About MCA
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a U.S. government corporation focused on assisting countries dedicated to good governance, economic freedom, and investing in people. In May 2022, MCC signed a five-year agreement (“compact”) with the government of Lesotho (GoL) aimed at poverty reduction through inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the country.
The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA- Lesotho II), is an entity established by the Government to act as the accountable entity to implement the Compact, with the authority to bind the Government with regard to all Program activities.
Lesotho Compact
The Lesotho Health and Horticulture Compact aims to benefit 2.5 million people by growing, strengthening, and organizing the private sector in Lesotho and improving the government’s coordination to deliver critical services necessary to support private sector development.
It will achieve this goal through investments in Health System Strengthening, strengthening of the business environment and Market Driven Irrigated Horticulture, providing sustainable income for smallholders and increasing climate resilience by replacing rain-fed subsistence farming with irrigated commercial horticulture in select locations.
The GoL is committed to passing several key reforms that will help make this compact successful, including reforms that address gender equality, working conditions and worker safety, as well as land and water rights. All of the compact’s projects focus on overcoming barriers to the economic inclusion of women, youth, and the rural poor.
Chief Executive Officer
Position Objective
MCA-Lesotho II wishes to appoint a candidate with the competencies required to serve as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Authority and is therefore inviting applications from suitably qualified candidatesto fill the position of CEO tenable at the MCA-Lesotho II Office based in Maseru.
Serving under the supervision of the MCA-Lesotho II Board of Directors, the appointed candidate should be a dynamic individual with the requisite vision and leadership qualities to provide the strategy direction to the Authority. The position envisages a leader who can clearly communicate MCA-Lesotho II’s objectives, inspire, and motivate stakeholders and staff, coordinate multiple streams of complex work, and delegate tasks without losing sight of details. In carrying out duties, the CEO should be cognisant of environmental, gender and social inclusion aspects. The CEO is the primary representative of MCA-Lesotho II to the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and other key stakeholders.
Primary responsibilities
- Serve as the public representative of MCA-Lesotho II and the Compact for the Government of Lesotho with the general public, program partners, the donor community, civil society, the private sector, and other constituencies.
- Lead MCA-Lesotho II, aligning both the programmatic and operational functions. The candidate is also able to develop systems, project management standards, processes, and strategies that establish the vision, targets, milestones, and external outreach necessary to ensure compact success.
- Lead overall MCA-Lesotho II communications and stakeholder engagement to ensure broad knowledge and buy-in on the program including the program scope, progress, commitment of resources, execution of key reforms and commitment of resources among all key stakeholders and the general public.
- Lead MCA-Lesotho II ’s collaboration with Government Ministries, civil society, private sector and social partners to execute on all GoL reform commitments in the Compact documents.
- Align the Compact’s programmatic, statutory, and operational requirements with Operations and Program frameworks and allocate budgets and resources to ensure MCA’s ability to deliver.
- Participate in and advise the MCA-Lesotho II’s Board on a regular basis on the progress, issues, and risks related to the implementation of the Compact program and facilitate Board decisions on MCA-Lesotho II operations.
- Ensure that the relevant projects and activities are designed and delivered on time and within scope using a risk-based approach to project management as defined in the compact.
- Oversee competitive recruitment and then lead the executive management team and all MCA-Lesotho II staff and consultants to ensure that a collaborative environment with a ‘one team’ approach is established to facilitate cooperation, information sharing, and mutual accountability across the MCA-Lesotho II MCC teams.
- Establish, with support from the Directors of the MCA-Lesotho, the structures, systems, and strategies that will drive the operation of the MCA-Lesotho II and ensure that the relevant projects and activities are designed and delivered on time and within scope using a risk-based approach to project management as defined in the compact.
- Oversee MCA-Lesotho II’s compliance with all MCC policies and procedures regarding management of projects, funds and personnel with a culture that supports zero tolerance for fraud and corruption.
Required Competencies
- Advanced post graduate degree in economics, business administration, engineering, law, public administration, or other relevant fields.
- Minimum of ten (10) years’ experience, five of which should have been served at an executive or managerial level, directing large scale, cross cutting international or domestic programs.
- Proven representational skills, liaising with high level government officials, private sector, and international donors. (DG or Minister/Principal Secretary level)
- Familiarity with public financial management and donor project management systems or similar systems.
- Must be able to effectively use Google and MS Office Applications and learn any specific applications related to work. Working knowledge of the relevant ICT applications to facilitate a proper interrogation and inquiry of reports generated by subordinate professional staff.
- Experience leading large, multi-cultural and multi-dimensional teams.
- Experience advancing or advocating for policy and/or institutional reform.
- Demonstrated portfolio management and operational leadership skills, preferably with experience working on large (+$10M) projects funded by international donors, including procurement and management of large contracts with consulting services and infrastructure firms.
- High-level knowledge of the development environment in Lesotho and the challenges of program execution and coordination.
- Proficiency in English (writing and speaking) required. Proficiency in Sesotho (writing and speaking) is preferred.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted on-line, on or before the application deadline July 7th, 2023.
Applications should be accompanied by the following documents:
- Curriculum vitae containing detailed work experience;
- Cover letter confirming interest and availability;
- Soft copies of higher education and professional certificates (if available);
Only applications that come in before or on the application deadline will be considered.
- We thank all applicants. However, note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Submit your application online via: https://lesotho-jobs.tenderwell.app