Chief of Party, OurFish OurFuture Project Contract Job

Basic Function: The COP provides overall technical and administrative leadership of OurFish OurFuture implementation, reporting to the University of Rhode Island (URI) home office Principal Investigators (PIs). The CoP will maintain a strong and responsive relationship with the USAID Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR). The CoP will establish, coordinate, oversee and participate in implementation of the annual workplan and ensure that quality products are delivered on schedule. The CoP is responsible for timely program and financial reporting. The CoP supervises the Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP), the Senior Regional Fisheries Advisor, the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Specialist, the Communications Specialist, and other project-related positions in the region. The Chief of Party reports to the URI home office Principal Investigator (PI).

Duties and Responsibilities: The COP is responsible for the program’s achieving its objectives and is entrusted with the overall leadership and guidance of the program. For this, the COP will provide technical supervision and administrative oversight for all activities and at all levels. The COP will oversee all field-based activities of OurFish OurFuture in collaboration with the other senior staff, project partners, and the URI home office. The COP supervises the daily administrative requirements of the project and approves its expenditures.

Technical

• ·Provide technical oversight of field operations in Micronesia and Melanesia.
• Oversee the development of a OurFish OurFuture theory of change and associated results chains. Coordinate annual Pause and Reflect sessions.
• ·Responsible for implementation of activities defined in approved annual work plans and ensuring that all program assistance is technically sound, high quality, and delivered on time.
• Responsible for informing and consulting with the URI based PIs on matters above and beyond the approved work plan.
• Ensure program’s strategic objectives and performance targets are fully achieved.
• Oversee program’s monitoring and evaluation and learning (MEL) system, including the MEL plan.
• Act as the primary in-country liaison with the USAID Agreements Officer’s Representative (AOR), the governments of the Pacific Island countries engaged by the project (RMI, Vanuatu, Palau, PNG, Solomon Islands, FSM, and the project office in Fiji), other donors, the private sector, universities, and other counterparts.
• Develop synergies with other donor projects and local institutions in Micronesia and Melanesia. Provide technical support and advise to bridge activities of OurFish OurFuture with other completed and ongoing fisheries related activities funded by USAID in the region.
• Oversee the preparation of and submit written and oral reports to USAID when requested. This includes quarterly and annual reporting.

Finance and Administration

• In collaboration with PIs at URI, lead development and implementation of the Project’s annual work plans and budgets and other tasks as requested by USAID.
• Oversee the development of quarterly and annual progress reports; submit these reports to the USAID AOR.
• Guide the general direction of project partners and oversee the development of their scopes of work.
• Provide oversight of coordination between the project office in Fiji and the six project countries/sites.
• Develop and manage the annual program budget, including tracking of financial and material resources.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of project finances against project progress and outcomes.

Human Resources

Manage and supervise the work and performance of program personnel and contractors, including regional positions based in Micronesia and Melanesia.

Supervise all field-based contract staff and their performance relative to contract terms of reference (TORs) and deliverables.

Develop TORs for local consultants and sub-contracts.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required in Fisheries Management, Natural Resource Management, Marine Policy, Sustainable Development Program Administration and Management or relevant fields of study related to the project.  PhD would be an asset.
• Minimum 12 years of senior management experience required.
• ·Minimum of 8 years technical experience in similar position in fields related to results and objectives of OurFish OurFuture required.
• Proven exceptional leadership in the design, management, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of similar size and complex international donor support projects with skills in strategic planning, management, supervision, and budgeting. CoP or DCoP experience preferred. 
• Knowledge of USAID and/or other donor policies and procedures as related to project management preferred.
• Proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse public and private partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams.
• Technical understanding of coastal management, marine protected areas, coastal livelihoods and value chains, fisheries, including Illegal Unreported and Unregulated fisheries and international fisheries dynamics required.
• Work experience in Micronesia and Melanesia and knowledge of the regional and local political, social, cultural, environmental, and development context required.
• Ability to work collaboratively with government stakeholders, international donors, and local partners at the national and sub-national levels; record of building capacity of local partners.
• Ability to travel frequently in Micronesia and Melanesia as required.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Proficiency in other language(s) spoken in the Pacific Islands region would be an asset. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Authorized to work in Fiji preferred.

To Apply:

Please email Cover letter, CV and three referees to applications@crcuri.org