Chief of Party, USDA Food for Education (LAC)
Save the Children US · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $150,000 / year
- United States
Job highlights
- Lead USDA-funded food and education program.
- Manage project implementation, budget, and quality.
- Provide technical leadership in education and nutrition.
- Collaborate with government and international partners.
- Oversee M&E systems and reporting to USDA.
About the role
About Save the Children
For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.
The Role
Save the Children is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) for an anticipated FY26 USDA-funded McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program in Latin America and the Caribbean. The COP will lead strategic direction in the management, implementation, and overall quality assurance of the project. They will also provide technical leadership in school feeding, literacy, primary education, and community participation. The COP will collaborate with the Ministries of Education, Health, and other critical partners to provide high-level support for effective capacity building at the local level and sustainability of the project interventions. The COP will oversee a team of experts and support staff, prepare reports and annual operating plans, align project initiatives with in-country priorities and ensure the program is compliant with USDA and Save the Children’s regulations. The project must be designed to align closely with the current objectives of the partner Government.
This is a Key Personnel position, subject to donor approval. It is also subject to project award and funding.
This position will be based in Latin America and the Caribbean.
What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)*
not inclusive of all role responsibilities. May be subject to change
- Lead the management of the program in line with USDA guidelines to achieve project objectives.
- Oversee implementation, ensuring achievement of project results and deliverables in accordance with project work plan and budget.
- Provide technical oversight, ensuring technical quality, and alignment with donor technical guidelines and priorities.
- Manage operational, financial, and administrative priorities, and direct planning and budgeting processes.
- Create or adapt management systems in line with Save the Children standard operating procedures, ensuring adherence to donor policies and regulations, and relevant national policies and laws.
- Oversee the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) process to ensure results-driven project implementation and adaptive management.
- Represent Save the Children with USDA, local government counterparts, partners, and other key stakeholders. Build and maintain productive working relationships.
- Submit high-quality, timely reports to the donor, capturing project outcomes, impact, and key performance indicators.
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where the project team strives to achieve excellence.
- Incorporate Save the Children vision, values and Code of Conduct principles.
Required Qualifications For The Role
- Graduate degree in education, nutrition, development studies, international development, or a related field preferred.
- At least 10 years of senior level professional experience designing, managing, and implementing large, donor-funded international development activities related to school feeding, education, or nutrition, preferably in a program director, Deputy Chief of Party or COP role.
- In-depth knowledge of USDA McGovern-Dole Food for Education approaches and regulations.
- Technical expertise in food and nutrition security, school feeding and education programming.
- Strong financial management, compliance, budgeting and project operations/administrative oversight abilities.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in a team.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively with donors, host governments, development partners, the private sector, and community organizations.
- Creative problem-solving skills with the ability to work effectively in resource-constrained environments.
- Experience overseeing M&E systems for donor-funded projects.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Spanish preferred.
- Ability to produce clear and concise reports, publications, briefs and other written materials related to the project.
- Ability to travel as required and as security conditions allow.
- Commitment to child rights and to the aims and objectives of Save the Children.
About Us
Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.
Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.
If you require disability assistance with the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to applicantsupport@savechildren.org.
Key skills/competency
- Chief of Party
- USDA Food for Education
- Program Management
- International Development
- School Feeding
- Child Nutrition
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Budget Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Capacity Building
Skills & topics
- Chief of Party
- Program Director
- International Development
- Food Security
- Nutrition Programs
- Education Programs
- USDA
- McGovern-Dole
- Latin America
- Caribbean
- Project Management
- Nonprofit
- NGO
- Child Welfare
- Capacity Building
- Monitoring and Evaluation
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight experience in USDA programs, school feeding, and international development. Quantify achievements.
- Craft a compelling cover letter: Emphasize your leadership skills, technical expertise, and commitment to child welfare.
- Network with Save the Children: Connect with current employees on LinkedIn to gain insights into their culture and values.
- Prepare for interviews: Be ready to discuss your experience in managing large-scale projects, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving in diverse environments.
- Understand the program: Familiarize yourself with USDA Food for Education initiatives and Save the Children's mission.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary focus of the Chief of Party role at Save the Children?
- The Chief of Party (COP) role at Save the Children is to lead the strategic direction, management, and implementation of the anticipated USDA-funded McGovern-Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program in Latin America and the Caribbean. This includes ensuring project objectives are met, providing technical leadership, and collaborating with key stakeholders.
- What are the key technical areas for this Chief of Party position?
- Key technical areas for this Chief of Party position include school feeding, literacy, primary education, and community participation, with a strong emphasis on food and nutrition security.
- What qualifications are essential for the Chief of Party role?
- Essential qualifications include a graduate degree (preferred) in a relevant field, at least 10 years of senior-level experience managing large, donor-funded international development projects, in-depth knowledge of USDA McGovern-Dole Food for Education approaches and regulations, and strong financial management and leadership skills.
- Is this Chief of Party position based in a specific country?
- This position will be based in Latin America and the Caribbean, serving as the lead for a program in that region.
- What is Save the Children's commitment regarding child safety?
- Save the Children is deeply committed to child safety. All representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in child abuse, and the organization strives to minimize safety and security risks for its employees.
- What is the role of the COP in stakeholder relations?
- The Chief of Party is responsible for representing Save the Children with USDA, local government counterparts, partners, and other key stakeholders, building and maintaining productive working relationships to ensure project success and sustainability.
- What is the expected experience level for the Chief of Party?
- The role requires at least 10 years of senior-level professional experience in designing, managing, and implementing large, donor-funded international development activities, ideally in a program director, Deputy Chief of Party, or Chief of Party capacity.