Chief of Party, LAC Regional Fund for Basic Education, Washington, D.C.

Position Description

About PADF

The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) believes in creating a hemisphere of opportunity, for all. We work across Latin America and the Caribbean to make our region stronger—more healthy, peaceful, just, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable for current and future generations. For over 60 years, we have served the most vulnerable communities, investing resources throughout the hemisphere. We partner with and enable civil society, governments, and the private sector for the greater good of the region. 

Position Overview

PADF seeks a Chief of Party (COP) for a five-year, $30 to $50 million USAID LAC Regional Fund for Basic Education. The COP will oversee the provision of financial and technical support, via a new or existing LAC-focused regional fund or platform, to provide grants and technical support to local entities in select countries for innovative and/or scalable activities that aim to address existing systemic barriers and improve access and foundational learning outcomes specifically for marginalized and vulnerable groups. The COP will be tasked with ensuring the program’s successful implementation, providing project management, operational support, and strong leadership. The COP will be expected to liaise with PADF HQ teams, country offices across LAC, US, regional and national partners, and host country government representatives involved in the project.

This position is based in Washington, DC, with extensive travel to Latin America and the Caribbean.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Management 

• Lead and support a regional team of experts, program managers, advisors, and local staff, contributing to and ensuring a collegial and respectful working and team environment and coordination with PADF Country Directors and PADF technical directors.
• Support the drafting, review, and presentation of quarterly, annual, and other donor reports in close coordination with HQ.
• Ensure project compliance with all contractual reporting and financial requirements of USAID, as well as all PADF policies and procedures. 
• Collaborate closely with Country Directors, HQ program teams, and other relevant staff to ensure partner management, sub-grant administration, and reporting are conducted in a cohesive and coordinated manner. 
• Drive coordination and management of project activities.
• Provide input to high-quality written reports in English and Spanish on program activities, capturing results (outcomes and eventual impacts); ensure this reporting is consistent and meets donor guidance on length and format. 
• Oversee administrative, finance, and operations functions, including human resources, accounting and financial reporting, procurement, grants and contracts, and IT.
• Manage risks to project implementation in coordination with Country Directors in project countries. 

Program Implementation

• Lead work planning, forecasting, and training initiatives. 
• Lead the coordination of program activities according to the approved work plan and in consultation with USAID and key stakeholders.
• Provide expert-level technical guidance on thematic and contextual issues in the region with special focus on education, as well as strategic guidance to the team for the completion of program activities.
• Ensure the implementation team’s compliance with USG and local rules and regulations.
• Monitor project progress, supervise data quality, and obtain feedback from participants, partners, and stakeholders.
• Work with HQ and local staff to ensure financial and programmatic reports to USAID effectively account for project progress and use of funds.
• Participate actively in evaluating, providing feedback, and formulating recommendations that result in subgrants and contracts, in collaboration with the project team.

Liaison and Representation

• In coordination with the Project, Country, and HQ leadership, liaise with USAID, partner organizations, and local and departmental governments to support and monitor program activities as required.
• Build and foster a strong working relationship with key internal and external stakeholders within the partner governments at all levels, focused on collaboration toward the program’s objectives.
• Communicate and coordinate with HQ departments, consortium partners, sub-contractors, and other stakeholders as determined. 
• Other duties as required. 

Competencies

• Leadership - Provides strategic direction that strengthens team roles, risk-taking, motivation, delivering on results, and fosters mutual respect, constructive dialogue, and a positive work environment.
• Problem Resolution - Identifies needs, develops solutions with stakeholders and sees them through completion.
• Team building - Ability to manage and influence, empower individuals and groups to strengthen internal capacities; ability to coordinate and collaborate with internal PADF stakeholders and the headquarters support departments.
• Communications - Ability to communicate effectively with program/technical staff maximizing the positive impact and fostering mutual respect, constructive dialogue, and a positive work environment; ability to communicate effectively in professional events, with media, and other public venues.

Personal Characteristics

• Results oriented - Motivated to achieve and bring tasks to completion. Great at follow up and follow through. Demonstrates a drive and willingness to work hard, with teamwork, communication, and collaboration.
• Interaction skills and empathy - Ability to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.
• Demonstrated flexibility - Ability to innovate within the framework of donor compliance requirements and adapt under unforeseen circumstances.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s level or higher) in education, international relations, or other related fields, or at least 10 years of relevant experience to substitute the education requirement.
• Minimum of ten (10) years in similar positions of increasing responsibility in non-profit or international donor assistance organizations. Prior senior-level experience with USG-funded programs in Latin America required. 
• In-depth knowledge and expertise in primary and/or secondary education, curriculum design, educational psychology, education technology, or similar.
• Prior management of education or related projects, fund management, grant-making, civil society strengthening, and public-sector engagement, implemented with or through NGOs, community groups, municipalities, state and national-level government agencies, and private sector groups.
• Experience leading participatory planning processes of large and complex development programs.
• Implementation of large USAID, State Department, and other international donor grants in high-profile programs demanding attention to operational details and relations between donors, host governments, and local institutions. 
• Track record of successful cooperation with host country governments and USG missions.
• Experience working effectively with and building consensus among diverse actors, including local government structures in Latin America, senior government officials, civil society actors, and donors.
• Capacity and experience to provide strategic input for activities at both the national and international level, and support networking and alliances with other organizations that support project and local counterpart objectives.
• Written and oral fluency in Spanish and English.

More About PADF

PADF is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established by the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1962. www.padf.org

PADF’s core values.“H-E-A-R-T”= Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork.

Diversity. PADF is strong because we are diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. PADF does not discriminate based on ability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal record. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span of cultures, languages, socio-economic backgrounds, and perspectives on the world.

PADF is committed to safeguarding employees and those we serve, addressing inappropriate behavior, discrimination, and harassment. We take an intersectional approach, promote gender equality, and follow our Global Code of Conduct emphasizing our H.E.A.R.T. values. The code covers various aspects, including anti-trafficking, PSEAH (Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment), whistleblowing, and online safety. 

PADF is an Equal Opportunity Employer