Deputy Chief of Party (COP)

Vacancy Announcement 

Deputy Chief of Party (COP)

Welthungerhilfe (WHH) is one of the largest private aid organizations in Germany with a dual mandate in development cooperation and humanitarian response. WHH works in over 35 countries, implementing multi-actor, multi-country partnership programs across sectors. With an annual budget of approximately USD 300 million, WHH currently manages around 250 projects integrating humanitarian assistance, development, and research. For over 60 years, WHH has been committed to fighting hunger and poverty while fostering local civil society organizations to achieve sustainable development. WHH envisions a world where all people lead self-determined lives with dignity and justice, free from hunger and poverty. WHH’s work is guided by the Core Humanitarian Standard. We are firmly committed to the Localization Agenda. As a member of the Alliance-2015 network, we prioritize collaboration to achieve complementarity, synergy, and greater impact. Welthungerhilfe invests in early action, emergency preparedness and risk informed programming. Based on our humanitarian aspirations, the Welthungerhilfe Humanitarian Strategy 2021-2024 aims to further shape and sharpen our engagement in humanitarian assistance. Welthungerhilfe applies a systematic approach to resilience building and aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction for disaster risk-informed programming. Since 2012, WHH’s Nepal country office has supported 37 projects with local partners. Currently, WHH Nepal is managing 11 projects worth €13 million in 11 districts across four provinces: Madhesh, Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim. Our thematic focus encompasses food and nutrition security, right to food and empowerment, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), disaster risk reduction, early action and humanitarian response, early recovery. Through these interventions, WHH strives to enhance social inclusion by empowering marginalized and economically vulnerable groups to strengthen their resilience and realize their right to adequate food and nutrition.

About the Role: Welthungerhilfe (WHH) seeks a highly skilled and experienced Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) to support the implementation of the USAID BHA Early Recovery, Risk Reduction, and Resilience Project. The DCOP will assist the Chief of Party (COP) in overseeing all aspects of project management, coordination, and strategic direction. This role will ensure alignment with WHH’s and USAID’s programme objectives, while supporting the day-to-day operations and fostering strong relationships with key stakeholders and partners.

The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) role is contingent upon USAID approval, as well as the project award and funding availability.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the Chief of Party (COP) in the development and implementation of a humanitarian and DRR program aligned with national and international priorities.
• Assist in building and maintaining relationships with government bodies, donors, development partners, private sector actors, and other relevant stakeholders to achieve program objectives.
• Provide oversight and support for the full program cycle, including needs assessment, strategic design, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• Ensure adherence to financial compliance with USAID and WHH requirements, supporting timely disbursement and quality expenditure monitoring for program budgets.
• Provide guidance and capacity-building support to staff and partners, promoting continuous learning and improvement across the program.
• Represent the project, as delegated by the COP, to governments, donors, local partners, networks, alliances, and other stakeholders.
• Act as a key liaison between field-level operations and the COP, ensuring effective communication and coordination to achieve program goals.

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills:

• Demonstrated leadership experience in managing projects of comparable size and scope, with a deep understanding of the Nepalese context.
• Demonstrated experience managing humanitarian and disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities, particularly those involving multiple sub-awardees. Expertise in recruiting, developing, and managing staff, along with experience in managing both programmatic and financial reporting.
• Strong knowledge of Nepal’s DRR governance, as well as the social, political, economic, and cultural landscape. Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects, local organizations, and stakeholders.
• A strong understanding of and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within project management.
• Experience in adaptive management and learning techniques is highly desirable. Proven success in leadership roles on projects addressing resilience, emergency response, natural resource management, and DRR through a nexus approach.
• A master’s degree in development studies, international relations, or a related field.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in international humanitarian and development projects, with at least five years of field-based experience.

Application Instructions:

Please submit your application, including a cover letter and CV, to HARI.SHRESTHA@welthungerhilfe.de by 4th December 2024. 

Welthungerhilfe is an equal opportunity employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained staff. Women and members of marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Welthungerhilfe is committed to fighting terrorism in all its activities accordingly, and applicant who is offered employment will be screened against lists of known and suspected terrorists. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.