Chief of Party – Resilience of Haiti and Advancement of the Agricultural Sector (HRASA) – Haiti

Project description:

USAID Feed the Future Haiti Resilience and Agriculture Sector Advancement (HRASA) is a 5-year activity implemented by DAI. The activity is currently in its first year of implementation. HRASA builds on decades of USAID investment in the Haitian agricultural sector and catalyzes the ingenuity and innovation of Haitian market system actors to transform agricultural market systems so that they are more competitive, inclusive and resilient, thereby advancing Haiti’s food security, sustainable economic development, and the journey towards self-reliance.

HRASA’s overarching goal is to increase the resilience of individuals, households and communities through strengthened, functional and inclusive market systems. While Objective 1 activities focus on improving the efficiency/effectiveness of existing market system actors, Objective 2 aims to stimulate and scale up PSEs and investments in agricultural market systems . Finally, Objective 3 targets subsistence farming households, building their capacity to participate in market system opportunities emerging from Objectives 1 and 2 activities.

Purpose of the role:

The Project Manager (COP) is based at the main project office in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, with frequent travel to the regional office in the south, Port-au-Prince and field visits. The team leader (COP) provides the overall technical and administrative direction and expertise for the project. The COP serves as the primary liaison with USAID/Haiti on managerial and technical matters as well as liaison with other implementing partners, donors, and key stakeholders (local and international). The COP must have a demonstrated ability to work in complex environments and manage diverse and substantial teams to achieve impact.

Objectives and Missions:

• Provide technical and managerial leadership on agricultural market systems development (MSD), resilience building, food security and economic development.
• Lead the vision and resources to meet the various components of the business, ensuring a cohesive technical approach implemented in accordance with HRASA business objectives. Manage and ensure work plan, contract deliverables (including inputs from sub-contractors and consultants) and quarterly reports are on time and of high quality.
• Lead HRASA activity to achieve successful and impactful results and high customer satisfaction, reflected in CPAR scores/narratives and award fee determination.
• Serve as primary liaison and maintain productive relationships with USAID, key government departments, private sector entities, and other donor-funded programs.
• Provide timely and accurate reporting to USAID on all program areas.
• Ensure that the HRASA Technical and Operational Implementation Principles are applied to all internal and external activities conducted under these Terms of Reference and are implemented and compliant with Resilience Programming Principles, Policies and DAI and USAID regulations.
• Ensure that key gender and social inclusion cross-cutting considerations are integrated into project activities.
• Directly supervise the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), Director of Finance and Operations (DFO), Strategic Communications Manager and Security Manager.
• Build the capacity of local staff in technical and managerial skills, including coaching and mentoring the local DCOP.
• Supervise and guide DFO in establishing and maintaining administrative and organizational structures.
• Supervise the MEL Director in the development of the Activity Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan (AMELP) and ensure that all performance indicators and illustrative activities are aligned with project objectives.
• Oversee budget preparation and provide overall financial oversight to ensure strict budget accountability.
• Coordinate with the HQ project management team to ensure accurate forecasts of project financial performance through careful planning (pipeline budgets, etc.) and financial management.
• Coordinate regularly with DAI headquarters.

Qualifications required:

• Advanced degree in a relevant field such as economics, agriculture, rural development, international affairs, business administration or other related field;
• At least 10 years of demonstrated project leadership experience in international development, preferably in the LAC region, with USAID COP experience required;
• Proven experience working in teams and fostering collaborative partnerships;
• Technical expertise required in at least one of the following areas: market systems and private sector engagement, agriculture and value chain development, resilience, food security and livelihoods, and gender equality and social inclusion ;
• Demonstrated experience in overseeing monitoring, evaluation, collaboration and learning (CLA) and adaptive management;
• Ability to work and adapt quickly in a complex and volatile environment;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French;
• Demonstrated experience in implementing development programs in Haiti required.

Reporting: The Head of Party will report to the Head Office Project Team Director (PTD)