Chemonics seeks key personnel for the proposed five-year, $24 million Economic Recovery and Development Activity (ERDA). ERDA is designed to expand environmentally sustainable, socially equitable and climate resilient economic opportunities in the Newly Merged Districts (NMDs) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province by strengthening and modernizing the agriculture sector and promoting on and off farm micro- and small enterprises (MSEs). The project will be based in Peshawar. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

 

Chief of Party (COP):

The COP will be responsible for providing technical and overall leadership to the program and will serve as the primary point of contact with USAID/Pakistan.

The COP must meet the following minimum set of qualifications:

• An advanced degree from an accredited university in a relevant discipline, such as

         International Development, Business, Conflict Stabilization, Economics or Agriculture.

• At least fifteen or more years of relevant technical experience in an international development setting on similar international donor funded programs in post conflict economic growth programs (preferably NMDs).
• Subject matter expertise with programming in livelihoods, private sector led economic development, agricultural development, value chain development, and enterprise growth.
• Five years of experience as a Chief of Party, or in a similar leadership position.
• Prior experience with a USAID-funded programs in politically sensitive and potentially volatile environments.
• Proven experience directly collaborating with donor and host country government representatives.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills including diplomacy, tact, and the ability to negotiate.
• Strong communication skills with a proven ability to distill and convey key messages that resonate with stakeholders, partners, beneficiaries and a wide range of audiences,  including individuals and organizations.
• Exceptional written and spoken English. Pashto and/or Urdu speaking abilities are desirable.
• Strong computer skills.
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity.

 

 Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP):

The DCOP shall be responsible for program management, administration, and operations, including personnel management, performance management systems, financial management, subcontracts, and timely completion and submission of all program deliverables, including financial statements and reports. The DCOP must be able to assume the responsibilities of the COP in his/her absence.

The Deputy Chief of Party must meet the following minimum set of qualifications:

• An advanced degree from an accredited university in a relevant discipline
• Ten or more years of experience managing multi-year development programs in conflict areas (preferably in NMDs or the region) in areas such as: livelihoods, economic growth, agriculture development, private sector led development, promoting business associations, value chain development, and overall enterprise development.
• Five or more years of supervisory experience, with at least 3-5 years of experience as a DCOP or a similar leadership role with experience training staff and attending to staff care issues.
• Direct knowledge and experience of performance evaluation and monitoring systems
• A strong understanding of both Implementing Partner and USAID policies and procedures with regards to financial management, financial reporting, procurement processes and systems for adhering to USAID awards.
• Prior experience/skills complementary to the technical program description and in a conflict affected environment.
• The incumbent will have previous experience with promoting and integrating gender equality and women’s empowerment into participatory community development programs.
• Proven experience directly collaborating with donor and host country government representatives.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills including diplomacy, tact, and the ability to negotiate.
• Strong communication skills with a proven ability to distill and convey key messages that resonate with stakeholders, partners, beneficiaries and a wide range of audiences, including individuals and organizations.
• Exceptional written and spoken English; fluency in Urdu preferred.
• Strong computer skills.
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity.

 

Senior Agriculture Specialist:

 

The Senior Agriculture Specialist will spearhead all aspects of Component 1:  Agriculture sector capacity enhanced and modernized through strengthening of agriculture production resources. The specialist will assist the COP and DCOP in managing the overall ERDA.

Minimum qualifications:

 

• University degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Engineering, Natural Resource Management, or a related field
• Fifteen or more years of experience successfully implementing agriculture development programs, preferably in NMDs, the region, or similar conflict-affected contexts
• Five or more years of experience successfully promoting increased agriculture and livestock production through a variety of sustainable approaches
• Experience promoting private sector-led growth in agriculture, with experience in improved inputs, contract farming and value chains
• Experience managing large development programs in partnership with communities and in security sensitive and potentially volatile regions
• Experience improving access to agricultural development extension services, capacity building and establishing farmers owned agriculture infrastructure sustainable management mechanisms
• Experience working with water conservation through integrated approaches and expanding natural resources successfully in difficult agrarian environments
• Strong computer skills
• Fluency in written and spoken English, and spoken Urdu and Pashto is desirable.

 

Micro, Small Enterprises and Private Sector Specialist:

 

The Micro Small Enterprises and Private Sector Specialist will spearhead all aspects of Component 2 and Component 3: Micro- and small businesses promoted by strengthening MSEs in both farm and non-farm sectors; and Improved business enabling environment through policy reforms and technical assistance to the GoKP. The specialist will also assist the COP and DCOP in managing the overall ERDA.

 

Minimum qualifications:

 

• University degree in Economics, Business Administration, International Development, or a relevant social science discipline
• Fifteen or more years of experience in MSE and private sector led development, including improving market access, cluster development initiatives, technical assistance to micro and small businesses, strengthening business representative bodies, establishing value chain platforms, business enabling environment, and other relevant interventions
• Experience managing large development programs in partnership with communities and in politically sensitive and potentially volatile environments
• Experience working with the MSE sector in NMDs and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or the region, with expert knowledge of the Pakistani and NMDs MSE sectors’ legal and institutional frameworks, policies and institutions
• In-depth understanding of the regulatory and institutional governance frameworks for the NMDs region of Pakistan
• Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with donors, development partners, sub Implementing Partners, and multiple host-country counterparts
• Strong computer skills
• Fluency in written and spoken English. Spoken Urdu and Pashto is desirable.

 

Finance and Grants Manager:

 

The Finance and Grants Manager shall spearhead all matters related to financial and grants management, financial reporting, subcontracting, and meeting all formalities involved in grants administration and monitoring. The Manager, Finance and Grants will assist with the development of systems and procedures to ensure the effective flow of resources to ERDA and partners. The Manager must ensure USAID expectations are met and programs are successfully implemented.

 

Minimum qualifications:

 

• University degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, International Development, or other relevant social science discipline.
• Ten or more years of experience managing large and complex development assistance (or other large organizational) budgets, including tracking earmarks (line-items), sorting budget data based on formal and ad-hoc information requests, performing routine financial analysis and time-sensitive financial reports
• Five or more years of experience administering all budgetary aspects of a small grants or sub-grants program, where both financial transparency and supportive beneficiary relationships are absolutely essential
• Prior experience or exposure to large development programs operating in full partnership with communities and in politically sensitive and potentially volatile environments
• In-depth understanding of the financial frameworks that govern the NMDs region
• Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with donors, development partners, grantees, sub Implementing Partners, and multiple host-country counterparts
• Able to patiently and professionally communicate complex financial data in simple, straight-forward terms when required, particularly with beneficiaries
• A well-organized, detail oriented team player with exceptionally strong computer skills
• Fluency in written and spoken English. Spoken Urdu and Pashto are desirable.