Bangladesh: Chief of Party, Feed the Future Nutrition Activity

Established in 1915 with Helen Keller as a founding trustee, Helen Keller International (HKI) is dedicated to saving the sight and lives of the world’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Headquartered in New York City, HKI currently conducts programs in 21 countries in Africa and Asia, as well as in the United States. Renowned for its reliability, efficiency and high level of technical expertise, HKI promotes the development of sustainable, large-scale programs that deliver effective preventative and curative services for nutrition, eye health and neglected tropical diseases. The hallmark of the organization’s work is its proven success in developing, testing and scaling-up health interventions, and integrating them within government and community structures to support and build local capacity and sustainable solutions.

HKI is currently seeking a Chief of Party to lead and manage a Feed the Future (FtF) Multisector Nutrition Activity funded by USAID in Bangladesh to ensure technical excellence in the delivery of all activities.

Country Program Overview:

HKI Bangladesh has a long history and a diverse portfolio of programs and donors. In partnership with the Government of Bangladesh and non-governmental organizations, HKI Bangladesh implements programming in food and nutrition security and eye health, with a particular emphasis on gender equitable and transformative approaches in Homestead Food Production and Essential Nutrition Actions, enabling households to increase production and consumption of micronutrient-rich foods and delivering added nutritional services; capacity-building of health service providers to provide quality nutrition services; surveillance; and diabetic retinopathy, which links diabetics to screening and treatment for diabetes-related eye disease that can cause blindness if left untreated. HKI is one of the key technical assistance organizations in Bangladesh for nutrition, agriculture and food security. HKI Bangladesh also conducts operational research and special studies and has been involved in designing and implementing evaluations of food assistance and other programs.

USAID/Bangladesh plans to invest in a five-year multi-sectoral nutrition program to improve household dietary diversity and reduce childhood stunting, with a projected budget of $20-$25 million over five years. It will layer its innovative interventions within a broad array of Global Health nutrition activities, plus Feed the Future and Food for Peace agriculture activities, building on and scaling up previously successful nutrition pilot activities. HKI is submitting an application to prime this new FtF project over a five-year period, with the following objectives:

1. Improved nutrition and health of children under five years of age, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescents (10-18 years old);

2. Increased availability of and access to foods rich in micronutrients and protein among rural households; and

3. Improved access to and adoption of WASH practices.

The overall objective of the Activity is to improve the nutritional status of the Feed the Future Zone of Influence population, especially women and children.

Scope of the Position:

Reporting to the HKI Country Director, Bangladesh, the Chief of Party serves as the representative and senior project management specialist for the FtF Nutrition Activity. S/he is responsible for the overall leadership, management and operations of the project and will ensure coordination with the donor and all partners.

Specific Responsibilities:

· Provide overall leadership, management and direction to ensure successful implementation of the program and achievement of program objectives.

· Ensure that all technical areas of the project are integrated and delivered at high quality, making the most effective and efficient use of all project resources.

· Oversee strategic planning and work plan and budget development, quarterly reporting and other requirements, including periodic “success stories.”

· Provide management expertise to foster technical and programmatic decisions in coordination with the HKI Country Director, Bangladesh, and donor.

· Ensure program is well monitored, data collected, analyzed and reported to appropriate stakeholders.

· Ensure all program deliverables are successfully completed.

· Ensure that activities are implemented in compliance with the requirements of USAID and HKI rules and regulations.

· Communicate program results and create a supportive working environment.

· Manage and oversee performance of team members.

· Supervise the project team leaders including the Deputy Chief of Party, Technical Advisors, Finance and Administration Managers, and other staff as appropriate.

· Manage relationships with donors, beneficiaries, implementing partners and other stakeholders.

· Manage national level relationships with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and other GOB partners.

· Represent the project at meetings and other functions with other cooperating agencies, collaborating partners, senior government officials and donor agencies.

· Work closely with the Finance and Administration Managers to develop and monitor appropriate budgets to support technical activities.

Qualifications:

· Master’s degree in development studies, international relations, agriculture, nutrition, public health or related field; plus

· Minimum of ten years of progressively increasing management responsibility in international development projects, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

· Prior experience managing USAID-funded assistance projects of a similar size and scope in developing countries; experience managing multi-sectoral projects including agricultural development and maternal child health and nutrition.

· Proven leadership skills, plus demonstrated experience recruiting, developing, and managing staff.

· Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.

· Experience managing programmatic and financial reporting requirements.

· Excellent oral and written English language skills, including the ability to quickly synthesize complex technical and programmatic issues into concise communications and develop high quality reports.

· Computer literate in use of word-processing and spreadsheets; experience in statistical software, data analysis and interpretation is highly desirable

· Experience working within the Bangladeshi or South Asian development context is a strong plus.

· Ability to travel extensively within the country and internationally, as required.

Employment is contingent upon USAID award. The initial contract is for two years with the possibility of renewal.

To Apply:

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to HKI.Recruitment@hki.org noting the job title in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.