Chief of Party - USAID/Ecuador, Climate Change Mitigation through Sustainable Land Use

About Palladium:

Palladium is a global leader dedicated to designing, developing, and delivering positive impact on lives and livelihoods worldwide. At the heart of our mission is promoting inclusive and sustainable development, ensuring that our solutions address global challenges while safeguarding the future. We build sustainable, transformative institutions and market systems that create lasting change. Operating in over 90 countries, our diverse team of 4,000 professionals shares a commitment to creating a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient world.

This Proposal Opportunity:

The USAID/Ecuador Climate Change Mitigation through Sustainable Land Use Activity is a 5-year activity that aims to promote sustainable livelihoods and advance natural climate solutions in areas affected by deforestation and land degradation through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction and mitigation efforts. This activity will improve and expand sustainable livelihoods and promote natural climate solutions in line with USAID’s Climate Change Strategy 2022-2030.

The primary objectives of this activity are as follows:

• Generate measurable results in terms of avoided emissions, reduced emissions, or carbon sequestration,
  
• Support the conservation, restoration, or management of Ecuadorian landscapes with a climate change mitigation benefit, and
  
• Mobilize climate financing finance for climate

The Chief of Party (COP) will be ultimately responsible for the efficient and effective oversight of all elements of the activity. Their primary responsibilities are to provide overall leadership, management, and general technical direction of the program, ensuring an integrated vision among different components and actors, and a focus on achieving the desired results. This individual must identify issues and risks related to implementation in a timely manner and suggest appropriate adjustments. This individual must act as the key liaison with USAID and all other counterparts, implementing partners and stakeholders involved with the program. The position requires significant coordination skills, broad general and technical knowledge, an ability to cope with multiple interests and challenges, experience in developing countries, and skills to ensure coherence and consistency in the face of urgent deadlines.

*This is an anticipated project, and all positions are contingent upon award from USAID. *

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversee and guide strategic, technical, programmatic, financial, and managerial aspects of large-scale project activities.
  
• Lead thought leadership efforts in biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, climate change, community-based governance, nature-based solutions, and private sector engagement.
  
• Act as the primary liaison for USAID, the Government of Ecuador, and key stakeholders.
  
• Foster broad and effective stakeholder engagement and manage relationships with public and private partners essential for the long-term success of the Activity in Ecuador.
  
• Achieve project objectives, outcomes, and deliverables while adhering to financial, operational, and USAID reporting standards.
  
• Supervise and support a core team of technical and administrative professionals, collaborating with the US-based management team for efficient project operations.
  
• Assess and address project operations to proactively identify and resolve challenges.

Key Competencies Required:

• A master’s degree in forestry, environmental governance, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, nature-based solutions, economic growth, or related fields.
  
• At least 10 years of leadership experience in large size (>$10 million) international development programs, with expertise in strategic planning, management, supervision, and budgeting.
  
• Demonstrated experience in biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and natural resource management in Ecuador.
  
• Strong knowledge of USAID contract management, policies, procedures, regulations, and reporting requirements.
  
• Prior experience with USAID projects and a solid understanding of USAID’s development priorities is preferred.
  
• Proven success in building partnerships with the private sector, local communities, civil society organizations, and government institutions.
  
• Demonstrated experience in inclusive development working with women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, Afro-Ecuadorians, LGBTQ+, and/or youth populations.
  
• Exceptional ability to develop and communicate a unified vision across diverse partners and lead multi-disciplinary teams;
• Proven commitment to gender equity and social inclusion.
  
• Strong communication skills, both written and interpersonal
  
• Fluency in both Spanish and English, with strong oral and written proficiency in both languages.
  
• Ecuadorean nationals with relevant experience are encouraged to apply.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodation to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.