World Vision is an international Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation working in almost 100 countries world-wide to create lasting change in the lives of children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice.

Chief of Party, USDA McGovern-Dole

Job Type

Contract

Qualification

BA/BSc/HND

Experience

10 years

Location

Nairobi

Job Field

Agriculture / Agro-Allied , Project Management

Job Summary

This activity is a 5-year program worth approximately USD $25 to $32 million. The project is expected to start in October 2026 and this position is contingent upon funding and donor approval. The COP will lead overall vision, technical expertise and administrative leadership for the program and services as the project’s representative for USDA, the government of the country of implementation and other key stakeholders. To accomplish this, the COP will lead a team of technical experts and support staff ensuring adherence to USDA regulations and World Vision policies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

25% Oversee the technical aspects of the project, including planning, implementation, project results, and deliverables, in accordance with the project work plan. Ensure clarity regarding plans and priorities, and foster effective collaboration across the project team, which comprises staff from partner organizations.

End Results

Timely, efficient program implementation

35% Build and maintain productive working relationships with USDA, project partners, and key stakeholders while ensuring compliance with USDA requirements, U.S. government regulations, and World Vision’s policies and procedures. Serve as the primary liaison among all project stakeholders.

End Results

Effective working relationships with engaged stakeholders

20% Manage the project’s operational, financial, and administrative priorities; direct the planning and budgeting processes; design and oversee an annual project. Facilitate the preparation of project deliverables, including annual work-plans, quarterly and annual reports, final project report, project activity updates, and other project-related communication and reporting materials in accordance with USDA deadlines and guidelines.

End Results

Budget within spending limits and at projected spending levels. Program activities compliant with donor requirements. Accurate, comprehensive reports submitted to donor.

15% Supervise a team of technical staff and ensure clear roles, responsibilities, and lines of communication are maintained among the team members. Provide guidance and mentoring to managers and staff to achieve project goals and develop national leadership capacity. Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies.

End Results

Empowered, engaged staff

5% Represent the project at high-level meetings, conferences, and other fora. Champion how the project supports USDA’s Learning Agenda and contributes to thought leadership of the education sector.

End Results

World Vision is known to the donor and other stakeholders as a major actor in McGovern-Dole

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND EXPERIENCE

Required Education, training, license, registration, and/or Certification

Minimum of 10 years of professional experience managing and implementing large and complex international donor-funded programs

Experience as a COP, Deputy COP, or Senior Project Manager

Experience in school feeding, nutrition, and literacy programming

Experience in leading and managing large grants in a complex/ fragile environment

Proven ability to communicate a common vision among diverse partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams

High level of interpersonal, technical, and analytical skills, including a demonstrated ability to interact effectively and collaborate with a broad range of public and private sector counterparts and other key stakeholders

Familiarity with and commitment to addressing gender equality in programming, Do No Harm Principles and adaptive management and learning

Required Professional Experience

Advanced degree in education, agriculture, nutrition, public health, business administration, development studies, international relations, or related field or equivalent qualifications in grant management and work history in developing countries

Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in international development project management (USAID program management required)

COP, Deputy COP, or Senior Project Manager experience

Required Language(s)

Fluency in oral and written English is required

Fluency in French, Spanish or Portuguese is advantageous.

• Oversee the technical aspects of the project, including planning, implementation, project results, and deliverables, in accordance with the project work plan. Ensure clarity regarding plans and priorities, and foster effective collaboration across the project team, which comprises staff from partner organizations.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with USDA, project partners, and key stakeholders while ensuring compliance with USDA requirements, U.S. government regulations, and World Vision’s policies and procedures. Serve as the primary liaison among all project stakeholders.
• Manage the project’s operational, financial, and administrative priorities; direct the planning and budgeting processes; design and oversee an annual project. Facilitate the preparation of project deliverables, including annual work-plans, quarterly and annual reports, final project report, project activity updates, and other project-related communication and reporting materials in accordance with USDA deadlines and guidelines.
• Supervise a team of technical staff and ensure clear roles, responsibilities, and lines of communication are maintained among the team members. Provide guidance and mentoring to managers and staff to achieve project goals and develop national leadership capacity. Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies.
• Represent the project at high-level meetings, conferences, and other fora. Champion how the project supports USDA’s Learning Agenda and contributes to thought leadership of the education sector.

• Interpersonal skills
• Technical skills
• Analytical skills
• Ability to interact effectively and collaborate with a broad range of public and private sector counterparts and other key stakeholders
• Familiarity with and commitment to addressing gender equality in programming
• Do No Harm Principles
• Adaptive management and learning

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience managing and implementing large and complex international donor-funded programs
• Experience as a COP, Deputy COP, or Senior Project Manager
• Experience in school feeding, nutrition, and literacy programming
• Experience in leading and managing large grants in a complex/ fragile environment
• Proven ability to communicate a common vision among diverse partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams
• High level of interpersonal, technical, and analytical skills, including a demonstrated ability to interact effectively and collaborate with a broad range of public and private sector counterparts and other key stakeholders
• Familiarity with and commitment to addressing gender equality in programming, Do No Harm Principles and adaptive management and learning
• Advanced degree in education, agriculture, nutrition, public health, business administration, development studies, international relations, or related field or equivalent qualifications in grant management and work history in developing countries
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in international development project management (USAID program management required)
• COP, Deputy COP, or Senior Project Manager experience
• Fluency in oral and written English is required
• Fluency in French, Spanish or Portuguese is advantageous.