Overview

The Jane Goodall Institute is currently recruiting for a Chief of Party (COP) for a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Landscape Conservation in Western Tanzania (LCWT) Project in western Tanzania, Kigoma region. The project is focused on strengthening landscape-scale conservation and will be achieved by developing a strategic landscape approach and building upon USAID’s previous and continued support to natural resource management and conservation in Western Tanzania. 

The successful candidate for the Chief of Party role should be a senior-level professional with a proven track record of successfully implementing and managing cooperative agreements/grants in landscape/conservation projects in a remote location.  The COP will be responsible for oversight of the entire multi-million project, and will be required to work with various stakeholders, including high level government and USAID officials. 

About the Jane Goodall Institute

Founded in 1977, the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) USA is an international non-governmental organization that continues Dr. Goodall’s pioneering work on chimpanzee ecology and behavior.  Its mission is to promote wildlife conservation, in particular chimpanzee sustainability, through research, education, and community conservation.  The breadth of JGI’s mission reflects Dr. Goodall’s personal philosophy that the survival of all species, whether chimpanzee or human, depends upon the collaboration of all people.  In 2012, JGI formally adopted an ambitious 30-year goal to protect 85% of Africa’s wild chimpanzee populations in their natural habitats.  In reaching this goal, JGI will capitalize on its considerable strengths and experience gained from working throughout the chimpanzee range, which includes more than 50 years of chimpanzee behavioral research at the Gombe Stream Research Center; 20 years of developing people-and community-centered conservation strategies; impressive expertise in the use of geospatial technology to innovatively map and monitor human and chimpanzee use of forest resources; and a global environmental and humanitarian youth program—Roots & Shoots.

Under its Africa Programs (AP) Department, JGI USA implements community-based conservation activities in Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, and Uganda.  Our Africa Programs partners include, but are not limited to, Arcus Foundation, Disney Conservation Fund, J.P. Fletcher Foundation, USAID, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS), and a strong individual donor base.

The Chief of Party's primary responsibilities are to provide overall leadership, management and general technical direction for the LCWT project.  Key to providing this leadership of the project is ensuring an integrated vision among different components and actors, and a focus on achieving the results defined in the grant. The COP will act as a strategic liaison between USAID/Tanzania, key stakeholders and implementing project partners.

Essential Functions:

Provide strategic direction and overall technical vision:

• Monitors progress in achieving project objectives;
• Evaluates program effectiveness, through the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation instruments, and determines corrective action needed to enhance program implementation and impactful results;
• Oversees the full compliance and implementation of the USAID Cooperative agreement and JGI policies and procedures designed to support the strategic direction of the organization and the program;
• Speaks at global forums.
• Works to build and/or maintain constructive relationships with government officials, project partners, environment sectors, donors;
• Works to build and/or maintain constructive relationships with government officials, project partners, environment sector leaders, donors/collaborators, and others as appropriate;
• In coordination with the Program Director, organizes and facilitates Stakeholder Review meetings and other ad hoc meetings with stakeholders and partners as necessary.
• Visits project sites and provides direction and informs the Program Director of progress, issues, challenges and concerns; makes recommendations; and implements decisions;
• Maintains regular contact with staff and consultants, establishes leadership and personal credibility, and implements and maintains clearly understood chain of authority and accountability;
• Conducts staff performance reviews for director reports and supports evaluations for other staff.
• Works with the finance team to ensure timely, cost-effective, and procedurally correct procurement and transport of goods and services to meet project objectives;
• Works closely with the Finance and Administration Manager in monitoring project expenditure and cash flow. Keeps Program Director apprised of significant variances;
• Ensures accurate and timely technical and financial reports to donor(s) and JGI management;
• Assists in managing grant/project budget within approved spending levels, supports auditing procedures as needed, and ensures grant/project expenses are reasonable, allocable, prudent, and spent in accordance with donor rules and regulations;
• Assists in monitoring grant management, sub-awards, service agreements or contracts while meeting with NGO subcontractors regularly for update, planning, and problem-solving;
• Assists with property and equipment acquisition, disposition, and management in compliance with donor requirements. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in natural resource management, natural or biological sciences, economic growth or other relevant discipline.
• At least seven (7) years or more of progressively responsible international work experience implementing multi-sector landscape/conservation projects in remote locations with demonstrated strong management and coordinating skills.
• At least seven (7) years of strong and demonstrable management experience.
• Demonstrated experience required in leading teams and/or managing an office with a diverse staff.
• Experience addressing gender equality in project sectors is also required, as demonstrated by at least three years of senior-level experience working on projects that addressed gender-related constraints.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and experience building and maintaining productive working relationships with donors, national government, and local actors.
• Proven track record of managing and working through U.S. government funded initiatives and related reporting requirements and funding parameters.
• Familiarity with landscape and conservation in western Tanzania, is preferred.
• Demonstrated excellent communications and writing abilities and superior interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, spoken and written Swahili strongly preferred.
• Relevant previous experience in East Africa, Tanzania and/or western Tanzania is a plus.