PACT Overview: Pact is an international nonprofit that works in nearly 40 countries building solutions for human development that are evidence-based, data-driven and owned by the communities we serve. Founded in 1971, Pact works with partners to build resilience, improve accountability, and strengthen knowledge and skills for sustainable social impact. Department: Programs - Pact strives for a world where all people are heard, capable, and vibrant. The Programs Team helps realize this objective by bridging program management, technical support, and business development, enabling Pact to achieve its global strategy. We ensure program excellence through continuous learning, monitoring and evaluation and provide organizational and industry-wide thought leadership by leveraging a complementary set of cross-functional, multi-disciplinary skills, expertise, and experiences. The Programs team: influences progressive change through the development and implementation of global and regional strategies and business plans; supports advancement of innovative solutions; pursues new business opportunities; and drives effective internal and external engagement to maximize Pact’s impact across the globe. Across all aspects of its role, the Programs Department adheres to and promotes a culture of inclusion, accountability, and respect. Position Overview:
Pact seeks an experienced Chief of Party (COP) for an anticipated regional program in Central America, an Associate Award (AA) under the Civil Society and Media-Strengthened Together and Advancing in New Directions (CSM-STAND) Leader with Associates (LWA) Cooperative Agreement. This is a $12M, three-year activity that prevents rights violations and promotes a culture of rights, while responding to increasing attacks on human rights and protecting defenders.
The position will be based in San Jose, Costa Rica, and respond to the Associate Awards Director for CSM-STAND. The position is contingent upon funding.
Key Responsibilities:
The COP will be responsible for overall leadership and oversight of the Activity’s management and operations. The COP will supervise high-quality project implementation, with a focus on achieving Activity goals and the donor’s development strategy and objectives. The COP will serve as primary liaison with the donor and manage critical relationships with the donor counterparts in priority countries, consortium partners, key regional stakeholders, bi-lateral and regional programs, private sector, and other actors. The COP will also ensure team cohesion, collaboration and adaptive management throughout implementation.

The specific duties to be carried out by the successful candidate are listed below:

• Ensure high-quality, results-oriented programming through hands-on guidance and support grounded in the project’s strategic objectives and approved annual workplans.
• Ensure compliance with donor rules/regulations and Pact processes, policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Ensure that the project meets stated goals, outcomes, benchmarks, and reporting requirements and oversee a complexity-aware monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan.
• Take a leadership role in coordination among key stakeholders, including consortium partners, core partners, local and regional resource partners, key regional stakeholders, private sector, and other relevant actors.
• Coordinate closely with implementing partners with related programming in the region.
• Manage and coordinate the implementation of activities across project partners, ensuring successful integration of activities.
• Oversee project planning (i.e., development of work plans and project budget), monitoring and reporting (i.e., prepare and submit technical, financial and any additional donor-requested reports) in accordance with the highest standards.
• Oversee project budget and work in close coordination with project and Pact HQ finance teams, ensuring cost-effective use of donor and Pact’s resources.
• Support the implementation of a highly adaptive, partner-led, context-driven programmatic approach.
• Ensure a responsive and innovative approach to developing the capacity of partners, including those expected to transition to direct recipients of funds.
• Provide strategic management and oversight of the project’s sub-award portfolio.
• Ensure the program meets programmatic and financial targets and makes accurate projections.
• Lead and mentor project staff to ensure flexibility, adaptability, innovation, and collaboration throughout implementation, including with partners.
• Oversee project staff in helping partners establish reporting and tracking systems to provide key information in an efficient and timely manner.
• Represent the project at conferences, working groups, and meetings to support Pact’s thought leadership with regards to civil society strengthening, inclusion, capacity development, and accountable governance.
• Serve as security focal person and ensure the safety and security of Pact’s staff and its properties at all times.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures, including completing all compliance training topics by the deadline to satisfy each and receiving the corresponding acknowledgment statement that the training has been completed.
• All other duties as assigned.

Basic Requirements:

• Master’s degree with eleven (11) years work experience or bachelor’s degree with at least thirteen (13+) years work experience
• At least six (6+) years management experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least 10 years of experience with development projects with focus on governance, human rights, civil society or community development programs and protection systems.
• Experience as a Chief of Party or other national or regional project role leading and managing donor-funded projects with a focus on human rights.
• Demonstrated track record of progressively responsible managerial experience in project countries, implementing complex donor-funded projects.
• Proven experience in developing collaborative work relationships with partners, counterparts, host governments, international organizations and donors.
• Experience supporting and strengthening civil society organizations, ideally operating in the human rights space and/or working with/ representing marginalized groups.
• Demonstrated flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to perform and collaborate in complex and politically sensitive project environments.Record of successfully building and effectively managing a diverse team of employees and managing international and national partners in a program consortium.
• Experience managing projects with sub-award pools.Demonstrated leadership skills in problem solving, consensus building, donor coordination and developing functional networks of diverse stakeholders across geographies.
• Fluency in Spanish; professional-level English language skills (written and oral).
• Ability to travel regionally and internationally.

• Ensure high-quality, results-oriented programming through hands-on guidance and support grounded in the project’s strategic objectives and approved annual workplans.
• Ensure compliance with donor rules/regulations and Pact processes, policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Ensure that the project meets stated goals, outcomes, benchmarks, and reporting requirements and oversee a complexity-aware monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan.
• Take a leadership role in coordination among key stakeholders, including consortium partners, core partners, local and regional resource partners, key regional stakeholders, private sector, and other relevant actors.
• Coordinate closely with implementing partners with related programming in the region.
• Manage and coordinate the implementation of activities across project partners, ensuring successful integration of activities.
• Oversee project planning (i.e., development of work plans and project budget), monitoring and reporting (i.e., prepare and submit technical, financial and any additional donor-requested reports) in accordance with the highest standards.
• Oversee project budget and work in close coordination with project and Pact HQ finance teams, ensuring cost-effective use of donor and Pact’s resources.
• Support the implementation of a highly adaptive, partner-led, context-driven programmatic approach.
• Ensure a responsive and innovative approach to developing the capacity of partners, including those expected to transition to direct recipients of funds.
• Provide strategic management and oversight of the project’s sub-award portfolio.
• Ensure the program meets programmatic and financial targets and makes accurate projections.
• Lead and mentor project staff to ensure flexibility, adaptability, innovation, and collaboration throughout implementation, including with partners.
• Oversee project staff in helping partners establish reporting and tracking systems to provide key information in an efficient and timely manner.
• Represent the project at conferences, working groups, and meetings to support Pact’s thought leadership with regards to civil society strengthening, inclusion, capacity development, and accountable governance.
• Serve as security focal person and ensure the safety and security of Pact’s staff and its properties at all times.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures, including completing all compliance training topics by the deadline to satisfy each and receiving the corresponding acknowledgment statement that the training has been completed.
• All other duties as assigned