Deputy Chief of Party job at Cordaid

About Cordaid

Cordaid is a value-based international development and emergency relief organisation, based in the Netherlands with operations in over 14 countries including Uganda. We work in and on fragility and support communities in their efforts to improve health care, education, food security, and justice. Cordaid believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for just and sustainable societies where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion divide societies, we connect people and communities. We stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders. We aim at maximizing our social impact and contributing to systemic change. We operate where natural disasters strike, where conflicts tear up communities and where lack of opportunities and service delivery keep families in extreme poverty.

For the - Agricultural Governance Results Improvement Project A-GRIP, with its main office in Fort portal Cordaid is looking for a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP).

About Result Based Financing (RBF)

Cordaid has been active in Uganda for over 25 years. In Uganda and in 15 other sub-Saharan African countries Cordaid has experience in system strengthening through the Result Based Financing (RBF) approach. In Uganda we are implementing an RBF project, Agricultural Governance Results Improvement Project (A-GRIP) since November 2023.The project has a lifespan of 5 years and a multimillion Euro budget.

Purpose of Position:

The Deputy Chief of Party is responsible for leading the day-to-day management, coordination and operational delivery of A-GRIP. The DCOP ensures that approved strategies, workplans, budgets, technical priorities and performance targets are translated into coherent implementation across districts, technical components, partners and operational functions.

The DCOP works under the strategic direction of the Chief of Party (CoP). The CoP retains overall accountability for strategic leadership, donor and government representation, external positioning and programme results, while the DCOP serves as the principal internal delivery lead responsible for execution, coordination, follow-up and performance management across the programme.

The DCOP plays a central role in ensuring that A-GRIP’s systems-strengthening mandate is delivered in practice and that programme implementation remains aligned with the wider EKN-funded ecosystem, including coordination with partner projects that are more directly farmer-facing.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Day-to-Day Programme Management and Operational Delivery

• Lead the day-to-day management and coordination of A-GRIP implementation across all programme components with a strong focus on the land tenure component, districts and operational functions.
• Translate strategic direction from the CoP into practical implementation plans, clear team priorities, realistic timelines and accountable delivery processes.
• Coordinate the execution of approved annual and periodic workplans, ensuring activities are delivered on time, within scope and in line with agreed budgets and donor commitments.
• Ensure that technical, operational, financial and MEL/data functions work together effectively to support integrated programme delivery.
• Monitor implementation progress across districts and components, identify bottlenecks early, and ensure timely follow-up with responsible team members.
• Ensure that programme delivery strengthens public systems and services in ways that support A-GRIP’s enabling-environment role for smallholder farmers within the wider EKN portfolio.
• Oversee operational coordination with district local governments, sub-county structures, implementing partners and field teams to ensure timely and coherent delivery.
• Ensure that district-level engagement is well planned, coordinated and aligned with programme objectives, workplans and technical standards.
• Support technical teams in strengthening working relationships with district structures, including DPM, ENR and CAO functions, while escalating strategic or politically sensitive issues to the CoP.
• Ensure that implementation arrangements with partners and local government counterparts are clear, practical and performance-oriented.
• Monitor partner and field-level delivery, ensuring that challenges are identified, documented and addressed in a timely manner.

Risk Management, Compliance and Resource Use

• Support the CoP in ensuring that programme implementation complies with donor requirements, grant agreements, Cordaid policies and applicable procedures.
• Work with finance and operations teams to ensure that activity planning, procurement, logistics and budget utilisation are aligned and support timely implementation.
• Identify operational, delivery, coordination and compliance risks, and ensure appropriate mitigation actions are agreed and followed up.
• Escalate strategic, reputational, donor-related or high-risk issues to the CoP in a timely manner.
• Promote transparent, accountable and efficient use of programme resources across teams, partners and field operations.

Team Management and Capacity Strengthening

• Provide day-to-day management, coaching and coordination support to assigned staff and functional teams.
• Strengthen planning, delivery and accountability practices across the programme team.
• Support performance management processes by clarifying expectations, reviewing progress and identifying capacity development needs.
• Foster a collaborative, respectful and results-oriented team culture, ensuring that staff understand how their work contributes to A-GRIP outcomes.
• Support knowledge transfer and capability development to strengthen programme sustainability and continuity.

Integrity

• Showcases integrity standards as outlined in Cordaid's integrity policies. Fulfils integrity responsibilities as outlined in Cordaid's Integrity Framework and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Actively contributes to a safe environment within their scope of influence by encouraging dialogue, trust, as well as understanding and adherence to Cordaid's integrity standards and procedures.

Positioning, Reporting and Role Boundaries

The Deputy Chief of Party reports to the Chief of Party and is responsible for day-to-day programme management, internal coordination and operational execution. The DCOP ensures that the programme moves from strategy to implementation through disciplined planning, follow-up, coordination and performance management.

The Chief of Party retains overall accountability for A-GRIP’s strategic leadership, external representation, donor relationship, government engagement, strategic risk management and final programme results. The DCOP does not replace the CoP as the primary representative to EKN or national-level strategic stakeholders, but may represent the programme in agreed technical, operational or coordination forums when delegated by the CoP.

The DCOP works closely with senior technical leads, MEL/data leadership, finance and operations leadership, and regional/field coordination teams. The role ensures that these functions operate as a coherent delivery system, with clear roles, shared priorities and timely escalation of decisions requiring CoP guidance.

This division of responsibilities is intended to ensure clear leadership: the CoP leads strategy and external positioning; the DCOP leads internal execution and operational delivery.

