Regional Specialist/Engagement Manager

Casals & Associates, Inc. (Casals), a DynCorp International LLC company, is seeking Regional Specialist/ Engagement Manager (RS) candidates for an anticipated United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded program in Côte d'Ivoire. Through rapid-response, small-grant-focused activities, the program aims to support the peaceful political transition in Côte d'Ivoire and neighboring countries through support for citizen participation in the transition process and promotion of civic engagement through small community development projects, and other interventions to lay the foundations for longer-term development.

The RS works under the supervision of the Chief of Party (COP) with technical direction from the USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) Country Representative and is responsible for providing analysis of the context in the region and making recommendations for short-term, high impact in-kind activities in countries neighboring Cote d’Ivoire. The RS may be engaged to manage the execution of an in-kind grants program and must be capable of responding to rapidly evolving and fluid programming priorities by making decisions and solving problems in short time frames while ensuring operational and program integrity. S/he manages relations with relevant government, civil society, and international organizations, while providing oversight of grant and non-grant activities. The RS works with program and operations staff, ensuring proper subcontract and grant designs

Principle Accountabilities JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES • Reporting to the COP and after project start up phase, the RS provides analysis and technical recommendations for stabilization interventions within the West Africa region, especially countries neighboring Cote d’Ivoire • The RS works with staff from the Casals head office in Abidjan and field offices to extend grant making to neighboring countries. If/when grant making extends beyond Cote d’Ivoire the RS will likely supervise a small team comprised of program and operations staff. • If directed by USAID/OTI, the RS will design and execute a plan to extend grant making capacity beyond Cote d’Ivoire and to cover regional and/or cross-border stabilization activities.
• The RS is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Contract and all relevant USAID/USG regulations. • The RS ensures the making of key decisions and solving problems within short time frames. • The RS provides frequent updates on the evolving context across West Africa with a particular focus on countries neighboring Cote d’Ivoire.
• Assures client satisfaction by promoting Casals’ commitment to technical excellence, responsiveness to the client, transparency in grant delivery, as well as flexibility and innovation in all aspects of programming. • Serves as Casals’ designated regional representative coordinating frequently with US and foreign government, civil society, and international organization representatives operating on the ground in countries neighboring Cote d’Ivoire.
• If required by USAID/OTI, the RS provides oversight of grant activities managed from a regional office, including supervision of a small team comprised of program and operations staff.
• The RS is responsible for ensuring appropriate grant design, ensuring that procedures are established and complied with for grant development. This includes: ensuring grant worthiness, implementation, management, monitoring, evaluation, and grant closing. • Contributes to and ensures the (monitoring and evaluation) M&E system is established and followed throughout the area of regional grant and potential cross border activities. • Responsible for ensuring that the relevant staff use, maintain, and upload weekly the Activity Database, and that data is consistent and complete. • Supervises the day-to-day performance of the regional team operating from a satellite office in the region.

Reporting Relationships

Title of Direct Report(s): N/A Title of Supervisor: Chief of Party

Internal/External Contacts USAID Office of Transition Initiatives (USAID/OTI)

Knowledge & Skills • Demonstrated capacity to conduct sound political analysis and develop relevant programming. • Fluency in English and proficiency in written and spoken French required; fluency in French highly desired.

Experience & Education • Minimum five (5) years of experience with complex, high-speed and challenging field operations in developing countries. Experience in West and/or sub-Saharan Africa is highly desired. • Relevant work experience, including experience with a U.S. gov • Experience hiring, supervising, and mentoring host country local personnel. • Operations management experience, including budgeting, financial tracking, accounting, and procurement. • Experience with grant management, preferably in-kind and small grants. • Experience working in developing countries is required, preferably in a fragile or transitional state environment. • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; Master’s Degree preferred.

Physical Requirements/Working Environment • Living and work conditions at the assignment location could be remote and uncomfortable • Long hours, exposure to weather and hazardous conditions • Should be capable of moving on short notice and under adverse conditions

Travel Must be willing to travel throughout Côte d'Ivoire and internationally including austere or potentially dangerous locations.

Please apply at: http://www.dyncorprecruiting.com/ext/detail.asp?dynPR-SWIFT6