Chief of Party (COP), Partnership for Higher Education Reform

Title: Chief of Party (COP), Partnership for Higher Education Reform (PHER)

Please Apply for Job by completing the FORM at the end of this document and submitting it together with (1) a one-page cover letter and (2) a CV at [email protected]

About: The Partnership for Higher Education Reform (PHER) Activity is a five-year initiative funded by USAID and implemented by Indiana University, aiming to modernize Vietnam's leading universities and strengthen Vietnam’s higher education system in alignment with USAID's Higher Education Program Framework. PHER implements activities towards institutional reform in Vietnamese higher education institutions through developing effective and innovative models and approaches in governance, teaching and learning, research, and university-industry linkages, and enhancing new partnerships and collaborations. Its goals centers around four key pillars – Governance and Policy, Improvement of Teaching and Learning, Research, and University-Industry Linkages – and targets three major Vietnamese universities: Vietnam National University-Hanoi, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, and the University of Danang. Higher-education policy advocacy and reform, technology and digitization, and gender empowerment are critical, cross-cutting strategies for success across these four pillars and support the long-term sustainability of PHER outcomes. Vien Sang Kien Vietnam (SKI) is a sub-awardee to Indiana University supporting and implementing the PHER Activity in Vietnam.  

Job Summary

The Chief of Party (COP) reports to the Principal Investigator (PI) and works with the PHER Leadership (co-Principal Investigator, and Academic Director) to help them establish and execute the program strategy. The COP for PHER Activity has overall responsibility for the management and coordination of all project activities and staff to ensure timely and high-quality completion of workplan activities and deliverables.

All Personnel based in Vietnam reports to the COP, including the Sang Kien staff. The COP will cultivate open and collaborative management relationships with the project team at USAID and PHER leadership and staff. The COP will have principal responsibility for representing PHER to USAID and works closely with the USAID Agreement Officer Representative (AOR). The COP plays the lead role in working with the Vietnam National University-Hanoi, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City, and the University of Danang, as well as USAID AOR in effectively implementing planned activities of PHER. The COP, working closely with the PHER leadership and staff, develops annual workplans and activities in a collaborative manner; ensures that program activities comply with agreement requirements, applicable USG regulations, and appropriate standards and procedures; and supervises the communications specialist to ensure high quality and frequently updated PHER communications.

Specific Responsibilities

• Provides day-to-day operational management of support staff.
• Identifies operational issues and/or areas of improvement and implements solutions to improve processes and/or operational efficiency.
• Analyzes, monitors, and evaluates performance of assigned staff; establishes work priorities, conducts performance reviews, and provides corrective action as needed.
• Draft quarterly, semi-annual, and annual programmatic reports of PHER Activity for review and finalization by the PIs and submission to funding agencies.
• Support in the preparation of quarterly, semi-annual, and annual financial reports.
• Develop and maintain relationships with project stakeholders including US Agency for International Development, government representatives, project consultants and vendors, as well as partner institutions.
• Assist in the preparation of promotional materials, press releases, success stories, and conference presentations in support of the PHER Activity.
• Establishes short-term operational objectives.
• Ensures adequate staffing and effective scheduling; participates and informs employment decisions for assigned staff.
• Provides direct supervision and oversight of assigned staff and activities; impacts, and is held accountable for, the performance of team and/or assigned staff.
• Ensures and provides training to assigned staff to improve user support operations; researches and identifies development opportunities for assigned staff.
• Keeps next-level leader(s) informed of trends as well as significant problems.
• Represent PHER Activity, in consultation with the PI, in local, national, and other meetings presenting Activity programs and services to clients and partners including business, education, public, non-profit, and governmental organizations.

EDUCATION

Required:

• Master's or higher degree in education, international affairs, public administration, public policy, or a related field

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required:

• Ten (10) years of experience in a senior-level or equivalent management position leading, managing, and implementing development-relevant projects with the higher education sector institutional capacity development and/or private sector engagement, preferably both.
• Five (5) years of supervisory experience and/or in areas related to institutional capacity development.

Preferred:

• Experience interacting with Vietnam government agencies
• Experience managing U.S. government awards (contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements)
• Experience leading, managing, and implementing development-relevant projects with institutional capacity development and/or private sector engagement components within a university context or with university partnerships.

Additional Information:

• For full consideration, two (2) representative technical reports that you have been the primary author of are required to be uploaded as supporting documents.
• Indiana University will sponsor employment authorization in Vietnam, through our Employer of Record (EOR) organization.
• A background check may be required for employment in this position.

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered

SKILLS

Required

• Proactive, inclusive, and collaborative leadership skills within a multi-partner initiative.
• Proficient oral, interpersonal, and professional communications skills.
• Excellent technical writing skills.
• Strong project management skills.
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism, excellent collaboration and team building skills.
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills.
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality.
• Excellent organizational skills, and instills commitment to organizational goals
• Effectively coaches and delivers constructive feedback.

Preferred

• Ability to work and communicate cross-culturally.
• Demonstrates success in grant and report writing.

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment. Frequent local travel to the three partner universities may be required. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

The COP is based in Vietnam at Icon 4 Building, 243A De La Thanh St. – Dong Da – Ha Noi.

Negotiated, depending on qualifications.

Although the COP will be hired through IU’s preferred EOR for legal employment in Vietnam, IU is committed to meeting all of IU’s standard EEO requirements in recruitment and hiring Indiana University is an equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on individual qualifications. Indiana University prohibits discrimination based on age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status. Indiana University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admission, as required by Title IX. Questions or complaints regarding Title IX may be referred to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights or the university Title IX Coordinator. 

To Apply

Please Apply for Job by completing the FORM below and submitting it together with (1) a one-page cover letter and (2) a CV at [email protected]