Deputy Chief of Party - USAID/Timor-Leste Healthy Ocean, Protected Environment Activity

Palladium Group

Dili, East Timor

Position Summary:

Under the leadership of the Chief of Party (COP), the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) leads technical aspects of the project in compliance with USAID and Palladium rules and regulations to achieve project objectives. The DCOP will oversee project activities and support the main office regional technical teams in developing and implementing innovative coastal marine biodiversity conservation models and identifying and fostering partnerships to implement nature-based solutions that conserve key ecosystems while delivering economic value to local communities and improving local resilience to climate change. The DCOP will provide support to the COP in liaising, programmatic, strategic development, and quality control duties. The DCOP shall have a depth and breadth of technical expertise and experience, a solid professional reputation, interpersonal skills, and professional relationships to fulfill the requirements of the activity.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide support to the COP with strategic leadership and oversight to the activity;
Serve as a member of the senior leadership team of the program and support the COP in oversight of project staff and activities;
Co-lead and oversee programmatic functions, i.e., development of work plans, budgets, quarterly/annual reports, and ensure effective implementation of program strategy;
Maintain effective and open communication throughout the project with COP, USAID, Project Director, Objective Leads, project operations teams, and other relevant stakeholders;
Collaborate with different stakeholders, particularly the Timor Leste government, to foster country-driven, inclusive, locally relevant strategies to improve and assure biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation and adaptation and resource management practices;
Develop and maintain robust linkages between technical teams and monitoring & evaluation and communications teams, to ensure high-quality and timely monitoring and reporting of results and success stories;
Work with the COP and other project staff to continuously refine implementation processes by integrating lessons learned and best practices;
Ensure that program implementation is in accordance with Palladium’s and USAID’s regulations and procedures;
In collaboration with local staff in-country, identify program opportunities and potential local partners as needed;
Serve in an acting capacity in the absence of the COP; and
Undertake other duties as assigned by the COP.

Required Qualifications:

A University degree or higher in international affairs, public administration, business administration, policy social sciences, development studies and/or biodiversity, environment, or natural resource related fields;
Extensive experience in managerial and operational experience, preferably in managing large donor projects involving coordination with multiple implementing partners or institutions;
Extensive technical experience in one or more of the following: developing and piloting the nature-based solutions in restoring mangroves, seagrasses, coral reefs or other ecosystems, advancing climate-smart agriculture, developing public-private partnerships for conservation, developing payment for ecosystem services, bolstering communities’ climate resilience, improving access to climate financing, improving climate information systems, and building national and subnational capacity to establish, implement, and monitoring climate regulations;
Experience working with the Government of Timor Leste institutions is preferred;
Knowledge of USAID natural resources, environment/biodiversity contract management, policies, procedures, regulations and reporting requirements preferred;
Proven ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams;
Experience managing field-based biodiversity conservation and or climate change or ecosystem management and restoration;
Extensive experience in developing activity work-plans, budgets, managing implementation, staff, and short-term technical assistance;
Strong analytical and conceptual skills and the ability to think and plan strategically, ability to manage a diverse array of staff, consultants, and counterparts;
Attention to detail and ability to effectively and efficiently perform multiple tasks and balance competing priorities, often within a required timeframe;
Professional and diplomatic demeanor and conduct, especially during interactions with the client and its constituents, particularly regarding the Timor Leste government;
Experience working in the Asia Pacific region preferred. Experience in Timor Leste a plus; and
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English..