Chief of Party

The Latin American & Caribbean (LAC) Regional Business Unit seeks expressions of interest and recommendations for Chief of Party for the anticipated USAID/VOICE Activity. The $10-25M VOICE Activity seeks to partner with Indigenous and Maroon communities in the Amazon to promote inclusive, sustainable, and community-driven development by supporting conservation-oriented bioeconomy models. VOICE will cover Brazil, Ecuador, Suriname, and Guyana as core countries, but also potentially include Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia as well. VOICE prioritizes environmental stewardship, social equity, and respect for Indigenous rights and cultures, while creating sustainable economic opportunities. VOICE also focuses on strengthening regional conservation efforts by protecting forests, promoting sustainable resource management, and enhancing local governance, ensuring the long-term ecological and economic health of the region.

The Chief of Party will:

• Provide overall leadership to the program, ensuring technical oversight, quality control, and strategic direction with a focus on environmental sustainability, conservation, and Indigenous empowerment.
• Lead program implementation, collaborating with USAID, local governments, Indigenous communities, and regional stakeholders, ensuring that the program’s goals align with local conservation priorities and promote inclusive economic development through environmentally sustainable practices.
• Manage and supervise regional staff, consultants, and partners in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the program’s activities, ensuring the integration of local environmental knowledge and cultural respect.
• Foster partnerships with Indigenous organizations, private sector entities, government agencies, and NGOs, ensuring that all stakeholders are meaningfully engaged in the program’s development and execution.
• Ensure program compliance with USAID regulations, environmental standards, and ethical guidelines, particularly in the context of Indigenous rights, cultural preservation, and biodiversity and natural resources conservation.
• Navigate programmatic shifts by adapting the initiative’s strategies to evolving environmental, economic, and political conditions in the Amazon, while maintaining operational integrity.
• Oversee financial management, including budgeting, tracking, and reporting, ensuring resources are used efficiently to support conservation outcomes and community development.
• Produce regular reports and presentations for USAID and other stakeholders, highlighting progress in achieving conservation, sustainability, and community development goals, while sharing lessons learned and addressing any challenges.

Qualifications include:

• At least 15 years of relevant experience in international development work managing all integrated aspect aspects of complex programs of similar scope, with particular emphasis on Indigenous conservation, environmental sustainability, climate change, bioeconomy and enterprise development, or similar fields.
• At least 6 years of supervisory project management experience on donor-funded projects as Chief of Party, Country Director, or in an equivalent leadership role in the Latin America and the Caribbean region, ideally with a focus on environmental conservation, community development, or Indigenous rights.
• A Bachelor’s degree in international development, environmental sciences, Indigenous studies, business administration, biodiversity conservation, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Strong background in economic development, job creation, and vocational training, especially in remote or Indigenous communities.
• Proven experience in Indigenous governance, forest conservation, sustainable development, and environmental stewardship in the context of the Amazon or similar ecosystems preferred.
• Experience leading a diverse and dispersed team, particularly in challenging environments or conflict-affected regions, while overseeing financial management, budgeting, procurement, and compliance with international donor requirements.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken) and working proficiency in Spanish required; knowledge of Portuguese and Indigenous languages of the Amazon is highly preferred.