Chief of Party (COP)

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years’ experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 5,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI's Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI's experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.

SG&R’s Water portfolio has delivered innovative, breakthrough solutions in key development sectors globally, including water sector governance, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, water resources management, community engagement, urban resilience, and institutional capacity building.

The purpose of the USAID-funded Western Kenya Sanitation Project (WKSP) is to create a financially sustainable, transformative, replicable, and locally owned sanitation marketplace in the eight counties of western Kenya. The main objectives of the project are (1) increased access to and uptake of market-based improved sanitation and fecal sludge management (FSM) products and services; and (2) increased access to and uptake of market-based improved menstrual hygiene management (MHM) products and services at the household level. The target counties for this activity are: Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, and Siaya.

The Chief of Party (COP) will be responsible for leading overall project implementation, technical strategy, management, and execution, ensuring all project deliverables are met or exceeded within budget and in compliance with RTI and USAID rules and regulations, as well as local laws. This position will provide project planning, oversight. leadership, and coordination. The COP will build and maintain strong and favorable client, partner, community, home office, and team relations. This position will be based in Kisumu, Western Kenya, and reports to the RTI Project Manager.

Responsibilities of the COP include, but are not limited to:

• Provide overall leadership, strategic guidance, vision and management of staff, ensuring successful technical implementation within budget and compliance parameters.
• Ensure synergy across technical components of the project; ensure good team planning and coordination and promote a “One Team” approach across all project activities.
• Oversee preparation of high-quality technical deliverables to USAID, including quarterly and annual reports, annual work plans, technical and financial reports. 
• Ensure all contractual deliverables and reporting requirements are met and in compliance with contractual requirements, RTI policies and procedures and U.S. government rules and regulations. 
• Maintain financial accountability for all project activities.
• Ensure gender and social inclusion, youth, coordination and collaboration, climate change and environmental compliance are integrated across all project activities as part of the project’s guiding parameters.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for USAID, as well as other USAID- and donor-funded projects, and other WASH stakeholders in Western Kenya.
• Build strong relationships and lead communication and collaboration with USAID and high-level stakeholders, such as ministries, regulators, other implementers, and local counterparts.
• Oversee performance monitoring and evaluation to ensure all project targets are met or exceeded – making recommendations for improvement in program implementation in line with the adaptive management approach of the project. 
• Provide direct technical oversight and managerial support to the DCOP-Technical, R&D Lead, Finance and Administration Director, Governance and Partnerships Lead, and Communications Director.

• Master's degree in water engineering, sanitary engineering, environment, development, public health, economics, business administration, governance, or any other related subject and at least 12 years of experience, or PhD in an aforementioned field with 8 years of experience.
• Ten (10) years of professional experience in fields related to the successful implementation of this project, such as market-based sanitation, behavior change, and/or private sector capacity building.
• Eight (8) years of proven leadership in the administration of similar-sized international donor-support programs, with skills in strategic planning, management, supervision, and budgeting.
• Five (5) years’ substantive experience working with counterparts at various levels of government, private sector leaders, and other stakeholders in strengthening civil society engagement, capacity, and participation.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and communicate a common vision among diverse partners and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience working with civil society organizations in Kenya, with demonstrated understanding of existing platforms and opportunities for civil society engagement with the Government of Kenya, commercial water utilities, and private sector.
• Demonstrated skills in building, mobilizing, and leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven ability to work under pressure, and with multiple concurrent demands.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to travel and work in any of the three provinces and difficult terrain/conditions at times.
• Proficiency in English is required.
• Work experience in Kenya required