ThaiNGO

TITLE:            Deputy Chief of Party, USAID Mekong Safeguards

CONTRACT TERM:  Through August 2023 initially, with the possibility of extension

Location: Bangkok, Thailand preferred

SUMMARY OF JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Asia Foundation’s Thailand Office is seeking qualified, talented applicants for Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) of USAID Mekong Safeguards.

The DCOP will jointly lead USAID Mekong Safeguards, an Activity under a unique strategic regional collaboration initiative between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). reporting to the Chief of Party of USAID Mekong Safeguards.

USAID Mekong Safeguards is a five-year project working with major banks, governments, and developers in China, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar on large energy and transportation infrastructure investments to strengthen environmental and social standards and adopt clean technologies in Southeast Asia’s Lower Mekong sub-Region. The program is an exciting opportunity to support new and improved ways governments, financiers, developers, and CSO’s can invest and build sustainable energy and transportation infrastructure. Through the USAID-DFAT collaboration, the size of the Program is $10.6 million.

The Deputy Chief of Party Technical (hereafter referred to as DCOP) should be a vibrant leader capable of managing across geographically distributed personnel, and manage operational, communications, financial and technical administration for a regional program set to bring rapid change in the sector. The DCOP will serve as Chief of Staff, managing all administrative, operations, budget and communications activities at the direction of the Chief of Party (COP).

While the COP orchestrates programmatic strategy, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, partnerships and government client engagement, the DCOP must expertly manage and continuously build quality and efficiency into operations, administration, communications/events , HR and procurement structures and processes.

Though based in Bangkok, responsibilities will be distributed across several countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion, including China,. and potentially, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar. S/he will serve as supervisor, as delegated by the COP and in his absence, to program staff. In cooperation with program staff, the DCOP will also manage relations and processes with TAF administration colleagues in both Southeast Asia and San Francisco, and regularly engage with sub-awardees, contractors, and consultants.

Reporting & Supervision:

The DCOP Technical will report directly to the COP. The DCOP will also supervise certain program technical staff.

Responsibilities

• Oversight and organization of strategic planning output, including development of Annual Work Plans for Year Four and Year Five.
• Oversight and development of Quarterly and Annual Reports as required by USAID and DFAT. Ensure compliance in reporting to USAID, The Asia Foundation, and government counterparts.
• Accountable Lead on all program operational, administrative, communications, budgetary and HR responsibilities and related USAID Mekong Program staff, supported by TAF Thailand colleagues.
• Lead Program staff in organizing all Thailand-based events and high-level virtual conference calls, including Quarterly Consortium Meetings, and TAF led events.
• Manage and oversee the Program’s Communication Specialist; review, revise and ensure high-quality output of communications products, including reports, event invitations, multimedia outputs, and ensuring products adhere to the USAID-approved Communications and Marking Plan.
• Collaborate seamlessly with TAF’s administrative and HR staff to conduct interview, recruitment and onboarding processes for new staff and consultants.
• Manage USAID Mekong Safeguards finance specialist and collaborate with TAF Finance Director to streamline procurement of equipment, firms and contractors.
• Lead USAID Mekong Safeguards program staff to effectively manage relations and disbursements to program sub-awardees.
• Collaborate with TAF operations and administrative staff to process all program travel.
• Build a strong management structure that enables teams to function productively and collegially with program partners and stakeholders.

Requirements:

• At least 15 years of experience in relevant management, supervisory, and technical experience working with similar scope and scale programs is required, ideally with other USAID programs in the energy and/or environmental sector. 10 years or more with a relevant degree, such as administration, operations, public relations, financial management.
• Demonstrably excellent administrative and operational skillset, highly adept with Excel, distributed project management software, strong understanding of cloud-based systems and Sharepoint, and team communication software, such as Slack.
• Demonstrated understanding highly complex development program administration, preferably in a USAID and/or DFAT context.
• Experience in managing programs or initiatives to support regional cooperation or regional policy agendas in Asia.
• Excellent written and spoken English;
• Ability to work in a fast-paced team environment;
• Experience working in Thailand is preferred.
• Previous experience with USAID-funded programs is preferred.
• Demonstrated highly developed leadership, communications and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in English required, fluency in Thai is an advantage.
• International and local applicants encouraged to apply.
• Women are highly encouraged to apply.

Please send a cover letter specifying the position to which you are applying with your resume or CV by email to: poonsook.pantitanonta@asiafoundation.org by June 9, 2021. (Only short-listed candidates will be notified).