🇸🇱 Job Vacancy @ Abt Associates – Chief of Party, Health Electrification and Telecommunication Alliance
The World at Abt
Solving the world’s most pressing issues and improving the quality of life for people worldwide is what we do every day at Abt Associates. Creating a more equitable world is no small task, but we are driven by big challenges.
We are a team of 3,000+ people in over 50 countries working in unison and focused on the bigger picture. Only by sharing our commitment, energy, and innovation do we affect change and push the boundaries of what’s possible. We welcome diverse ideas, backgrounds, and viewpoints – joining Abt means access to exceptional thinkers at the top of their game.
To thrive at Abt is to embrace flexibility and collaboration. Our open culture allows you to balance your work and personal life as needed to optimize personal well-being. Creating a more equitable world starts from within – we look after people around the world, and we’ll do the same for you.
Ready to embrace rewarding and meaningful work? Now’s your chance.
The Opportunity
HETA is a Global Development Alliance implemented by Abt Associates in partnership with USAID’s Power Africa with a goal to electrify 10,000 health facilities across sub-Saharan Africa. HETA takes a market-based approach to expanding access to reliable energy, leveraging other donor funding and private investment capital, and building public-private partnerships to ensure sustainability.
In Sierra Leone, HETA is working with partners to improve sustainable energy access and digital connectivity at private health facilities. In our initial year, HETA will electrify 50-60 public facilities and provide these facilities with WASH and digital connectivity. The project will be done in conjunction with HETA’s implementing partners: World Vision, Resolve, Orange and Africell. The Chief of Party (COP) is responsible for leadership of the HETA project in Sierra Leone and ensuring the effective implementation of the project. The COP will represent the HETA project in the country and be responsible for coordination among key local stakeholders including national, regional, and local government, private sector partners, other implementing partners and donor agencies. The COP will ensure the project achieves results including project deliverables and targets in an effective and compliant manner. The COP will promote collaboration with other similar projects, government decision makers, and stakeholders to ensure the alignment of this project with their priorities and guidelines. This activity will focus on both the public and private sectors.
The COP will bring strong project management skills and experience with donor-funded projects, strong familiarity with the unique energy and telecommunications needs and challenges in the health sector, and familiarity with technical requirements and business models to support the successful implementation of efforts to energy access, productive uses of electricity, electrification of health facilities and ensure their sustained long-term operations and maintenance.
This position will be based in Freetown and cover activities nationwide. Applicants should be a local resident or have a work permit.
Core Responsibilities
Provide management leadership (programmatic, financial and administrative) for the project ensuring full alignment with national and international standards.
- Oversee the implementation of the project ensuring the achievement of all project deliverables and targets in a timely manner.
- Effectively represent Abt and the project and build and maintain excellent, productive relationships with government counterparts, private sector partners, relevant civil society organizations and donor agencies and serve as a leader in the energy and health community.
- Provide vision and guidance to the project staff.
- Identify obstacles and risks related to implementation in a timely manner and implement strategies to overcome them.
- Ensure implementation of accountability mechanisms to foster quality and ensure client’s rights and choice.
- Supervise and oversee the work of project staff, project partners and subcontractors
- Exercise sound financial management skills including effective project spending.
- Uphold the standards of Abt Associates to lead a high performing team; ensure strict compliance to USAID and Abt’s policies, regulations and internal controls.
- Guide the learning agenda for the project, use lessons learned to modify project approaches and strategies, and disseminate findings.
- Lead the development of the strategy for scale up of the project including fundraising from potential additional donors and investors
- Create strong partnerships with other implementing partners working in the energy and health sectors.
- Review technical materials to ensure high quality products. d6suIqJ C0zl6U
- Effectively liaise with headquarters departments to support project operational success.
- Prepare and consolidate information for client and internal reports and conduct preliminary reviews.
- Ensure proper oversight over procurements.
What We Value
Bachelor’s Degree + Twelve years of relevant experience, or master’s degree + Ten years of relevant experience, or PhD+ Eight years of relevant experience.
- An advanced degree in in health, economics, energy/environmental policy, engineering, Master of Business Administration, Juris Doctor, or a related field.
- At least 10 years of relevant experience, including 5 years in managing complex energy or health programs or programs of similar scope and size.
- Experience engaging private sector partners
- Proven experience in administration, financial management, award compliance, sub-award management, and tracking project performance and costs.
- Excellent management and organizational skills to lead teams to deliver high quality program results.
- Demonstrated strategic vision for the energy and/or health sector, leadership qualities, depth and breadth of technical and management expertise and experience.
- Excellent professional reputation and a proven success interacting with host country government agencies, counterparts, donors, and international experts.
- Proven ability to gather data and document program activities, successes, and lessons learned.
- Excellent oral and written communications skills in English. Local languages an advantage.
- Experience with USAID or other donors.
- Based in Sierra Leone and understanding of challenges in the health sector and managing donor-funded projects in developing countries.
- Fluency in English is required, French will be an added advantage.
What We Offer
We foster an environment where you can Thrive Your Way. Our innovative total rewards programs are designed to help balance your work and personal life. The approach toward your wellbeing centers around comprehensive benefits and professional development.
Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. Local candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Disclaimer: Abt Associates will never ask candidates for money in exchange for an offer of employment.
Abt is committed to creating a safe and inclusive work environment. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate background checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Abt Associates also participates in the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.
