Kyrgyzstan: Chief of Party, Nutrition

Strengthening Partnerships, Results and Innovations in Nutrition (SPRING) is a six-year cooperative agreement (2011-2017) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide state-of-the-art technical support and facilitate country-led, regional, and global programs to improve the nutritional status of women and children. The SPRING implementation team consists of JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., Helen Keller International, the International Food Policy Research Institute, Save the Children (SC), and The Manoff Group.

USAID/Kyrgyz Republic has provided field support funding to the SPRING Project to reduce stunting through evidence-based interventions focusing on women and children within the Feed the Future zone of influence, with a clear pathway to national scale-up, and building capacity at the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture level in support of nutrition-centered policy and decision-making. This Chief of Party for the SPRING/Kyrgyz Republic will be based in Bishkek and will lead the country program in its final year, from June to September 2017 (with the possibility of an extension).

Essential Duties, Responsibilities and Impact

Programmatic (40%)

• Develop, guide and oversee all aspects of technical and operational project management for the SPRING/Kyrgyz Republic country program.
• Develop and implement an overall project framework in SPRING areas of operation, with particular regard to the USAID/Kyrgyz Republic priorities for SPRING.
• Lead the overall planning, coordination and technical direction of activities, including strategic planning, work plan and budget development.
• Oversee all program activities, including routine data collection, and assess these activities for cost effectiveness.
• Oversee the results reporting to monitor the project’s performance, including preparing quarterly, annual and other ad hoc reporting to USAID and SPRING.
• Ensure that activities are implemented in compliance with the requirements of USAID and SPRING rules and regulations.

Management (40%)

• Manage relationships with donors, clients, partners, stakeholders and SPRING/HQ and other SPRING partners in-country. Coordinate and provide technical assistance to in-country partner organizations.
• Represent SPRING in regional and national forums. Communicate program results and create a supportive working environment.
• Oversee and manage technical consultants hired by SPRING.
• Ensure project performance to meet results and deliverables in the project framework and take any corrective actions as necessary.
• Build high performance team, which will deliver results and changes for children. Guide and support staff in their development, planning succession, and taking prompt action to address issues of underperformance and any other issues impacting on their professional conduct or implementing their duties and responsibilities.

Representation and coordination within the organization and other stakeholders (20%)

• Engage with key Government Agencies and other stakeholders in particular to support the implementation of SPRING/Kyrgyz Republic.
• Ensure an integrated and joined up approach to Save the Children advocacy and program work.
• Develop and maintain a detailed understanding of the health and nutrition issues in Kyrgyz Republic including national policy development, key players in government, INGOs, UN and national/regional and local civil society organizations
• Perform other duties as needed, including participating in Save the Children Nutrition team meetings and representing Save the Children to SPRING as requested.

Required Background and Experience, Skills and Behaviors

• Minimum Bachelor's degree in nutrition, public health, social sciences, international development, or a related field, required; Masters, Ph.D., or M.D. preferred.
• Minimum 7-10 years of experience leading, managing and implementing large international development projects in nutrition, health, behavior change communication, community development, food security, agriculture, or other related field.
• Professional experience working in the Caucuses and Kyrgyzstan, preferred.
• Demonstrated success across the whole range of project management: strategic program planning; work planning and budgeting; financial, administrative, contractual management and oversight; relationship management with multiple clients; oversight of program monitoring and evaluation; and documentation of results for USAID-funded programs.
• Superior leadership, management and communication skills to lead a multi-faceted USAID-funded nutrition project. This includes professional experience interacting with U.S. Government agencies, host country governments and other relevant stakeholders.
• Experience working effectively in partnership with staff, collaborating organizations, international donors and agencies, U.S. Government agencies, host country governments and ministries and other relevant stakeholders’.
• Strong presentation skills. Ability to prepare and disseminate project findings, success stories and other documents effectively
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to supervise and mentor staff from different cultures.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft software packages: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.
• Fluency in English required, combined with Russian language speaking, strongly preferred. Additional fluency in Kyrgyz an asset.

https://chp.tbe.taleo.net/chp01/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=SAVETHECHILDREN&cws=1&rid=49...