Creative Associates is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) to lead the anticipated USAID-funded Zambia Foundational Learning Activity, which will support the delivery of foundational learning in the early grades to improve learning outcomes.

Position Summary: 

The Chief of Party will provide overall technical leadership and in-country management of the program, overseeing the work of long-term staff and short-term experts and ensuring compliance with US government rules and regulations. The COP will also take the lead in coordinating with USAID representatives, the Government of Zambia, and other implementing partners. 

• Oversee technical implementation and operational management of the activity.
• Supervise activity implementation and ensure the activity meets stated goals and reporting requirements.
• Serve as primary liaison to USAID, implementing partners, and key education stakeholders in country (Ministry of Education), including government officials, civil society organizations, and other donor-funded implementing partners.
• Determine annual priorities, develop work plans, and ensure program responds to changing conditions and operating environments, in conjunction with USAID and Creative Headquarters.
• Oversee and ensure technical soundness in overall approach and project activities; ensure that GESI principles and local capacity strengthening are fully integrated into implementation.
• Oversee project operational, financial, and administrative systems and processes, ensuring streamlined and compliant project management.
• Establish and foster collaborative partnerships with organizations working in education, youth development, and related subjects; oversee the coordination of implementing partners.
• Supervise, mentor, and manage a diverse program team to deliver impact within agreed timelines.
• Other duties as assigned

• Master’s degree from an accredited university in public administration, public policy, education, political science, international development or a relevant field. 
• Minimum 10 years of experience designing and implementing education programs of similar scope and scale.
• Minimum five years of progressively increasing management experience (COP, DCOP, or equivalent) on donor-funded projects in the education sector; USAID experience preferred.
• Experience and expertise in scaling education programming and implementing remedial education interventions.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of relevant USAID policies and strategies, including USAID’s Education Policy; Localization Strategy; Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy; Private Sector Engagement Policy; and Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting-Framework.
• Experience in and commitment to creating equal education opportunities for girls, children with disabilities, and other children at risk of discrimination or marginalization.
• Ability to cultivate effective working relationships with government officials, civil society organizations, education/training institutions, private sector actors, implementing partners, international donors, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and experience working in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.
• Education-focused experience in Zambia strongly preferred.
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English required.