Save the Children is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) for the five-year (2022-2027) USAID-funded and LEGO Foundation-funded Early Childhood Development Activity in Ethiopia. The program focuses on increasing the effectiveness of the early childhood education system. The specific objective is to strengthen the system’s capacity to provide, oversee and coordinate continuous high-quality, responsive early childhood development and education, at the federal, regional, Woreda, Kebele and Household levels. This senior leadership position provides overall strategic direction in the design, management, implementation, monitoring and overall quality assurance of the project. The COP will be Save the Children’s primary point of contact with USAID, LEGO, and all relevant stakeholders. This position will collaborate with the Ministries of education and other critical partners to provide strategic and high-level support for effective capacity building at the local level and sustainability of project interventions. The COP will oversee a team of experts and support staff, prepare reports and annual operating plans, align project initiatives with in-country priorities and ensure the program is compliant with USAID, LEGO, and Save the Children’s regulations.

This position is contingent on donor approval.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

• Establish a comprehensive understanding about major policy, strategy and program landscape of ECDE in the Country; identify, develop and undertake viable strategies for successful institutionalization and sustainability of ECDE
• Develop strategic plans, annual and quarterly work plans, and overall management of the program in line with USAID guidelines to achieve project objectives
• Ensure high quality technical leadership and oversight is in place for the program
• Lead team to provide proper coordination and guidance among local government, country-wide initiatives, community partners, NGOs and other key stakeholders
• Ensure the development of strong M&E mechanisms, program monitoring tools and efficient systems to ensure high quality implementation
• Ensure the application of robust evidence and learning system to inform the implementation of the project
• Establish compliance with USG regulations, procedures and Save the Children guidelines
• Play an influencing role through forging strong partnership with major ECDE policy and strategy level actors in the country for enhanced outcomes of the project
• Provide policy and strategy level advisory assistance to MoE and other major ECDE actors
• Represent Save the Children with partners and key stakeholders, maintain positive relationships with USAID, local ministries, and the country office team
• Establish effective communication and coordination with key personnel from the government in order to implement interventions and incorporate country-wide priorities
• Actively participate as a member of the Country Extended Senior Management Team (ESMT), contributing to country strategic plans
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where the project team strives to achieve excellence
• Incorporate SC’s vision and values and full adherence to Code of Conduct principles
• Closely monitor security dynamics in the project areas and report to the Country Director on significant changes in the security context
• Train, develop, coach, lead, and supervise staff, clearly communicating organization, division and department priorities, and how their work contributes to our mission, ensuring that the working environment continually fosters diversity, inclusion, and belonging – supporting Save the Children values

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor Degree or equivalent experience, plus at least 10 years of relevant experience designing, managing and implementing large and complex programs in Early Childhood Development and Education
• At least five years of senior program experience working and living in a developing country; ideally within Ethiopia or the region
• Proven successful experience in ECDE policy influencing and advocacy
• In-depth knowledge of USAID approaches and regulations
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations
• Creative problem-solving skills with the ability to work effectively in resource-constrained environments is important
• Professional proficiency in MS Office suite
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals and teams at all levels, both internally and externally
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering and maintaining an environment of diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience as Chief of Party or Deputy COP
• Prior experience in Ethiopia preferred
• Prior experience with LEGO Foundation

What’s In It for You

• Meaningful work, with a knowledge that you are changing the lives of children all around the world
• A family friendly work environment
• Highly collaborative and innovative teams
• Generous paid vacation days, holidays, family leave days, and sick time
• Healthcare plans including medical, dental, and life insurance
• Retirement savings account with matching company contributions
• Structured and formalized management development and coaching programs for mid and senior level managers
• Extensive e-learning opportunities on a variety of topics offered through our affiliation with several prestigious universities and with the American Management Association, as well as language learning opportunities

Qualified local candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Our work for children and their families requires that we commit—at every opportunity—to work together to identify and dismantle persistent systemic and structural racism, inequality, and any other forms of discrimination in this country and beyond. As an anti-racist organization, Save the Children will not tolerate discrimination in any form—in our employment practices, amongst our staff, in our leadership or toward the people we serve. We stand in solidarity with all people to fight for equal rights, justice, inclusion, and belonging.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children’s policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at the risk of any kind of child abuse. All our representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.