The Chief of Party will be responsible for overall project management, administration, and implementation of the project. They will maintain systems for project operations; ensure that all award deadlines are met, and targets are achieved; oversee project staff; and coordinate and maintain working relationships with project stakeholders, including government ministries, private sector firms and industry groups, subgrantees and/or subcontractors, other development projects, short-term technical assistance providers, and local institutions. They will lead collaborative initiatives to ensure all approaches are sustainable, cross-sectoral, and evidence-based.

Essential Responsibilities:

Coordination

• Work in close partnership with donor to ensure alignment of project with donor’s strategic goals and objectives for Agricultural Productivity and Expanding Markets and Trade, and application of program-wide learning and collaboration.
• Coordinate and collaborate with host government programs and other donor projects to leverage resources and maximize results.

Technical

• Design and lead a technical approach that supports increased use of sustainable and scalable agricultural practices and technologies in diversified crop production, expands markets and market access, and increases trade of agricultural products.
• Monitor project performance through indicators and evaluate program effectiveness and results.
• Apply adaptive management and learning approach to iteratively evaluate program results and impact. Institute adjustments to replicate and scale successful activities and course correct activities that are not yielding desired results.

Administration and Leadership

• Provide administrative direction and technical input on climate smart agricultural practices to project staff, consultants, and partners, including identifying and responding to training and mentorship needs.
• Ensures staff compliance with all USDA administrative and operational procedures and policies, as well as applicable donor regulations.
• Maintain close communication with Winrock home office and USDA to provide ongoing, informal, updates or project progress.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND BACKGROUND:

Education: Academic degree in international development, business, finance, management, or other relevant fields. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of experience managing value chain development and/or complex economic growth programs, including leadership of private sector sourcing.
• Senior level management experience on donor-funded programs is required. Previous COP experience on USG funded agribusiness, value chain, or market system development projects, or equivalent private sector management experience is preferred.
• Experience designing, implementing, and coaching project staff and partners on systems-based interventions required.
• Experience operationalizing the collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) framework in project implementation.
• Experience integrating social and behavioral change communications into the design of training and capacity building programs. 
• Experience developing partnerships with private sector actors aligned around shared value.