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Sr PRA/Chief of Party/Program Director

Employer
University of Colorado System Administration
Location
Boulder, CO

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Job Details


Areas of Intereset: Research
Functional Areas: College of Engineering & Applied Science
Department: Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering Department
Requisition Number: 13488
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Employment Type: Research Faculty
Schedule: Full-Time


Job Summary

The University of Colorado Boulder (UCB) is seeking a highly qualified Chief of Party/Program Director for the Sustainable WASH Systems Learning Partnership (SWS). UCB is seeking candidates with strong experience in water and/or sanitation, distinct expertise in systems approaches and systems change, and a proven track-record managing large, distributed project teams. We envision a strong thought leader with experience collaborating with partners from diverse countries and backgrounds to achieve project learning goals and outcomes. She or he should be a critical thinker with expertise in systems approaches, who can enhance learning, and communicate the consortium's vision and findings with USAID and other sector players. The incumbent will work closely with USAID’s Water Office to manage a dynamic consortium of technical partners to develop solutions to the complex challenge of sustaining WASH service delivery provided by local rural and urban systems. The incumbent will facilitate the successful implementation of the project, coordinating with USAID, and working with project partners to refine and implement a learning plan, and aggressively monitor, evaluate, and disseminate learning outcomes from the project. Currently the project is finishing up its second year of a five year program. Candidates should be familiar with the SWS goals and accomplishments to date and be prepared to further catalyze our trajectory of learning over the next 3 years, building off the existing strengths and successes of the partnership.

The position is available immediately, and will continue through the end the SWS program, estimated for completion in September 2021 (subject to availability of USAID funding).

Project Background

The Sustainable WASH Systems Learning Partnership (SWS) is a 5-year, $15M effort that began in October 2016 to help USAID and its partners identify locally-driven solutions to the challenge of developing robust local systems capable of sustaining WASH service delivery. A diverse and dispersed partnership, SWS has a strong emphasis on partnership and learning for catalytic change in the water and sanitation sector. Coordinating with and facilitating interactions among UCB and the seven consortium partners in four priority countries, the project will work to meet the rapidly increasing needs of USAID’s partner countries for sustainable WASH systems activities.

The project is a partnership of The University of Colorado Boulder (the prime recipient and partnership coordinator), Environmental Incentives, IRC, Tetra Tech, LINC, WaterSHED, Whave, and Oxford University. The position is full-time, based in Boulder, CO or Washington, D.C. USA

Who We Are

Sustainable WASH Systems is a 5-year, $15M effort to help USAID and its partners identify locally-driven solutions to the challenge of developing robust local systems capable of sustaining WASH service delivery. It has a strong emphasis on partnership and learning for catalytic change in the water and sanitation sector. Coordinating with and facilitating interactions among seven consortium partners in at least four priority countries, the project will work to meet the rapidly increasing needs of USAID’s partner countries for sustainable WASH activities.

The project is a partnership of The University of Colorado Boulder (the prime recipient and partnership coordinator), Environmental Incentives, IRC, Tetra Tech, LINC, Whave, WaterSHED, and UNICEF. The position is full-time, based in Boulder, CO or Washington, D.C.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

The Chief of Party will be responsible for providing overall strategic direction, management, and technical leadership for the project. She/he will be responsible for overall delivery of project activities and deliverables, and will coordinate closely with USAID to ensure SWS is meeting its intended programmatic and learning goals. The Chief of Party will supervise UCB staff, as well as oversee the full SWS partnership, including partner workplans, budgets, and deliverables. .

The Chief of Party will be responsible for the following tasks.

Coordination and Relationship Management:

  • Lead the engagement among consortium partners and facilitate partners’ efforts towards achieving the SWS learning agenda and project goals.
  • Create a positive environment to encourage partner collaboration towards the partnership’s common goals and learning questions.
  • Communicate and coordinate regularly with partners on progress, including learning, implementation and reporting.
  • Lead SWS engagement with other organizations within the WASH sector, proactively identifying areas for partnership, the sharing of learning, and collaboration; Coordinate and oversee dissemination and engagement activities within the sector.
  • Lead strategic engagements with an external advisory board.
  • Represent and present findings from the project at high-level meetings, conferences, and other fora.
  • Collaborate with the USAID Water Office staff to coordinate program activities, and ensure alignment with USAID expectations.


Program Management, Strategy and Learning:

  • Lead strategic planning and partnership-wide thinking on and learning about systems approaches to improving the sustainability of WASH services.
  • Oversee the development of all implementation and operational outputs and deliverables, including an annual workplan, semi-annual progress reports, and other requirements, working with SWS partners to develop and deliver these.
  • Manage and continuously monitor the overall partnership budget, including oversight of partner budget, and proactive management of project pipeline and finances.
  • Provide timely and accurate reporting and written and oral presentations to USAID on all program areas.
  • Oversee project implementation by both UCB and SWS partners, assure quality deliverables to the client and sector, make site visits to in-country activities, review of partner and UCB deliverables, and monitoring the overall delivery and quality of partner workplans.
  • Ensure adherence to USAID and UCB policies and procedures.


