.  He/she will be the liaison with USAID/Bangladesh on management and technical matters. He/she will be responsible for the overall management and implementation of the activity and report directly to the designated EDC Project Director. S/he will supervise activity implementation and ensure the activity meets stated goals and reporting requirements. The COP will take a leadership role in coordination among USAID and key stakeholders, and other implementing partners. The COP position requires political and business savvy, as s/he will interact with numerous private-sector firms and organizations, GOB institutions and senior-level national and county-level government officials.  S/he will have demonstrated strong leadership, management, and technical skills as well as the ability to work in complex, politically charged, unstable environments, work across different cultures, and manage diverse teams to deliver impact within agreed timelines.

Responsibilities of the Chief of Party include, but are not limited to:

• Lead a team of technical experts and partners to engage livelihoods service providers, networking organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Oversee all technical activities and staff with an adaptive management approach to project implementation and spearhead strategy development and utilize managerial tools and frameworks to improve the ability of the team to achieve project goals successfully and sustainably.
• Lead efforts to closely collaborate with the relevant government agencies, international donor community and private sector actors to set the foundation for linking vulnerable youth, including young women, and youth with disabilities to basic social resources of work, knowledge, security, and social capital to foster social inclusion through employment opportunities..
• Facilitate the development of the project’s evolving theory of change, oversee the implementation of the work plan, and track progress towards core indicators and learning objectives.
• Serve as the primary liaison with USAID, sharing learning, presenting progress, troubleshooting, and securing buy-in for strategic improvements that enable the project to maximize the scale and sustainability of its impact and the value of USAID’s investment.
• Engage, coordinate, and collaborate with other donors and implementing partners active in the ecosystem.

The candidate for the position of Chief of Party shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:

Education:

Requires a master’s degree in Business, Education, development or related field from an accredited university, or a relevant bachelor’s degree with commensurate experience.

Skills and Experience:

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in workforce development, market development, entrepreneurship, youth employment and livelihoods, education, or directly related field, preferably with experience working in Bangladesh.  Experience working in the agriculture sector (upgrading of on-farm and off-farm activities) a plus.
• At least 10 years of relevant senior-level management experience on programs of a similar scope to this activity.
• Proven track record in achieving sustained and scalable results for youth at the systems level, including capacity strengthening of local stakeholders, enhanced linkages between the education sector and the private sector, and increased youth engagement.
• Experience with USAID programs and knowledge of USAID rules and regulations desired.
• Demonstrated understanding of the regional drivers of violence and youth’s participation therein, and experience working with communities where USAID/host country government seek to counter violent extremism; and
• Strong management skills, leadership qualities, interpersonal skills, cross-cultural skills, and written and oral presentation skills.

Language:

The candidate must be professionally proficient in written and spoken English. Excellent communication skills in English are required.

Applications submitted without a resume will not be considered.

Due to the volume of applications submitted, only finalists will be notified.  No phone calls, please.

Only if technical difficulties occur, applicants may send their resumes to: [email protected], listing “COP-BGD-IYA” in the Subject Line.  

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EDC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits. Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.