Counterpart International is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) for an anticipated five-year, USDA Food for Progress project. The Food for Progress project has two principal objectives: to improve agricultural productivity and to expand trade in agricultural products.

The COP provides overall vision, technical, and administrative leadership for the project. The COP will manage a team of senior staff to ensure the quality, timeliness, and efficiency of all products and activities generated under the project. The COP will be responsible for communications with USDA, for publicly representing the project, and for liaising with government entities and broader stakeholders.

The COP is responsible for ensuring that implementation adheres to standards of technical quality in accordance with USDA and Counterpart International standards. They will be responsible for the completion of project deliverables.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Provide overall project leadership, management, quality control, and technical direction, while ensuring compliance with donor requirements and regulations and Counterpart policies and procedures.
• Build an integrated vision among diverse project components and stakeholders, with a focus on achieving results.
• Identify obstacles and risks related to implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate adjustments to the home office and donor.
• Liaise with USDA and key stakeholders. 
• Manage and supervise the work of project personnel, subcontractors, and grantees, with a focus on achieving work plan targets and results in a timely manner. 
• Provide mentoring and professional development support to project staff, with emphasis on building capacity of national staff.  
• Oversee field office finances and administration of sub-contracts and sub-awards. 
• Oversee field office HR practices, ensuring hiring, employee evaluations and promotions are in compliance with Counterpart policies and procedures. 
• Coordinate activities between the field office and Counterpart headquarters.  
• Leverage networks, program investments, and project successes to seek opportunities for program expansion and promoting Counterpart’s practice areas. 
• Job descriptions are not exhaustive and the job holder may be required to undertake duties which are broadly in line with the above responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in international development, agriculture, agribusiness, economics, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in international development; Minimum 4 years working on USDA funded food for progress projects.
• Prior Chief of Party experience or equivalent experience leading USG-funded projects.
• Experience supervising teams of diverse staff and demonstrated leadership capacity.
• Advanced leadership, interpersonal, and strategic analysis skills.
• Demonstrated track record working successfully with diverse stakeholders in the private and public sectors to achieve a common goal.
• Demonstrated experience implementing development projects focused on agriculture, agricultural value chains, trade facilitation, and market systems including fieldwork.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and deliver quality outputs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience working in Africa; experience in Kenya is strongly preferred

Language:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English required.

Deadline for submission July 18, 2025.