Deputy Chief of Party, USDA Food for Progress, Bolivia

Deputy Chief of Party, USDA Food for Progress, Bolivia

Organization: NCBA CLUSA
Location: Bolivia
Reports to: Chief of Party
Position type: Full-time, contingent upon donor funding

Position Overview

NCBA CLUSA seeks a Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for an anticipated USDA Food for Progress program focused on strengthening the dairy value chain in eligible highland dairy areas below 4,000 meters and connected to city centers. This position is based in Bolivia. In-country presence is required due to program, partner, and compliance needs.

The DCOP will serve as the senior in-country technical and stakeholder-engagement lead, supporting the Chief of Party (COP) in technical implementation, adaptive management, institutional coordination, private-sector engagement, and field operations. The DCOP will provide leadership across dairy productivity, feed and fodder systems, regenerative livestock practices, animal health, milk quality, producer organization strengthening, and processor market linkages.

NCBA CLUSA seeks an individual with deep relationships in Bolivia’s dairy sector and demonstrated experience working effectively with producer organizations, cooperatives, processors, government institutions, financial institutions, input suppliers, universities, and private-sector partners. The DCOP will play a central role in ensuring locally led implementation, sustainability, and long-term private sector engagement across the dairy value chain.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the COP in implementing annual work plans, activity schedules, field operations, adaptive management processes, and donor reporting.
• Lead coordination and technical quality assurance across dairy productivity, feed and fodder systems, regenerative grazing and pasture management, climate-smart livestock systems, animal health, milk quality, genetics and artificial insemination systems, producer organization strengthening, market linkages, and access to finance.
• Lead engagement with producer organizations, cooperatives, dairy processors, artificial insemination and genetics providers, veterinary service providers, financial institutions, and input suppliers to strengthen market systems and improve long-term competitiveness.
• Enhance private sector engagement and strengthen commercially viable linkages between smallholder farmers, cooperatives, processors, and end markets to improve milk quality, productivity, aggregation, and value-added opportunities.
• Lead technical and stakeholder coordination efforts to lower production and processing costs through improved feeding systems, herd productivity, regenerative livestock practices, aggregation efficiencies, and quality-based market incentives.
• Coordinate closely with relevant public institutions, including SENASAG, PROLECHE, departmental and municipal governments, universities, and research institutions, to support alignment with national dairy sector priorities and sustainability objectives.
• Manage day-to-day coordination with local partners, subrecipients, consultants, and service providers.
• Support partner work planning, performance monitoring, deliverable review, and compliance follow-up.
• Work closely with finance, operations, grants, compliance, and MEL staff to ensure activities are technically sound, documented, compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with approved budgets, indicators, sustainability objectives, and donor requirements.
• Supervise technical, program, operations, or regional staff as assigned by the COP.
• Serve as Acting Chief of Party when delegated.

Required Qualifications

• Current residency in country and legal work authorization. Regular in-country presence is required due to program, partner, and compliance needs.
• Strong networks and working relationships in Bolivia’s dairy sector, including with producer organizations, processors, government institutions, private-sector actors, input suppliers, processors, financial institutions, and/or technical service providers.
• Advanced degree in animal science, agriculture, agribusiness, international development, business administration, management, economics, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in dairy, livestock, agribusiness, agricultural market systems, cooperative development, rural enterprise development, livestock extension systems, or donor-funded agricultural development programs.
• Strong understanding of Bolivia’s dairy value chain, including feed/fodder constraints, producer organization capacity, processor linkages, milk quality, and private-sector engagement.
• Experience coordinating technical teams, field operations, partners, consultants, or subrecipients.
• Experience with USDA, USAID, or other donor-funded programs preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills in Spanish and English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience as DCOP, Technical Director, Senior Livestock Advisor, Dairy Sector Specialist, Operations Director, Cooperative Development Lead, or senior project manager on donor-funded agriculture or livestock programs.
• Established relationships in priority dairy regions, including Cochabamba, La Paz Department, Oruro, Tarija, and surrounding dairy corridors.
• Experience with dairy productivity, feed and fodder systems, animal health, milk quality, cooperative development, or processor-supplier linkages.
• Familiarity with USDA Food for Progress or other U.S. government-funded agriculture programs.
• Existing relationships in priority dairy regions such as Cochabamba, La Paz Department, Oruro, Tarija, or other relevant dairy corridors.

Equal Opportunity and Safeguarding

NCBA CLUSA is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds. NCBA CLUSA is committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and respectful workplace and expects all staff, consultants, and partners to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct, safeguarding, anti-harassment, and accountability.

For consideration, submit your CV and cover letter describing your experience with respect to the requirements to jwhite@ncba.coop cc: chammerdorfer@ncba.coop

 

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