Palladium

Chief of Party – Burkina Faso

Project Overview and Role:

Palladium is seeking an experienced Chief of Party (COP) to lead an anticipated USAID-funded opportunity in Burkina Faso, Chad, The Gamia, and Mauritania to improve the ability of individuals, households, and communities in the Sahel to mitigate, adapt to, and recover from perennial shocks and stresses.

The Chief of Party (COP) serves as the designated lead for program management; provides leadership and strategic vision; and is responsible for all aspects of field management and oversight, including reporting of progress and ensuring quality of activities undertaken and compliance with USAID rules and regulations. They will be responsible for overseeing expatriate and local staff and short term technical experts. The COP will also represent the program to external audiences, including USAID and other programs or donors as needed.

This is a full-time position based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso with frequent travel to other program countries and is contingent upon contract award.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Provide strategic vision; overall leadership and management; and administrative and technical direction for the program.
• Serve as the lead point of contact for the USAID Mission, local institutions, other implementing partners, and other key stakeholders as well as maintaining effective relationships with the private sector and civil society actors
• Oversee all personnel, short-term experts, subcontractors, and grantees to achieve project objectives in a timely manner
• Oversee project office operations in Burkina Faso in line with Palladium polices and processes including human resources, security, procurement, grants, finance and administration, and subcontracts; while ensuring compliance with all USAID rules and regulations and contractual requirements
• Oversee monitoring and evaluation of activities, meeting targets, and adapting activities as needed to achieve program outcomes
• Oversee the implementation of security policies and procedures, and provides leadership in managing security incidents; and
• Foster a collaborative, team-oriented environment that actively solicits inputs from team members and provides opportunities for growth
• Required Qualifications:
• A minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in development and conflict affected or post-conflict contexts. Minimum of 10 years in senior-level roles.
• Experience in multi-country and/or regional programming and managing complex multi-country contracts/agreements.
• Previous experience in one or more of the following technical areas: environmental science, climate policy, economics and market systems development, water resource management and WASH, food security, agriculture and livelihoods, supply chain management, social behavior change strategies
• Experienced in relationship and coalition building with a wide range of program partners including local, regional, and government entities, civil society, NGOs, private sector in the Sahel and/or program countries
• Excellent interpersonal and intercultural skills with demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and diverse staff.
• Experience in the hiring and supervising of host country personnel and ensuring, when need arises, that they secure necessary training required to meet program needs. 
• Demonstrated experience in oversight of security, finance, procurement, and logistics in insecure operating environments.
• Experience working in conflict environments and ability to adapt and pivot as needed
• Demonstrated experience in working with and promoting the equitable inclusion of women, youth, and marginalized and vulnerable populations/communities
• Financial management experience, including budgeting; financial management (tracking, reporting and accounting); and procurement. 
• English and French language fluency required
• Professional Expertise/Competencies Preferred:
• Experience with grants management and/or in-kind or cash grants to local organizations. 
• Experience working in the Sahel or project countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, The Gambia, or Mauritania) highly desired. 
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in relevant field.

Company Overview:

About Palladium - Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people's lives.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.