Chief of Party, USDA Food for Progress, Ecuador

Position Description

About PADF

The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) believes in creating a hemisphere of opportunity, for all. We work across Latin America and the Caribbean to make our region stronger—more healthy, peaceful, just, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable for current and future generations. For over 60 years, we have served the most vulnerable communities, investing resources throughout the hemisphere. We partner with and enable civil society, governments, and the private sector for the greater good of the region.

Position Overview

PADF seeks a Chief of Party (COP) based in Ecuador for a five-year, $25 million USDA Food for Progress (FFPr), Trade Facilitation and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Modernization project. The COP will oversee the implementation of the FFPr Program, ensuring effective implementation of PADF’s activities including enhancing Ecuador’s ability to meet the requirements of its WTO TFA obligations, promoting enhanced trade, competitiveness and agricultural productivity. The COP will be tasked with ensuring the program’s successful implementation, providing project management, operational support, and strong leadership. The COP will be expected to liaise with the HQ team, the field team, partners, USDA, and Government of Ecuador representatives involved in the project.

This position is contingent upon donor funding.

The position is anticipated to be based in Quito, Ecuador, with travel to relevant project sites as required.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Program Implementation:

• Lead the coordination of program activities according to the approved work plan and in consultation with USDA and key Government of Ecuador stakeholders.
• Ensure the implementation team’s compliance with USG and local rules and regulations.
• Lead work planning, forecasting, and training initiatives.
• Monitor project progress, supervise data quality, and obtain feedback from participants, partners, and stakeholders.
• Work with PADF HQ and Ecuadorian staff to ensure financial and programmatic reports to USDA effectively account for project progress and use of funds.
• Participate actively in evaluating, providing feedback, and formulating recommendations that result in subgrants and contracts, in collaboration with the project team.

Liaison and Representation:

• Liaise with USDA, partner organizations, and local and departmental governments to support and monitor program activities as required.
• Build and foster a strong working relationship with key internal and external stakeholders within the Ecuadorian Government at all levels, focused on collaboration toward the program’s objectives.
• Engage with private sector actors including chambers of commerce, commodity groups, producer associations, cooperatives, and financial institutions.
• Communicate and coordinate with HQ departments, consortium partners, sub-contractors, and other stakeholders as required.

Management:

• Lead and support a regional team of experts, program managers, advisors, and local staff, contributing to and ensuring a collegial and respectful working and team environment.
• Support the drafting, review, and presentation of quarterly, annual, and other donor reports in close coordination with HQ.
• Collaborate closely with the Country Director, HQ program team, and other relevant staff to ensure partner management, sub-grant administration, and reporting are conducted in a cohesive and coordinated manner.
• Provide input to high-quality written reports in English and Spanish on program activities, capturing results (outcomes and eventual impacts); ensure this reporting is consistent and meets donor guidance on length and format.
• Oversee administrative, finance, and operations functions, including human resources, accounting and financial reporting, procurement, grants and contracts, and IT.

Competencies

• Nurture knowledge – Models continuous learning, builds systems that institutionalize knowledge, and uses insights to drive strategic decisions.
• Be creative and promote creativity – Drives a culture of innovation and aligns creative initiatives with organizational strategy.
• Lead & inspire – Inspires at organizational scale through values-driven leadership.
• Adapt – Leads strategic adaptation, anticipating change and ensuring organizational agility.
• Optimize resources – Drives organizational excellence through strategic resource allocation and systems that support continuous improvement.
• Communicate effectively – Communicates vision, strategy, and priorities with clarity and inspiration to diverse internal and external audiences.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s level or higher) in agriculture, agribusiness, management, law, international relations, or other related fields, or at least 10 years of relevant experience to substitute the education requirement.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in international donor assistance organizations, with a focus on agriculture, agribusiness, market systems, food security, or similar.
• Implementation experience of large USDA, State Department, and other international donor grants in high-profile programs demanding attention to operational details and relations between donors, host governments, and local institutions.
• Track record of successful cooperation with host country governments and USG missions.
• Written and oral fluency in Spanish and English.
• Prior senior-level experience with USG-funded programs in Latin America, and especially in Ecuador, highly preferred.

More About PADF

PADF is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established by the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1962.  www.padf.org

PADF’s core values. “H-E-A-R-T” = Honesty, Excellence, Authenticity, Respect, and Trust.

EEO Statement. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. PADF does not discriminate based on ability, age, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or criminal record.

PADF is committed to safeguarding employees and those we serve, addressing inappropriate behavior, discrimination, and harassment. We take an intersectional approach, promote gender equality, and follow our Global Code of Conduct emphasizing our H.E.A.R.T. values. The code covers various aspects, including anti-trafficking, PSEAH (Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment), whistleblowing, and online safety.

PADF is an Equal Opportunity Employer