Chief of Party, USAID/Vietnam Innovative Ecosystems
EnCompass
Position Description
EnCompass LLC seeks experienced and dynamic Chief of Party (COP) candidates for an anticipated five-year United States Agency for International Development (USAID) activity to strengthen Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem to be based in Hanoi, Vietnam. This prospective five-year project will focus on fostering local innovation and creativity for the deployment and commercialization of “Created in Vietnam” technologies, reducing reliance on imported technologies, and thus increasing the resilience of Vietnam’s digital economy. The interventions will (1) improve the legal framework for innovation and creativity; (2) strengthen the institutional capacity of key actors in the innovation ecosystem; and (3) enhance the ecosystem linking corporations, startups, small and medium businesses, incubators/accelerators, financiers, and research centers.
The position will be full-time and be based in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Position Duties and Responsibilities
The COP will lead the Activity, providing technical guidance to and supervising both international and national staff and consultants. The COP will be the primary point of contact with USAID/Vietnam staff, including the Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer’s Representation (CO/COR).
Essential functions:
Administration:
- Serve as the main point of contact for the Activity, including with USAID, team partners, and Activity stakeholders.
- Foster a culture of leadership at all levels among project team members and partners
- Establish and maintain highly collaborative working relationships with Vietnamese organizations and stakeholders, the Government of Vietnam, USAID/Vietnam and USAID/Washington, other donors, and USAID implementing partners as required.
- Provide overall strategic vision as well as operational leadership, including work planning, financial management, contract compliance and reporting.
- Manage the implementation team, ensuring technical capacity of staff and efficient coordination and collaboration with EnCompass Home Office resources and support teams.
- Identify issues and risks related to implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate adjustments.
- Ensure that all activities are undertaken in full compliance with EnCompass’ standard operating procedures, USAID policies and regulations, and national policies and laws.
- Ensure optimal use of human, financial, and physical resources to successfully meet project milestones, objectives, deliverables and targets.
Technical:
- Responsible for the overall technical direction of the Activity, including strategy and program planning and adaption, evaluation, and learning
- Provide technical direction and supervision for senior personnel and ensure quality and timeliness of all deliverables
- Promote sustainability of project activities with effective communications, networking, linkages to other programs, capacity strengthening of project staff, and institutional strengthening
- Ensure best practice and innovative approaches are integrated, and provide technical assistance and backstopping when required
Other:
- Engage fully as a member of the EnCompass staff team, including participating in staff meetings and other EnCompass events, and providing administrative support to other team members as needed
- Other duties as assigned
Position Requirements
Qualifications
Academic Qualifications
- Master’s degree and 12 years’ experience; or PhD and 10 years’ experience in international development/studies, business, or a related field required
Experience and Skills
- 8+ years of relevant progressive international experience related to innovation ecosystem strengthening, entrepreneurship development, business enabling environment, partnership development, and/or private sector engagement
- Experience as a COP or Project Director positions for activities of similar nature, size and complexity
- Strong knowledge of Vietnam development context required; demonstrated experience and network of government, NGO and civil society, donor, and private sector partners preferred.
- Experience managing complex relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including host country governments at different levels.
- Excellent communication skills in English (written and verbal) required. Foreign language ability in Vietnamese preferred.
- Ability to travel within Vietnam, as necessary.
How to Apply
Please submit CV and cover letter and complete the application on the Careers & Consulting page of https://encompassworld.com.
EnCompass LLC is a progressive Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote, celebrate, and support a diverse and inclusive organizational culture and workforce. We are committed to providing all of our employees with an environment free from discrimination and harassment, where all are treated with dignity and respect. We do not tolerate, and explicitly prohibit, discrimination or harassment of any kind, at any time, in all aspects of employment. This includes recruitment, hiring, promotions, disciplinary measures, terminations, compensation, benefits, social and recreational programs, and training. EnCompass also does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who report discrimination or harassment. Our continuing commitment to the principle of Equal Opportunity Employment for all means all employment decisions are based only on the job requirements, the candidate’s qualifications, and the needs of EnCompass as a business—not on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, belief, sex (including pregnancy and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, HIV status, family/marital/parental status, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where we work.
For US based positions: The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.
The incumbent must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle and prioritize multiple, competing tasks and demands and to seek supervisory assistance as appropriate.
If you require accommodations in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act to complete your application, please call 301-287-8700, provide your contact information and a description of your accessibility issue. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case-basis, and we will call you back within approximately 3 business days.
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