Pact seeks an Chief of Party (COP) for the anticipated USAID-funded Lake Malawi Fisheries Conservation Project, which seeks to build on over three decades of work focused on addressing threats to the biodiversity and natural resources of Lake Malawi that are important to the economic resilience and food security of Malawians as well as global conservation efforts. The new activity aims to strengthen economic, regulatory, and social governance mechanisms that effectively conserve the exceptional biodiversity of Lake Malawi and deliver sustainable, profitable, and equitable wild-caught fisheries in priority areas of the Lake.​ This is anticipated to be a five-year activity (2024-2029). This is a Malawi-based local position open to Malawian nationals and individuals with legal authorization to work in Malawi without employer sponsorship. As this is a Key Personnel position, the candidate is subject to approval by USAID. This position is contingent upon project award.

Key Responsibilities

The COP will be responsible for the overall leadership and oversight of the program. S/he will serve as the primary liaison to USAID, the Government of Malawi, and other project stakeholders. The COP will provide technical and strategic oversight of project implementation and management.

The specific duties to be carried out by the successful candidate are listed:

• Provide technical leadership to ensure high quality programming to achieve project results; ensure that the technical assistance provided by the project is effective and sustainable.
• Responsible for the overall quality control and the timeliness of all required deliverables.
• Oversee development, implementation, monitoring and reporting on all work plans and budgets.
• Responsible for Quarterly and Annual reports, Annual work plans, Performance Indicators, Financial reports, and regular results reporting as needed.
• Manage project budget to meet expected results, ensuring cost-effective use of resources in compliance with USAID and Pact rules and regulations.
• Oversee project monitoring and evaluation; ensure that project impact reporting requirements are met.
• Ensure close coordination with other relevant initiatives/programs in country.
• Ensure effective application of internal controls, US Government, and Pact policies and procedures.
• Represent Pact at conferences, working groups, and meetings to support Pact’s thought leadership in natural resource management, livelihoods, governance, and capacity development programming in Malawi and the region.
• Supervise and coordinate the sub-grant management process, including advice on assessing the programmatic potential of grants and strengthen appropriate procedures for project funds.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity building to local partners for delivery of interventions, and overall achievement of objectives and targets.
• Ensure compliance with all donor and Pact policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Basic Requirements

• Master’s degree and 11+ years (or Bachelor’s and 13+ years) relevant experience or equivalent combination of education in a relevant field such as environmental science or management, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, natural science, or other relevant field with bias towards fisheries. Master’s strongly preferred.
• 6 years of management experience in freshwater fisheries, biodiversity conservation, or natural resource management – preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa. This included direct supervision of staff, program management, and technical leadership.
• Expertise in project management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and natural resource management approaches and principles.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi‐million-dollar donor-funded complex projects.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and sustain professional relationships, and to work collaboratively with host government agencies, civil society, and community-based organizations, and other donors
• Experience managing USAID contracts or cooperative agreements.
• Ability to respond to changing situations as well as diverse stakeholders and government partners in a flexible manner.
• Proven track record of effective and convincing negotiation skills.
• Ability to produce exceptional quality deliverables with sustainable impact and a strong commitment to work.
• Demonstrated management skills, including relevant experience in direct supervision of professional Malawian and international staff.
• Strong organizational skills including task and time management.
• Ability to live, work, and travel within Malawi without employment sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical Director and/or COP experience, biodiversity conservation or natural resource management projects is strongly preferred.
• Experience implementing or managing USAID sustainable landscapes, natural resource management and/or biodiversity programs.
• Experience supporting local organizations implementing biodiversity conservation, natural resource management and/or climate change programs.
• Knowledge of USAID policies and procedures preferred.

Pact is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, citizenship status, genetic information, matriculation, family responsibilities, personal appearance, credit information, tobacco use (except in the workplace), membership in an employee organization, or other protected classifications or non-merit factors.
At Pact, we recognize your impact, offer you opportunities and support your total well-being. Our comprehensive benefit offerings may include healthcare, retirement (8.8% to 13% based on service tenure) and savings plans, paid time off, disability and life insurance programs, learning and development opportunities, wellness programs as well as other optional benefit elections .
With the continuing impacts of COVID-19 around the world, we are taking action to protect the health and well-being of our colleagues and maintain the safety of the communities where we operate. Pact seeks an environment free from COVID-19 and prefers all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Attestation of vaccination status will be required for employment with Pact. Unvaccinated employees may be subject to additional health and safety requirements to include any federal, state and/or client restrictions.