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, with a focus on vulnerable and under-served populations.  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

The $40.5 million Integrated Youth Engagement Activity supports South Sudanese youth and communities to develop, promote and strengthen the skills and assets of youth, and to create an enabling environment for the youth to be productive and positively contribute to their communities. The purpose of this activity is to support and empower at-risk out-of-school youth ages 15-29 gain the necessary skills they need to lead productive lives, gain employment, and positively contribute to their communities with following intended results:

• Improved youth access to functional literacy, numeracy, soft and life skills
• Increase youth entrepreneurial, employment, and vocational opportunities
• Increase behavior changes among youth to make positive adolescent reproductive health choices
• Improve social cohesion among youth and their communities

USAID/South Sudan also envisions that IYEA will adapt and/or pilot a Youth Corps Service model as a modality to creatively achieve the activity's stated goal and integrated objectives. Unemployed South Sudanese youth who are graduates from high school and universities, and non-graduates of exceptional demonstrated ability, will be mobilized, trained, coached, and mentored to become Youth Corps Service members. They will deliver specific IYEA-prescribed activities to disadvantaged targeted youth beneficiaries and their communities. The activity will help leverage youth for the youth’s benefit, build a sense of belonging and solidarity, and help to promote peace.

Position Description

The Chief of Party (COP) will be responsible for technical leadership, administrative oversight, and overall coordination of the project. The COP will serve as the principle institutional liaison with USAID and key stakeholders. The COP will manage staff and ensure that the project meets stated goals and reporting requirements, as well as ensure the quality, timeliness, and efficiency of all products and activities generated under the activity. The COP should have demonstrated ability to work with multiple stakeholders and manage diverse teams to deliver impact within agreed timelines and budget.

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

Education:

Master’s degree in Education, Public Administration, International Development or a related field, or comparable number of years of professional experience corresponding to this position.

Skills and Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in education and/or youth development or directly related field;
• At least 5 years of relevant management, supervisory, or technical experience working with programs that are of a similar scope to this activity;
• Demonstrated success in managing complex international programs in a context similar to South Sudan;
• Experience with USAID programs and knowledge of USAID rules and regulations desired;
• Strong leadership, administrative, management, presentation, reporting, and communication (both oral and written) skills and the ability to implement projects with diverse subject matter;
• Demonstrated experience of successful interactions, coordination and partnerships with a variety of stakeholders (host government, US and international donors, youth, private sector, etc.) desired;
• Ability to perform at a high level and apply diplomacy skills with a wide range of stakeholders (i.e., USG embassy personnel, host-country Ministry officials, local education and youth agencies and centers, private sector, donors, youth beneficiaries);
• Demonstrated ability to work in an ambiguous and rapidly evolving environment, must be comfortable with constant change of local leadership / partners, and multiple, competing priorities;
• Experience working in youth, workforce development, social behavioral change or non-formal education desired;
• Experience working in South Sudan required.

Language:

Fluency in English required. Arabic language ability, a plus.

EDC is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer 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, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.