Chief of Party – USDA Project Funding Opportunity, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS)

Project Summary:

Land O’Lakes Venture37 is recruiting for a Chief of Party (COP) in anticipation of an upcoming United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food for Progress Program that will focus on expanding the trade of agricultural products through strengthening public and private sector stakeholders’ capacity in sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) harmonization and compliance with international standards.

Position Summary:

The COP will provide strategic vision, overall leadership and technical direction to the project. The COP will ensure the project is planned and executed with quality, accountability and measurable impact. The COP will be the primary liaison with USDA and will manage project staff and implementing partners to ensure proper reporting, financial management and compliance. The COP is expected to provide a vision and technical leadership for project interventions.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Responsible for overall management to achieve project results while serving as principal liaison with U.S. Government (USG) representatives, relevant government counterparts and national stakeholders.
• Provide technical direction and leadership as well as oversight of all administrative matters across the program.
• Develop and implement work plans for project activities and all project deliverables.
• Oversee implementation of project monitoring, evaluation and learning activities and ensure that project results are met.
• Supervise development and submission of project deliverables within budget and provide timely and accurate reporting and briefings to USG/Stakeholders on all program areas.
• Ensure project is implemented in full compliance with Venture37 standard operating procedures and practices and all relevant USDA and USG rules and regulations.
• Manage the program team in a manner that is open and respectful, encourages professional development, and solicits constructive staff input.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• An undergraduate degree (e.g. BA/BS) in agribusiness, international development, economics, international trade, business management, food safety, agricultural or rural development, or other relevant field.
• A minimum of six (6) years of demonstrated senior management experience in managing relevant donor-funded development programs.
• Proven leadership skills building and managing cooperative, high-level relationships and motivating diverse teams.
• Extensive experience and/or technical knowledge in designing, managing development projects and activities, particularly related to international trade of agricultural products.
• Demonstrated experience adapting project implementation and activities to achieve objectives and targets as needed.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate, be creative and to successfully lead an intercultural team in development and post-conflict contexts.
• Demonstrated knowledge in plant health, food safety, and / or animal health.
• Ability to communicate effectively, instilling trust and confidence.
• Excellent interpersonal and written and oral presentation skills.
• Fluency in oral and written English.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• An advanced degree (e.g. MA/MS, PhD) in agribusiness, international development, economics, international trade, business management, food safety agricultural or rural development or other relevant field.
• At least 10 years of demonstrated senior management experience managing relevant donor-funded programs.
• Previous experience serving as Chief of Party or Deputy Chief of Party on a US Government-funded project.
• Demonstrated experience supporting the domestication of SPS protocols and/or the SPS Agreement.

The position described above is contingent upon activity award.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. No phone calls will be accepted.

Land O’Lakes never requests money or payment from candidates for any position type. Please report any such requests to Land O’Lakes.