The IRC began its programming in Ethiopia in 2000 by supporting refugees from neighboring countries and Ethiopians in crisis-affected and underserved communities. The IRC currently provides multisector assistance for both emergency response and long-term resilience building in Ethiopia, serving more than 660,000 refugees across 21 camps and over 2.5 million vulnerable Ethiopians in several regions. The IRC provides children, youth and adults with safe, quality educational opportunities that help them learn the skills they need to survive and thrive.

Position Description: 

IRC is seeking a qualified Chief of Party (COP) for the upcoming five-year USAID-funded Early Childhood Education (ECE) Activity in Ethiopia to strengthen Ethiopia’s ECE systems by administering systems strengthening interventions which promote high-quality and responsive Early Childhood Development (ECD) at the federal, regional, woreda, kebele, and household levels. Based out of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the COP will provide overall leadership, management, and technical direction of the project in accordance with USAID rules and regulations. They will closely work with USAID representatives, the Government of Ethiopia (GoE), and other key stakeholders and partners to design and administer innovative and quality ECE project interventions.

This full-time position will report to the IRC Ethiopia Country Director and is contingent on USAID Approval and successful award of the project. 

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership, vision and direction, and define and implement activities to achieve the greatest and most cost-effective impact, aligned with project goals and objectives;
• Develop, review, and monitor in coordination with key project staff, yearly work and performance plans to ensure long-term and short-term priorities are on track;
• Recruit, hire, and manage national staff and consultants as needed to carry out activities; 
• Manage international and local partners to ensure that their performance meets or exceeds technical and financial contractual requirements;
• Report to USAID through both formal and informal debriefings, annual and semi-annual reports;
• Forge and maintain active and cooperative relationships with key donors and stakeholders, including government officials, project partners, other implementing agencies, and related institutions;
• Represent the project and the organization in the public, ensuring the distribution of information about project achievements and lesson learned;
• Maintain a working knowledge of project financials, working with and supporting the financial officer to ensure that appropriate systems and
• procedures are in place and being followed;
• Support project staff by creating and maintaining a work environment that promotes teamwork, trust, mutual respect, and empowers staff to take responsibility and;
• Support implementation of IRC’s security protocols and provide leadership in handling security-related issues. Address local staffing and personnel issues related to security.

Job Requirements

• Masters degree or higher in Education, International Development, or related field;
• 10+ years of progressively responsible work experience in administering education initiatives and programs.
•  Minimum of 5 years of senior-level leadership and managerial roles on a USAID or other large-scale donor-funded projects with an average annual operation budget of at least $2 million or higher.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience specifically with diverse long- and short-term staff and subcontractors particularly in Ethiopia or East Africa. 
• Experience managing complex international donor-funded development activities in challenging environments. 
• Ability to establish strong working relationships with donors, high-level and senior-level national and local government officials, academic institutions, the private sector, and civil society.
• A proven record of excellent management, strong administrative and organizational skills, strategic thinking and decision-making, leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, including being a strong writer and articulate speaker.
• Proven ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
• Excellent leadership skills including strategic thinking, decision-making, oral and written communications, ability to motivate and collaborate with a large team.
• Diplomacy skills and ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams.
• Fluency in English (Reading, writing, and presentation skills) is required.

How to apply:

Candidates who meet the above qualifications; please send your CV and application letter through IRC career site. website

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

• Name of the position you have applied for
• Date of application
• Summary of your qualifications and experience
• Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job
• Please include at least 2 references from current and former supervisors.

             Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply!

 IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.