Deputy Chief of Party – Washington DC, United States

Action Against Hunger seeks a dynamic Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for the upcoming five-year, USAID-funded Feed the Future Global DASHED Activity. This initiative aims to enhance access to safe and nutritious foods by improving business and technical practices related to food processing, strengthening market linkages, and facilitating knowledge sharing. The position will be based in Washington, D.C., with significant travel to project sites across multiple countries. The project is anticipated to start in 2025.

Purpose:

The DCOP supports the Chief of Party (COP) in leading the project, focusing on the strategic vision, high-quality delivery, and compliance with USAID guidelines and Action Against Hunger’s operational policies. This role is crucial in managing the project’s day-to-day operations and tactical direction.

Engagement:

As a key figure in stakeholder interactions, the DCOP ensures robust collaboration and effective relationship management with a spectrum of partners including government, private sector, and community organizations. This role is essential in aligning project components and diverse stakeholders towards shared objectives.

Delivery:

The DCOP is responsible for overseeing the technical and operational aspects of the project, ensuring all deliverables meet Action Against Hunger’s quality standards and are achieved on time and within budget. This includes fostering innovation and driving the project toward impactful and sustainable outcomes.

Essential Job Duties

• Assist the COP in directing the implementation of the project, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and high-performance standards.
• Engage with senior USAID officials and other key stakeholders to advocate for and communicate project milestones.

• Manage project resources, ensuring adherence to budget constraints and financial regulations.

• Support innovation and the integration of best practices in food processing and nutrition.

• Develop and maintain operational systems in line with USAID requirements and organizational policies.

• Monitor project progress and impact, ensuring alignment with Feed the Future and Action Against Hunger’s strategic priorities.

• Support the integration and prioritization of gender equality, protection and inclusion across all facets of project implementation.

• Support the development and implementation of a strategy to engage local stakeholders, ensuring their insights and expertise are integrated into project planning and execution.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Provide leadership and direction to technical and administrative staff, fostering an environment that encourages strategic and operational excellence.

Fiscal Responsibility

Assist the COP in overseeing the project’s financial management, ensuring compliance with financial regulations and effective resource utilization.

Required Qualifications

Advanced degree in agriculture, business administration, economics, nutrition or a related, coupled with a minimum of eight years of progressive leadership experience in international development, particularly in food security and nutrition programming.

Required Skills & Experience

• Demonstrated success in leading large-scale, multi-country programs with complex stakeholder landscapes.

• In-depth knowledge of USAID funding and its operational requirements, with proven ability to navigate and comply with its policies and regulations. Experience with USAID and U.S. Government regulations is required.

• Strong strategic thinking and leadership skills, capable of motivating diverse teams to achieve high levels of performance and impact.

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, essential for building relationships across cultures and effectively engaging with a wide range of stakeholders.

• The candidate must have at least five years of field experience.

• Fluency in English; proficiency in additional languages beneficial for field operations.