Party Leader and Deputy Party Leader – Jamaica

Chemonics is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) and a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for the proposed position under the USAID Jamaica Energy Conservation and Resilience (ENCORE) program. The goal of ENCORE is to increase Jamaica’s resilience through a strengthened energy sector that delivers more renewable and reliable energy to more people, including marginalized groups.

The possible objectives of the activity are:

• Increase the availability and reliability of renewable energy technologies to ensure that more Jamaicans, particularly marginalized groups, have access to sustainable and safe electricity.
• Improve the resilience of Jamaica’s energy infrastructure and enhance overall energy security to improve reliability and reduce vulnerability to disruptions, including those caused by natural disasters such as cyclones and floods.
• Work with the Jamaican Government and local stakeholders to develop policies and regulations that create a supportive environment for investment and innovation in the energy sector and encourage private sector participation and sustainable growth.

Head of the party

The Chief of Party (COP) will oversee all activities related to this program and will have overall responsibility for the successful performance of the technical assistance team. The COP will provide strategic leadership and have primary responsibility for all administrative requirements of the contract and ensure that quarterly performance metrics, objectives and deliverables for the project are met. He or she will be responsible for ensuring that the project complies with USAID regulations, the contract, and Chemonics policies. The COP will be the official representative of the contractor and will be primarily responsible for liaising with senior USAID and government officials, building alliances with a variety of companies, organizations, and stakeholders, and leading project teams. This position may be based in Kingston, Jamaica. We are looking for individuals who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Main tasks:

• Provides overall vision, management and strategic leadership to the project.
• Identifies scope and operational adjustments to ensure the project adapts to changing requirements and constraints.
• Supervises and authorizes all personnel.
• Builds effective partnerships with other U.S. agencies, Jamaican partners, development partners, nongovernmental organizations, and a wide variety of other stakeholders.
• Communicates effectively in large public settings as well as with high-level government officials.
• Ensures that managerial, administrative and financial procedures are consistent with USAID policies and procedures.
• Supervises technical managers, operations/grant managers and short-term staff

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required; advanced degrees in engineering, business, or other relevant fields are preferred.
• At least ten (10) years of management experience in implementing energy programs both on the grid and beyond, regulatory planning, utility strengthening and energy sector resilience planning, preferably with experience in the Caribbean islands.
• Excellent interpersonal, diplomatic and leadership skills with proven ability to maintain relationships at the highest levels.
• Proven success in building cooperative relationships with intergovernmental bodies, government officials and other key stakeholders.
• Proven ability to motivate and lead a dynamic team of professionals across diverse and expansive geographies.
• Previous experience in managing large, complex operations in the energy sector and successfully achieving performance objectives.
• Strong preference for previous experience in managing donor-funded programmes in the energy sector and in the energy sector
• Experience in Jamaica or regional experience in the Caribbean, including countries such as Jamaica, Barbados, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, among others.

Deputy Party Leader

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) works closely with the Chief of Party (COP) to provide strategic direction and oversee day-to-day technical activities and project implementation. The DCOP oversees project implementation and ensures that the project meets established objectives and reporting requirements. This position may be based in Kingston, Jamaica.

Main responsibilities:

• Provides comprehensive program, administrative and technical support to the COP and supervises technical staff.
• Coordinates the technical team and subcontractors to fully and accurately implement activities to achieve program outcomes and objectives while adhering to USAID rules and regulations.
• Ensures that the support provided is technically sound and suitable for achieving the activity objectives.
• Builds partnerships with key stakeholders, including local implementing partners, government officials, and USAID.
• Oversees annual work planning, performance management, and strategic communications. Ensures successful collaboration among technical project staff to develop strategies and achieve activity-wide goals and objectives.
• Ensures that lessons learned from project implementation are shared across components and incorporated into quarterly reports, annual reports and the annual work plan.
• Reviews and edits draft reports and deliverables prepared by technical staff.
• Manages the technical monitoring of program partners in their technical activities.

Qualifications:

• At least seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in energy programs, preferably in the Caribbean region.
• At least five (5) years of experience in leading field operations.
• Degree in international development, energy management, environmental science or a related field. A Master’s degree is preferred.
• Proven leadership experience in project management, personnel management as well as strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a team.
• Experience in financial management, including budgeting, financial management (tracking, reporting and accounting) and procurement.
• Experience with activity design, development and implementation.
• Familiarity with USAID rules and regulations, compliance, reporting requirements, and grant administration.
• Fluent oral and written English skills.
• Proven leadership skills, versatility and integrity.
• Regional experience in the Caribbean, including countries such as Barbados, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, is highly desired.