Chief of Party

RTI (www.rti.org) is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to conducting innovative, multidisciplinary research that improves the human condition. With a worldwide staff of more than 4,000 people, RTI offers innovative research and development and multidisciplinary services. 

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

RTI International, the International Education Division, is currently accepting applications for a full-time Chief of Party (one position) to support the Early Grade Reading Program (EGRP), a USAID-funded program to improve early grade reading in Nepal. The program works closely with and supports the Government of Nepal’s design and initial implementation of a national education model that standardizes early grade reading in public schools. This position is based in Kathmandu with expected travel to other target districts across Nepal.  

The Chief of Party (COP) provides overall technical, strategic, and administrative leadership and expertise for the EGRP program and serves as the primary liaison with USAID/Nepal on management and technical matters. S/he will be responsible for the overall management and implementation of the program and report directly to the designated USAID Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). 

Primary Responsibilities:

Responsible for task order project development from inception to deployment. Plans, organizes, and supervises the overall activities under a task order. Responsible for task order contract management, configuration management, technical work, scheduling, and managing costs associated under the task order. Ensures that all activities conform to the terms and conditions of the task order requirements, including cost, schedule and quality parameters.

Interfaces with clients, conferring with USAID management on strategic issues to maximize impact and scale, minimize costs, and maximize efficiency and sustainability in achieving task order requirements. Manages and controls funds and other resources for the task order and associated sub-contracts and grants under contract as required. Prepares status reports, budget information and other documentation as needed. Responsible for project development from inception to deployment.

The COP will take a leadership role in coordination among USAID and key stakeholders, and other implementing partners. The COP position requires political gravitas, as s/he will interact with numerous GON institutions and senior-level national/federal-level government officials. The COP is expected to establish strong rapport with key government counterparts to advance partnership on key early grade reading reforms. The COP should also maintain collaboration and partnership with donor and other stakeholders working on early grade reading reforms. The COP will have demonstrated ability to work in complex, politically charged, environments, to work across different cultures, and manage diverse teams to deliver impact within agreed timelines.

Required Qualifications: M.A in education policy, planning, teacher professional development, or related education field required. Demonstrated experience in relevant technical fields such as educational policy, planning, curriculum development and teacher professional development required. Ph.D. or Ed.D. and technical familiarity with early grade reading preferred.

Skills and Experience: At least 13 years of experience in relevant management, supervisory, technical experience working with programs that are of a similar scope or  scale to this program is required (at least 8 of these years must be in a management or leadership position). At least 10 years’ experience in the education sector, preferably in similar development contexts as Nepal, is required. Ample experience in program design, policy dialogue, strategic planning and implementation, education reform and national level quality improvement is required. S\he should be able to respond to changing political contexts and priorities. S\he must also have demonstrated experience and knowledge of capacity development, professional development, and systems strengthening. Experience and demonstrated capacity to build and sustain partnerships to achieve development results is preferred.

Language: The candidate must be professionally proficient and fluent in written and spoken English. Proficiency in Nepali is preferred, but not required. Candidates may be subject to a language verification test.

To Apply: Qualified candidates are invited to apply via email to internationaledu@rti.org by Sunday, January 27, 2019. Please clearly mark “Application for Chief of Party” as subject of the email. Only short listed applicants will be contacted. RTI is proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V.Females and candidates particularly from disadvantaged and socially excluded groups are highly encouraged to apply.