DRC Chief of Party

About One Acre Fund

Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund supplies over 1.5 million smallholder farmers with the agricultural services they need to make their farms more productive and resilient. Our 8,000+ team is drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. With operations across ten African countries, we make farmers more prosperous by providing easy access to quality farm supplies, tree seedlings, and agricultural training to improve harvests. On average, the farmers we serve earn 40 percent more profits from their land when they enroll with One Acre Fund.

It is estimated that 1.1 million hectares of forest land are being lost each year in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This pattern of deforestation, which has significant implications for the region, is primarily attributed to small-scale farming practices. One Acre Fund is working to address the causes of deforestation, linked to poverty and low agricultural yields, by giving smallholder farmers the tools they need to shift their agricultural activities away from forest land and help them obtain bigger and healthier harvests. We train farmers in agroforestry, support the set-up and scale up of a farmer entrepreneur network, and operate along the seed value chain to ensure access to improved inputs for smallholder farmers.

To learn more about our work, take a look at our Why Work Here blog for more information.

About the Role

One Acre Fund is looking for a Chief of Party to oversee the successful implementation of a new and innovative program vision in the DRC. You will manage the country's activities, and oversee the overall quality of our operations. The Chief of Party will report to the Country Director and will oversee program implementation teams. You will manage 3-5 department leads, and you will sit within the country's leadership team. 

Responsibilities

Program management

• Assume responsibility for managing the execution of our activities, ensuring that all products and services offered to smallholder farmers meet the highest possible standards.
• Develop effective work plans and oversee their execution 
• Make crucial decisions to guide teams towards achieving their KPIs
• Ensure the effective financial management of program activities, including budgeting, financial reporting, and resource allocation. Drive financial sustainability and accountability.

Develop and mentor a diverse team of leaders: 

• Define resourcing needs and build teams capable of executing the program vision
• Offer guidance, mentorship, and encouragement to foster collaboration and innovation
• Ensure alignment, and collaboration among various departments

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

• 5+ years of relevant professional experience for Manager level, or 10+ years for Director level, working on development or humanitarian interventions, with a focus on agriculture, ecosystem protection, cash/voucher assistance, or rural livelihoods 
• 3+ years field experience managing large programs
• Team leadership experience with diverse teams
• Demonstrated experience working in complex contexts
• Fluency in English and French is required
• Clear added advantage: Experience working in the Democratic Republic of Congo and good understanding of the local context

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Kinshasa (DRC), with up to 30%-50% of time spent in our field office (Kongo Central)

Benefits

Health insurance, housing, and comprehensive benefits

Contract Duration

One-year fixed-term, renewable – This position is contingent upon award and funding

Eligibility

One Acre Fund can support a work permit for this role. However, nationals of (or those with an extensive professional background and work history in) our countries of operation are preferred.

Application Deadline

22 July 2024

One Acre Fund never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the interview process. Official One Acre Fund emails will always arrive from an @oneacrefund.org address. Please report any suspicious communication here (globalhotline@oneacrefund.org), but do not send applications or application materials to this email address.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism are deeply connected to our organization’s mission and purpose. One Acre Fund aspires to build a culture where all staff feel consistently valued, represented, and connected – so that our team can thrive as professionals, and achieve exceptional impact for the farmers we serve.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.