Responsible for overall leadership of ABA ROLI’s role in the Expanding Access to Justice (EAJ) program, with responsibilities to provide technical guidance on program initiatives to improve community engagement on justice solutions, to strengthen the provision of justice services among in-country partners, and to foster improved navigation of plural justice pathways. The DCOP will ensure that ABA ROLI’s contribution to all program aspects are aligned with the overall mission, vision, and values of ABA ROLI and will ensure effective coordination with the program partner, Pact, per the EAJ one-team approach. The DCOP provides oversight of implementation and ensures quality of program deliverables. The DCOP also represents ABA ROLI within the EAJ consortium and, alongside Pact partners, to USG and international entities to share information on relevant developments in the countries, progress for awarded programs, and impact through monitoring and evaluation data. The DCOP reports to the Director of the Africa Division, ABA ROLI, and works in close coordination with the EAJ DCOP and ABA ROLI Research Team Lead.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

Technical responsibilities

• Develops, implements, and oversees program priorities and ensures interventions are aligned with the overall mission, vision, and values of the program and that they are responsive to local needs. Incorporates program learning into decision-making and strategic direction of the program
• Advises the program, including COP and program managers, on technical legal issues
• Coordinates with the Research Team Lead to support the inclusion and influence of program learning on broader program objectives
• Directs engagement with partners and provides technical guidance to achieve program goals relating to measures to strengthen the provision of justice services among in-country partners and ultimately to foster improved navigation of plural justice pathways for aggrieved parties
• Contributes to program initiatives to improve community engagement on justice solutions across the stability spectrum in Somalia, including in Early Recovery contexts
• Manages the ABA ROLI program budget in coordination with ABA ROLI Finance and Program staff, and in consultation with ABA ROLI Research Team Lead and the program COP
• Supports monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) initiatives to ensure effective documentation and analysis of program efforts. Informs the technical strategy to integrate learning and recommend adaptations to program components and workplans to promote greater effectiveness

Management Responsibilities

• Works collaboratively with the project’s Senior Management Team (comprising the COP, DCOP, Research Team Lead) and related program personnel
• Manages and oversees program staff and consultants, including the Justice and Legal Support Advisor, Program Officers and Associates
• As Deputy COP, exercises delegated authority on all program-related aspects, including oversight of program personnel and guidance of program activities, including stakeholder and partner meetings
• Working in coordination with the COP, provides input to the recruitment of program personnel and leads the recruitment of relevant ABA ROLI technical staff
• Supports all program reporting obligations and assumes primary responsibility for reporting related to ABA ROLI technical support
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with ABA and donor policies, practices, procedures, and regulations. Accountable for adherence to and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act [FCPA]
• Performs quality oversight of financial management of all offices within his/her portfolio, conducting periodic reviews of expenditures for accuracy and reasonableness.
• Monitors the operational, political, and legal environment within the host countries and informs ABA ROLI management of environmental shifts that impact operations
• Mentors and trains staff in strategic implementation of programs, overall program management, integration of MEL data for decision making, and reporting. Ensures all approved targets and components are effectively resourced to optimize attainment of the objectives. Provides leadership, coaching, counseling, development to and through assigned employees.
• Performs other related duties as coordinated with the COP

Partnership and representation responsibilities

• Creates, fosters, nurtures, and expands working relationships with host government representatives, local justice actors, other NGOs, and similarly situated entities to bolster and enhance the opportunity for achieving ABA ROLI program objectives
• Liaises with potential donors, embassies, and private foundations, and identifies new funding opportunities from USG and non-USG donors

Minimum requirements:

• Minimum eight (8) years of experience working closely with rule of law and justice
• institutions (formal and/or informal) in a developing country context, preferably in a
• post‐conflict environment or in Africa;
• Experience in building capacity of legal aid and paralegal networks, preferably in
• countries with complex legal systems and customary law, through assessment,
• mentoring, training and technical assistance;
• Understanding and experience with alternative dispute resolution mechanisms,
• preferably in Islamic majority countries;
• Demonstrated capacity to develop solid working relationships with non‐governmental
• institutions, and coordinate with other donors.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills;
• Demonstrated record of success in politically sensitive environments;
• Appropriate and relevant university degree; and
• Fluency in written and spoken English