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The Morocco Local Governance program, a USAID-funded $15 million project, aims to strengthen civic engagement, local government service delivery performance, and accountability and transparency at the local level in Morocco. The program will provide a comprehensive, yet targeted program of training, technical support and grants to local governments to increase their capacity and mechanisms to engage with citizens and to provide better more accountable service. The Urban Institute is preparing to bid on a procurement to implement this program.

The Chief of Party (CoP) will provide overall technical management of the decentralization and local governance component of the USAID project. Main responsibilities of the CoP are guiding the implementation of the program’s major objective: “facilitate more effective and accountable local governance in Morocco”. The CoP would provide technical guidance in four general areas: strengthening citizen participation in local governance, enhancing local government management and service delivery performance, increasing accountability and transparency in local governance; and finally, supporting the increased devolution and de-concentration of authority. The CoP will implement this objective collaboratively through the development and implementation of work plans, oversight, and quality control of project activities and deliverables. The CoP will also be responsible for overall administrative management of the project, including compliance with local law, USAID requirements, and UI policies; human resources management (including hiring local staff, preparation of terms of reference for local staff, preparation of local staff employment agreements, periodic performance reviews of local staff, compliance with local employment laws, etc.), financial management; and liaison with USAID technical representatives and local project counterparts. The CoP will be responsible for monitoring technical component results against performance indicators, and reporting to USAID and country counterparts.

The position will be based in Rabat, Morocco. Travel within Morocco will be expected.

Please note that this project is currently in procurement and that the position is contingent upon the project award.

Language requirements: University level French and/or Arabic, including reading, speaking, and writing proficiency.

Education requirements:
Masters or Ph.D. in Political Science, Public Policy, Urban Planning or a related field; or, equivalent experience in local government management.

Experience requirements:
At least 15 years of experience in international development, preferably with a majority of this experience in the Middle East/North Africa, managing and leading a large USAID funded local government and/or urban development project. In particular this includes experience in:

? Senior positions of project management of donor-funded projects,
? Morocco or North Africa/Middle East region
? Local governance, decentralization, capacity building or civic participation, and

Experience required in working with local governments and civil society organizations in at least three of the following technical areas—decentralization, local participation, civil society, and performance management.

Specific skills need for the jobs:
Leadership, oversight, and management of project technical assistance, including development and implementation of work plans; organizing and supervising the work of project personnel; overseeing and managing the production of deliverables conforming to sponsor requirements and deadlines, and the achievement of other specified project technical requirements. Experience in facilitating capacity building for multiple stakeholders.

Team player with the ability to motivate and guide diverse expatriate senior technical as well as local staff, in achieving program objectives. Developing and maintaining good working relationships with USAID and counterparts.

Ensuring compliance with local law, USAID requirements, and UI policies related to the project.

Any Other Information:
Ability to work in a challenging environment and maintain cultural sensitivities.

Apply for this job by completing an application at jobs-urban.icims.com

The Urban Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/H. We welcome diversity in the workplace and encourage all minorities and women to apply.