Staff Management:

  • Directly supervise a full time Deputy COP position, a half-time finance position and mentor senior staff and students at UCB and contract partners. Clearly communicate expectations for staff performance.
  • Provide mentoring and support to graduate research assistants and other university students supporting SWS.
  • Manage the recruitment, training, and deliverables of staff and consultants for UCB.


What You Should Know

The position is full-time, based in Boulder, CO or Washington, D.C. USA. We would also consider one or more part-time positions for identified leaders interested in research, learning, and communication across our partnership in specific focus areas such as systems approaches, collective action, and/or preventative maintenance around WASH service delivery.

What We Can Offer

UCB offers competitive compensation packages with growth opportunities. Compensation will be commensurate with previous salary history, personal qualities and experience. Start date for the position is as soon as possible but no later than January 31, 2019.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.

Be Statements

Be Engaged. Be Impactful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

We are seeking a candidate with the following experience and qualities.

Experience & Expertise

  • Minimum ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience managing international water and sanitation development projects/programs, with recognized expertise in systems and systems change, adaptive management, and learning
  • At least 5 years of demonstrated experience as a Chief or Party, or in an equivalent management position within the international development sector (preferably the water and/or sanitation sector) of projects of similar magnitude and complexity including direct supervision of professional and support staff; and assembling teams working on multi-faceted international development programs.
  • Master’s degree or higher in an area relevant to WASH, such as public health, social sciences, environmental management, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
  • Demonstrated ability to coordinate among different consortium members, internal and external stakeholders to identify priorities, set strategic direction and achieve the overall vision of the partnership.
  • Proven skills in strategic planning and thinking, and experience managing complex activities across program partner institutions.
  • Experience with learning- or research-focused activities, translating evidence and data into actionable, practical findings for future programs
  • Prior supervisory work experience managing projects of a similar magnitude and complexity including direct supervision of professional and support staff; and assembling teams working on multi-faceted international development programs.
  • Experience with USAID and knowledge of their operations preferred.
  • Experience overseeing operational, financial, and management tasks and reporting for projects of a similar size/scale to SWS
  • U.S. citizenship or a valid U.S. work permit is an absolute requirement


Qualities & Characteristics

  • Highly organized with excellent verbal and written communication skills, and facilitation skills.
  • Excellent facilitation skills.
  • Strong work ethic and commitment to timely delivery of high quality products.
  • Desire and ability to work collaboratively with others and work toward consensus building.
  • Ability to constructively receive and give critical feedback.


Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

  1. Resume/CV.
  2. Cover letter.
  3. Proof of Degree (this document can be a transcript which shows the date the degree was conferred, copy of diploma, or official letter from the registrar or the dean of the school or college conferring the degree).
  4. You will need to submit 3 references for this position. These individuals will be contacted and asked to submit a letter of recommendation at a later time. This information will be kept confidential.


The position will remain open until filled.

Posting Contact Name: Karl Linden

Posting Contact Email: karl.linden@colorado.edu

The University of Colorado is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer

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Organization

Read our Diversity Profile The University of Colorado is the third largest employer in the state of Colorado and plays a profound role in the lives of individuals, businesses and communities throughout the state, across the country and around the world. Nearly 500,000 alumni lead the way in business, science, the arts, health care and their communities, and they’re joined by some 15,000 more each year.UC aerial view

Founded in 1876, the University of Colorado now includes four campuses: CU BoulderCU Denver, CU Colorado Springs and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. The University of Colorado is recognized as a national leader in teaching and research excellence, with campuses offering more than 300 unique degree programs.

University of Colorado campuses are consistently ranked nationally and regionally by U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges Rankings. A total of 14,479 degrees in were awarded in 2015-16 and the total enrollment among CU’s four campuses during the fall 2016 semester was 63,202.

UC buffaloIn FY 2015-16, CU garnered $924 million in sponsored research awards, which support research related capital improvements, scientific equipment and salaries for research and support staff. In the past year alone, CU Technology Transfer registered 275 invention disclosures, 112 new patent filings and 193 follow-on filings. Five new companies were formed based on CU technology.

 

Our outstanding staff and faculty make us who we are. Notable honors and awards received include:  

  • Five Nobel Laureates
  • One Pulitzer Prize recipient
  • Nine MacArthur fellows
  • Twenty-four recipients of the Hazel Barnes Prize
  • Two Carnegie Foundation Professor of the Year honorees

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