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.   

Project Description

EDC is preparing a proposal for the anticipated USAID Jamaica Youth EMPOWER Activity. The Activity goal is to increase the civic participation of high risk youth, and improve their skills to access livelihood opportunities and contribute to the development of their communities.

 The EMPOWER Activity has two key objectives:

1. Increase civic awareness and participation of target youth in their communities.
2. Improve the ability of targeted youth to access livelihood opportunities.

Position Description

The Chief of Party (COP) will serve as the individual bearing primary responsibility for technical aspects of project performance, including design and advice on methods, and will provide central oversight of project implementation, maintain acceptable standards of quality for tasks assigned, and oversee the long-term expatriate and local staff as well as short-term experts. The COP ensures compliance with all terms of the project contract/agreement and all relevant EDC and donor rules and regulations.

Illustrative responsibilities may include the following:

• Manage the country office, including supervision of Jamaica-based staff;
• Manage USAID Mission relations and engage stakeholders such as but not limited to key government ministries, private sector actors, academic institutions, faith-based organizations, and civil society actors;
• Work with EDC home office and local office staff to identify technical specialists/consultants for short-term technical assistance to meet the objectives of the project;
• Ensure gender equity and social inclusion as a principle across programming and among staff;
• Ensure project activities integrate the Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach;
• Supervise local sub-awards to ensure quality of implementation as well as capacity building toward receiving direct USAID funding;
• Coordinate, as requested by USAID/Jamaica with USAID and other donor partner organizations and activities, in aligning partnerships and programming, and contributing to a learning agenda;
• Supervise the management of activity-level implementation, monitoring and evaluation, adaptive program management, and deliverables that meet an agreed-upon work plan;
• Advise and educate other partners/USAID teams/local and national stakeholders on policies and services offered by the project;
• Assure compliance with contract provisions, including annual work plans and other reports; and
• Transfer knowledge to local staff.

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

Education:

Master’s degree management, organizational development, international development, social science, or a related field (or career/experience equivalent).

Skills and Experience:

• At least 8 years of experience with youth development programming, Positive Youth Development (PYD), demand-driven training, soft skills development, human resource management, MSME and livelihoods strengthening, financial inclusion or related fields, preferably in developing countries;
• Senior Management experience on a USAID-funded project, highly preferred;
• Experience implementing programs in the region, preferably in Jamaica;
• Experience engaging with and collaborating with Jamaican government and private sector stakeholders;
• Demonstrated experience integrating gender equality and social inclusion into development projects;
• Financial management experience, including budgeting, financial management (tracking, reporting, and accounting), and procurement;
• Extensive technical expertise in youth and workforce development and/or civic engagement of youth living in highly vulnerable and violence-affected communities;
• Proven experience in project management and organizational development, and monitoring and evaluation to ensure adequate liaison with USAID/Jamaica and provide comprehensive monitoring and evaluation support;
• Proven capacity to manage large complex programs (including subcontracts) in a multi-cultural environment and providing consulting services in helping clients analyze problems, devise solutions and adopt solutions thereto is essential; and
• Superior project management and capacity building skills, with proven experience strengthening local partners, staff, and other stakeholders.
• Outstanding strategic planning and management skills, exceptional communications and presentation skills, fluency in the English language, strong teamwork and effective cross-cultural interpersonal skills, and extensive technical expertise in workforce development and labor market efficiency reforms; and
• Professional excellence, excellent writing ability, and demonstrated ability to resolve sensitive and complicated work issues with senior high-level country counterparts, donor representatives, and senior-level staff.

Language:

Fluency in English is required.

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

EDC 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.