Requirements

The Deputy Chief of Party is a senior programme manager with strong operational leadership, coordination and delivery capabilities. The role requires experience managing complex, multi-component development programmes and translating strategic priorities into practical implementation across teams, partners and geographies. The successful candidate should possess strong skills in planning, coordination, performance management, risk management and adaptive implementation, and is able to work effectively with technical teams, MEL/data, finance, operations, district stakeholders and partner organisations. The DCOP must be comfortable operating in a complex donor-funded ecosystem and able to ensure that A-GRIP’s systems-strengthening role complements, rather than duplicates, more directly farmer-facing partner programmes.

• Master’s degree in land governance, public administration, international development, governance, rural development, public policy, programme management or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience with, and knowledge of the land tenure sector, preferably in Uganda.
• At least 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in programme management, preferably in agriculture, land tenure, governance, public service delivery, decentralisation, natural resource management or rural development.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating complex, multi-stakeholder programmes across multiple locations.
• Strong experience in work planning, implementation management, performance tracking, risk management and donor compliance.
• Experience working with government institutions, district local governments, implementing partners and donor-funded programme structures.
• Familiarity with results-based financing, performance-based approaches, log frame management, MEL systems and adaptive management is an advantage.
• Strong team leadership, communication, facilitation and problem-solving skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English; ability and willingness to travel regularly within Uganda.
• The right to live and work in Uganda

Competencies

• Operational leadership and delivery discipline: translates strategy into practical plans, follows through on commitments and ensures timely delivery.
• Coordination and integration: brings technical, operational, MEL/data, finance and field teams together around shared priorities and clear accountability.
• Results and performance orientation: uses targets, milestones and evidence to manage progress and improve delivery.
• Adaptive management and learning: uses data, field insights and feedback to support timely course correction and continuous improvement.
• Partner and district coordination: works effectively with local government, implementing partners and other EKN-funded initiatives while respecting role boundaries.
• Team leadership and accountability: supports staff performance, strengthens team culture and promotes responsible decision-making.
• Risk and compliance awareness: identifies operational risks early and ensures donor and Cordaid requirements are followed.
• Communication and judgment: communicates clearly, escalates appropriately and exercises sound judgment in complex implementation settings.

• Lead the day-to-day management and coordination of A-GRIP implementation across all programme components with a strong focus on the land tenure component, districts and operational functions.
• Translate strategic direction from the CoP into practical implementation plans, clear team priorities, realistic timelines and accountable delivery processes.
• Coordinate the execution of approved annual and periodic workplans, ensuring activities are delivered on time, within scope and in line with agreed budgets and donor commitments.
• Ensure that technical, operational, financial and MEL/data functions work together effectively to support integrated programme delivery.
• Monitor implementation progress across districts and components, identify bottlenecks early, and ensure timely follow-up with responsible team members.
• Ensure that programme delivery strengthens public systems and services in ways that support A-GRIP’s enabling-environment role for smallholder farmers within the wider EKN portfolio.
• Oversee operational coordination with district local governments, sub-county structures, implementing partners and field teams to ensure timely and coherent delivery.
• Ensure that district-level engagement is well planned, coordinated and aligned with programme objectives, workplans and technical standards.
• Support technical teams in strengthening working relationships with district structures, including DPM, ENR and CAO functions, while escalating strategic or politically sensitive issues to the CoP.
• Ensure that implementation arrangements with partners and local government counterparts are clear, practical and performance-oriented.
• Monitor partner and field-level delivery, ensuring that challenges are identified, documented and addressed in a timely manner.
• Support the CoP in ensuring that programme implementation complies with donor requirements, grant agreements, Cordaid policies and applicable procedures.
• Work with finance and operations teams to ensure that activity planning, procurement, logistics and budget utilisation are aligned and support timely implementation.
• Identify operational, delivery, coordination and compliance risks, and ensure appropriate mitigation actions are agreed and followed up.
• Escalate strategic, reputational, donor-related or high-risk issues to the CoP in a timely manner.
• Promote transparent, accountable and efficient use of programme resources across teams, partners and field operations.
• Provide day-to-day management, coaching and coordination support to assigned staff and functional teams.
• Strengthen planning, delivery and accountability practices across the programme team.
• Support performance management processes by clarifying expectations, reviewing progress and identifying capacity development needs.
• Foster a collaborative, respectful and results-oriented team culture, ensuring that staff understand how their work contributes to A-GRIP outcomes.
• Support knowledge transfer and capability development to strengthen programme sustainability and continuity.
• Showcases integrity standards as outlined in Cordaid's integrity policies. Fulfils integrity responsibilities as outlined in Cordaid's Integrity Framework and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Actively contributes to a safe environment within their scope of influence by encouraging dialogue, trust, as well as understanding and adherence to Cordaid's integrity standards and procedures.

• Strong team leadership, communication, facilitation and problem-solving skills.
• Operational leadership and delivery discipline
• Coordination and integration
• Results and performance orientation
• Adaptive management and learning
• Partner and district coordination
• Team leadership and accountability
• Risk and compliance awareness
• Communication and judgment

• Master’s degree in land governance, public administration, international development, governance, rural development, public policy, programme management or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience with, and knowledge of the land tenure sector, preferably in Uganda.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating complex, multi-stakeholder programmes across multiple locations.
• Strong experience in work planning, implementation management, performance tracking, risk management and donor compliance.
• Experience working with government institutions, district local governments, implementing partners and donor-funded programme structures.
• Familiarity with results-based financing, performance-based approaches, log frame management, MEL systems and adaptive management is an advantage.
• Fluency in written and spoken English; ability and willingness to travel regularly within Uganda.
• The right to live and work in Uganda