Deputy Chief of Party

Activity background:

USAID/Zambia has a diverse portfolio with programs in the following areas: Health (HIV/AIDS, Maternal and Child Health, Family Planning and Reproductive Health, Water Supply and Sanitation, Nutrition, Malaria, Tuberculosis); Education (basic education and early child development); Economic Development and Environment (Agriculture policy support, private sector, economic opportunity, energy, environment, global climate change, wildlife conservation, energy); and Democracy and Governance (rule of law and human rights, good governance, political environment and consensus building, civil society).

The Zambia Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Platform (Z-MELP) is an implementing mechanism that gives USAID access to technical and advisory services to design and carry out specialized evaluations, third-party monitoring and a wide array of Program Cycle supports.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Deputy Chief of Party provides senior technical and managerial leadership across the platform and especially on evaluation and assessment deliverables. S/he assumes overall responsibility for the platform in the absence of the COP, serves as focal point for the technical work request systems shared with USAID and manages the overall delivery of work requests within the team. The DCOP will provide guidance and direction for ZMELP staff the DCOP reviews technical products while directly engaging in their development. The Deputy Chief of Party will report to the Chief of Party.

He or she will work with USAID/Zambia's program and technical offices to:

• Scope evaluations and assessments with the Mission;
• Oversee and, when appropriate, lead select evaluation and assessment exercises;
• Recommend analytical methodologies and approaches;
• Advise the Advisors and evaluation teams on day-to-day technical issues;
• Remove roadblocks for evaluators in the field;
• Assure the intellectual rigor of assessments and evaluations;
• Review final draft deliverables;
• Develop and execute against annual work plans;
• Coordinate with USAID/Zambia to scope on-demand MEL support, including performance management, evaluations, data management, and CLA (collaborating, learning, and adapting);
• Assure the quality of MEL services provided by, and actively engage in Capacity Building of, the local core team;
• Enhance both the Mission's and implementing partners' capacity in MEL; and
• Coordinate with SoCha's home office to recruit short-term expertise to supplement the core team when required;
• Serves as the senior face of the project alongside the Chief of Party

Required Skills, Education, and Experience

• Have led/managed at least three evaluations
• At least 8 years of progressively responsible professional experience involving international development;
• Understanding of how MEL and CLA improve USAID's programs;
• Expertise in at least two of the following disciplines: performance management / monitoring; evaluations; data management; capacity building; CLA; knowledge management; and organizational development;
• Advanced degree (or an additional 5 years of work experience in lieu of a masters) in sociology, management, law, public administration, economics, or other relevant social science field;
• Demonstrated experience liaising with high-level private and public sector representatives;
• Proven ability to respond quickly to newly emergent tasks;
• Prior experience working in African cultures; and
• Exceptional written and oral communications skills in English.