Chief of Party, Food for Peace (FFP) - Guatemala

Location: Huehuetenango, Guatemala

Reports to: Guatemala Country Director

Please Note: This position is contingent upon award and USDA approval with an anticipated start date of October 2026.

Overview:

Global Communities champions innovative solutions to complex challenges at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development, and financial inclusion. We ensure our approaches are as dynamic and diverse as the communities we serve. We bring together local ingenuity and global insights to save lives and secure strong futures.

Global Communities is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) for an anticipated two-year, USDA Food for Peace project. The Food for Peace Program furnishes U.S. agricultural commodities on behalf of the American people to address famine, food crises, and acute food insecurity in countries facing emergency-level need—including contexts marked by significant household food consumption gaps (IPC Phase 3 or above), sudden-onset or deteriorating conditions driven by armed conflict, violence, or hazardous environmental events, or formally declared humanitarian emergencies. Under the program, 100% U.S.-origin commodities are procured, shipped, and distributed to vulnerable populations through interventions that may include general and targeted food distributions, food-for-work/assets, conditional rations, emergency school feeding in refugee camps, management of acute malnutrition, and complementary activities supporting early post-emergency recovery.

The COP will lead and oversee the overall implementation of the program, including technical strategy, attaining targeted project deliverables, financial and operational leadership, and human resources.  The COP is responsible for overall program implementation, strategic vision, and outcome achievement.  The COP provides an integrated vision for the program and will manage a team of senior staff to ensure the quality, timeliness, and efficiency of all products and activities generated under the project. The COP will be responsible for communications with USDA, for publicly representing the project, and for liaising with Government entities and other institutions/stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

• Provide program leadership, direction, and supervision, including oversight of staff, consultants, and partners,monitoringand evaluation,and program implementation.
• Ensure implementation of technical interventions, resulting in concrete and on-time and on-target outcomes.
• Lead regular work plan, budget, and implementation reviews tofacilitatethe cost-effective andtimelyachievement of contract deliverables.
• Manage team members, including highly specialized technical staff, to deliver against the annual workplan.
• Ensure project activities maximize impact and are completed in compliance with Global Communities, USDA rules and regulations, local laws, and donor agreement requirements.
• Lead in adaptive management, achieving peakperformanceandfacilitateinnovation.
• Wherever possible,identifyopportunities to engage partners and create growth, and connect actors to find mutual opportunity and benefit.
• Oversee the production and submission oftimelyactivity and financial reports to USDA, effectively and accurately communicating project progress, achievements, challenges, andutilizationof funds.
• Ensure establishment and maintenance of systems for project operations.
• Act asprimarypoint of contact for the project with USDA, government counterparts, and other critical in-country stakeholders.
• Represent Global Communities and overall program interests as necessary andappropriate.
• Build andmaintainstrong working relations with key internal and external stakeholders, beneficiaries, prime and subcontractors, suppliers, and partners. Provide effective andtimelyresponses to inquiries and concerns.
• Foster good working relationships with other agencies working on similar or complimentary projects, maximizing visibility and learning.
• Be the principal point of contact with other agencies and individuals working on related projects and activities.
• Ensure that lessons learned aredisseminatedand applied.
• Liaise with Global Communities colleagues to coordinate the inputs of gender and inclusion,monitoringand evaluation and other advisory inputs to provide cross-cutting support.
• Collaborate with Global Communities colleagues and projects in-country to ensure effective coordination of Global Communities country operations.
• Undertake all other duties and projects as may be assigned from time to time.
• Frequent travel to project locationsrequired

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a discipline related toagriculture, agri-business, economics, internationaldevelopmentor other relevant fieldwith a minimum of 10 years of professional experience, including managing multi-sectoral projects with increasing responsibilities and duties; or,
• Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related toagriculture, agri-business, economics, international development, or other relevant fieldwith a minimum of 12 years of professional experience, including managing multi-sectoral projects with increasing responsibilities and duties.
• At least 5 years’ experience as Chief of Party, senior management position, or equivalent, leading implementation of large international donor programs.
• Technicalexpertiseinfood security, nutrition, market systems development, value chain development, and/orclimate adapted agricultural production.
• Experience working inemerging marketswith experience inGuatemalarequired.
• High levelof interpersonal, technical, and analytical skills, including a demonstrated ability to interact effectively and collaborate with a broad range of public and private sector counterparts and other key stakeholders.
• Demonstrated knowledge and application ofFood forPeaceprogramsor similarprogramspreferred.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with government officials, civil society organizations, private sector actors, implementing partners, international donors, and other stakeholders.
• Proven ability to communicate a common vision among diverse partners and the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams is desired.
• Evidence of effective communication skills, both oral and written, tofulfillthe diverse technical and managerial requirements of the agreement is desired.
• Languages: Full Professional Proficiency in spoken and writtenSpanishis required. Must be able to useSpanishfluently and accurately and be able to read all styles and forms on all levels pertinent to professional needs. Englishproficiencypreferred but notrequired.
• A passion for the mission and values of Global Communities.
• Local candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Global Communities positively welcomes and seeks applications from all sections of society. We are committed to a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of everyone and offers equal opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

Global Communities holds strict safeguarding principles and has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. In the process of recruitment, selection, and appointment, Global Communities will conduct robust reference and background screening checks, including international vetting as a signature of the Global Misconduct Disclosure Scheme to ensure children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded, and abuse is prevented. The incumbent is required to carry out their duties in accordance with Global Communities Safeguarding policy and the Standards of Conduct.