Chief of Party

USDA McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program – Guinea

Position Summary:

Creative Associates International seeks a Chief of Party (COP) for an anticipated USDA-funded McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program in Guinea. The program will support school feeding, literacy improvement, nutrition, and food security outcomes for school-aged children while strengthening local systems, government capacity, and community participation.

The COP will provide overall strategic, technical, operational, financial, and managerial leadership for the program and serve as the primary liaison with USDA, Government of Guinea counterparts, consortium partners, and key stakeholders.

This position reports to the Home Office Project Director in Washington, D.C.

Primary Responsibilities

Provide overall strategic leadership and direction for the McGovern-Dole program in Guinea.
Lead project implementation and oversee achievement of program objectives, targets, and deliverables.
Ensure compliance with USDA regulations, commodity management requirements, financial controls, and reporting obligations.
Oversee systems related to commodity accountability, warehousing, transportation, inventory management, and risk mitigation.
Coordinate closely with consortium partners responsible for commodities and school feeding operations.
Provide oversight for literacy, teacher training, nutrition, school feeding, community engagement, and sustainability activities.
Serve as the primary liaison with USDA, Government of Guinea ministries, development partners, and key stakeholders.
Oversee monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning systems and promote data-driven decision-making.
Recruit, supervise, mentor, and support a multidisciplinary project team.
Monitor operational and security risks and support mitigation planning.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

Master’s degree in Education, International Development, Agriculture, Nutrition, Public Administration, or related field.
Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience managing large donor-funded international development programs.
Minimum 5 years of senior leadership experience as Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, Program Director, or equivalent.
Demonstrated experience managing USDA-funded programs strongly preferred, including McGovern-Dole, Food for Progress, Food for Peace, or related food security/school feeding programs.
Demonstrated experience overseeing complex operational or commodities management systems preferred.
Experience managing multi-sectoral programs involving education, nutrition, food security, school feeding, or community development.
Demonstrated experience working with government counterparts, donors, local organizations, and consortium partners.
Strong financial, operational, compliance, and risk management experience.
Demonstrated experience in fragile or complex operating environments preferred.
Professional fluency in French strongly preferred.
Professional working proficiency in English required.
Previous experience working in Guinea or West Africa strongly preferred.

Only finalists will be contacted. No phone calls, please. This position is contingent upon project award.

Creative Associates International is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Creative Associates International is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law. EOE/AA. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.