Deadline: 19 February 2023

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) seeks to recruit a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) who will assist the Chief of Party (COP) for the overall management of a program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Resilience Challenge Funds (RCF).

The program intends to establish a Resilience Community of Practice (RCOP) that includes USAID and non-USAID-funded programs working within the Mali Resilience Focus Zone (RFZ) in Central Mali. Using USAID layering, sequencing, and integrating (LSI) techniques, the RCOP will stimulate collaboration among Humanitarian and Development Assistance activities for the purpose of enhanced development impact, cost effectiveness, monitoring, evaluation and learning.  

The position will be based in Bamako, Mali, West Africa  and is open to both national and international applicants. This is position is at job level HG19. The position is a two (2) year contract, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. ILRI offers a competitive salary and benefits package which includes; medical and other insurances.

I. Job Purpose

The DCOP will assist the COP in assuming responsibility for overall program management to ensure achievement of objectives on time and on budget. The DCOP will provide leadership, oversight, and support to all aspects of the program, particularly in the timely planning, coordination, and implementation of program interventions. In particular, the DCOP will promote strong collaboration and cross-learning among USAID-funded humanitarian and development assistance programs and non-USAID funded programs in Central Mali Resilience Focus Zone. The DCOP will work with the Activity monitoring and evaluation manager to ensure development of M&E plans including the setting of targets, progress tracking methods and ensure timeliness in MEL processes.

The DCOP will supervise technical and administrative staff and ensure timely preparation and submission of program technical and financial reports to the donor, ILRI and other program partners. She/He will support the COP in the preparation and management of sub-awards granted to implementing partners and ensure compliance with donor and ILRI regulations. It is preferable that DCOP be endowed with relevant resilience technical expertise and work experience spanning many aspects of natural resources management, livestock and cropping systems. She/He will also possess relevant management, communication, knowledge management and interpersonal skills to support the DCOP to fulfill this role of effective and smooth program implementation geared towards the achievement of program objectives.

II. Key Responsibilities

• Provide support to the overall leadership and management of the project and serve as the Chief of Party’s advisor on all contractual and financial matters with USAID and subcontractors.
• Coordinate closely with the Chief of Party (COP) on all technical matters and under the guidance of the COP, ensure timely coordination of the planning process including preparation of quality program work plans and budgets aligned with USAID and ILRI requirements.
• Support the COP in the preparation and management of sub-awards to CGIAR and other implementing partners, ensuring compliance with USAID and ILRI policies.
• Under the guidance of the COP, help recruit and directly supervise project staff in line with ILRI and ICRISAT policies.
• Manage the implementation and coordination of all events including workshops, visits, technical forums, and conferences.
• Effectively backstop and support long- and short-term consultants.
• Develop and oversee program capacity building, communication, partnership, and knowledge management activities.
• Lead the process of preparing timely and accurate reporting on program interventions and preparing technical deliverables. 
• Support the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) leader to ensure that MEL and Collaboration Learning and Adaptation plans enhances the project’s ability to ensure technical quality and provide feedback for technical interventions. 
• Support COP to develop, manage, monitor, measure performance and learn from partnership mechanisms among programs in central Mali with vested interest in advancing the resilience agenda in Central Mali.
• Oversee the management of ILRI offices in Bamako and Mopti.
• Represent the project in technical meetings, conferences, and coordination platforms in the absence/temporary leave of the COP.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the COP.

III. Basic Requirements

• Master’s degree (preferable PhD) or equivalent in livestock, natural resources management, agriculture, economics, or related area.
• Proven leadership and management skills and experience in support of large-scale, donor-funded international development programs, preferably in Mali or West Africa.
• Minimum of eight years of progressively increasing management responsibility in international development projects including those associated with livestock and crop production, natural resources management or resilience.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and establish effective cross-program coordination, procedures, and management systems among programs, governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners operating in the Mali Resilience Focus Zone.
• Experience managing the monitoring and evaluation activities and assessment requirements.

• Demonstrated flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to perform and collaborate in complex and security sensitive project environments
• Ability to travel within Mali and occasionally internationally,
• Experience working on and leading teams for USAID contracts and/or cooperative agreements and/or knowledge of USAID rules, regulations, and policies.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and French required.
• Malian and West African nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.

IV. Applications

• Applicants should send a cover letter and CV expressing their interest in the position, what they can bring to the role and the names and addresses (including telephone and email) of three referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to the Director, People and Organizational Development through ILRI recruitment portal before the deadline. 
• The position title and reference number: DCoP/687/2022 should be clearly marked on the subject line of the online application.
• ILRI thank all applicants for their interest in working for ILRI. Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• ILRI does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training).
• ILRI also does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts
• ILRI is an equal opportunity employer.

About ILRI

ILRI works to improve food and nutritional security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for efficient, safe, and sustainable use of livestock. It is the only one of 15 CGIAR research centres dedicated entirely to animal agriculture research for the developing world. Co-hosted by Kenya and Ethiopia, it has regional or country offices and projects in East, South and Southeast Asia as well as Central, East, Southern and West Africa.