Chief of Party, USAID Advancing Nutrition – JSI Uganda

USAID Advancing Nutrition is the Agency’s flagship nutrition project, led by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), and a diverse group of experienced partners. Launched in September 2018, USAID Advancing Nutrition implements and provides technical support to nutrition interventions across sectors and disciplines for USAID and its partners. The project’s multi-sectoral approach draws together global nutrition experience to design, implement and evaluate programs that address the root causes of malnutrition. Committed to using a systems approach, USAID Advancing Nutrition strives to sustain positive outcomes by building local capacity, supporting behavior change and strengthening the enabling environment to save lives, improve health, build resilience, increase economic productivity and advance development.

The USAID Mission in Uganda provided USAID Advancing Nutrition with a scope of work (SOW) to begin programming in Uganda with a June 2021 to June 2023 performance period. The overall purpose is to support the Government of Uganda to reduce micronutrient deficiencies by improving the quality of diet through strengthening compliance to food fortification standards, enforcement, and monitoring. USAID Advancing Nutrition will engage stakeholders such as the National Working Group on Food Fortification, Private Sector Foundation of Uganda, civil society, regulatory agencies like the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, the Ministry of Health, Uganda Bureau of Statistics, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives to implement and support actions to strengthen food fortification for public health impact. There are three key objectives:
Increase the capacity of the public sector to enforce and the private sector to comply with food fortification standards and regulations.
Strengthen partnerships and stakeholder coordination to support innovations in food fortification.
Strengthen social accountability approaches to promote and monitor coverage and consumption of fortified food.

The Chief of Party (COP) will lead all aspects of the USAID Advancing Nutrition program in Uganda. They are the highest-level project representative in Uganda and will provide strategic technical and managerial oversight to the project. They represent USAID Advancing Nutrition externally and are responsible for coordination with USAID Uganda, the Government of Uganda, other donors, and partners. The ideal candidate will have experience leading USAID-funded projects and experience implementing programing that results in measurable improvements for nutrition. The COP will report to the US-based Director of Country Programs and oversee the Ugandan-based staff. This position is based in Kampala, Uganda, and requires regular travel within the country. It is open to both international and locally based applicants.

USAID Advancing Nutrition is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

The Chief of Party will be an experienced manager whose responsibilities include:

• Primary liaison with USAID Uganda on all strategic, technical, and management matters. Coordinates and is responsible for all award management and implementation tasks.
• Primary liaison with the Government of Uganda; ensures successful client relationship and fosters strategic opportunities for innovative nutrition actions.
• Responsible for ensuring quality control and the overall responsiveness of technical assistance.
• Responsible for all aspects of program leadership and implementation, including: development and management of annual work plans; annual reporting and compliance requirements; overall budget management; and quality and timeliness of technical deliverables.
• Leads project start-up with support from the U.S. Office, including work plan development and budgeting, hiring senior staff, office procurement, and other logistical efforts.
• Oversees at least 3 direct reports, including Deputy Chief of Party, Finance and Operations Manager, and Director, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning. Ensures positive work environment and effective teamwork resulting a high-quality implementation and deliverables.
• Ensures that all project activities are implemented in compliance with the USAID Advancing Nutrition contract, USAID Uganda expectations, JSI policies, and Ugandan law.
• Manages financial resources to ensure compliant and effective distribution of project funds.
• Travels domestically to project sites (approximately 25%), and internationally as needed.
• Performs other duties as needed.

Education: Master’s degree, advanced degree, or equivalent experience in nutrition, maternal, newborn, and child health, or related field.
Experience: 15 years of progressive responsibility working in nutrition, maternal, newborn, and child health or related fields. Prior experience working in Uganda or nearby countries for at least 5 years and at least 5 years’ experience in senior management role leading large, complex public health programs.
Required Skills/Experience:

• Experience managing or leading USAID funded programs.
• Demonstrated experience successfully managing professional relationships with U.S. and local government agencies, ministries, donors, and civil society.
• Demonstrated success in project management, including; strategic program planning, work planning and budgeting, financial and administrative compliance, contractual management and oversight, program monitoring and evaluation, report writing and documentation of program results.
• Technical expertise in areas such as food fortification, child and human nutrition, public health and nutrition, maternal/prenatal nutrition care, food security and nutrition, and/or health management
• Superior leadership, management, and communication skills.
• Preferred Skills/Experience:
• Strong time management, delegation, and prioritization skills.
• Experience opening and closing offices.
• Experience developing and implementing innovative nutrition programing.
• Languages: English fluency required.
• Travel: Ability to undertake field travel (up to 25%)