Position title: chief of party, countering cartel recruitment (mexico)
childfund office: mexico
manager/supervisor title: mexico country director
position type: full‑time fixed term
work environment: hybrid
this is a full‑time, grant‑funded position for two years. Offer is subject to receipt of donor funds.
about childfund
childfund is a child‑focused international development organization that connects children with the people, resources and institutions they need to grow up healthy, educated, skilled and safe, no matter where they are. We work directly in 23 countries, with extended reach to more than 60 countries through our global partnership network.
values
we aspire for every person in our organization—program participants, supporters, staff and volunteers alike—to feel free, safe, and confident to be themselves. In our culture of connection, you will have ample opportunity to grow, learn, and lead whilst contributing your talents and innovations to our mission.
commitment
childfund international has a zero‑tolerance policy regarding sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment and all other forms of harm by its staff, partners and other representatives in the delivery of its mission and services for children. Childfund is committed to creating a safe environment in the workplace as well as in the communities where it delivers programs and services. Childfund expects every staff member, partner and representative to adhere to this commitment and to ensure all organisational policies and standards are followed. This position is subject to a range of vetting checks, including a criminal record check and/or disclosure to ensure program participants are safeguarded.
about this role
the chief of party will lead day‑to‑day implementation of an inl‑funded cooperative agreement aimed at reducing recruitment by organised crime groups in mexico by advancing a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, prosecution, disengagement and legal reform. The project targets key stakeholders and communities in six priority states: sinaloa, sonora, tamaulipas, jalisco, michoacán and guerrero.
working closely with government counterparts, civil society and frontline justice and security actors, the chief of party will coordinate partnerships, local programme implementation, risk management and donor reporting—ensuring activities align with the award's goal and comply with inl's requirements (including inl approvals of annual workplans and key technical products).
this role offers a unique opportunity to lead an impactful initiative that strengthens protective systems for children and youth by supporting safer alternatives for vulnerable populations. The chief of party will shape implementation strategy, build multi‑sector coalitions and deliver measurable results that contribute to stability for children in mexico.
required experience and education
* bachelor's degree in criminal justice, law enforcement, international development or a related field; master’s degree preferred.
* at least eight (8) years of experience leading projects funded by the u.s. Department of state, international bureau of international narcotics and law enforcement affairs (inl), including partner management, work planning, reporting and compliance.
* demonstrated experience coordinating multi‑sector stakeholders (government, civil society, justice and security actors).
* experience with a premier law enforcement agency strongly preferred.
* experience supporting international law‑enforcement capacity building strongly preferred.
* experience in mexico or similar operational environments highly desirable.
* proven ability to operate effectively in sensitive environments with strong risk awareness and safeguarding practice.
* professional fluency in spanish and english.
primary responsibilities
1. project leadership & implementation management
lead execution of the approved implementation plan, coordinating stakeholders and partners to deliver results aligned to the project goal and selected objectives.
develop, manage and adapt detailed workplans, milestones and implementation schedules; oversee start‑up and closeout activities across the period of performance (24 months anticipated).
ensure high‑quality deliverables and timely completion of activities, including at least three activities per selected objective within the approved budget scope.
2. stakeholder engagement, coordination and partnership management
maintain strong working relationships with mexican government counterparts and institutions relevant to deterrence/disengagement and criminal justice response (e.g., prosecutors, investigative police, analysts and other frontline actors), and with civil society organisations.
coordinate engagement with targeted audiences including mexican legislators, justice and security actors, csos and communities in priority states.
manage sub‑recipient/partner performance (where applicable), including clear scopes of work, coordination routines, deliverable review and compliance monitoring.
3. technical oversight across objective areas
o legal reform support: coordinate efforts that promote legal reforms to criminalise recruitment and support enforcement at federal and state levels.
o capacity building for justice and security actors: coordinate training and implementation support so frontline law enforcement, prosecutors, investigative police and analysts understand the use of prevention approaches.
o prevention and deterrence programming: oversee research‑informed prevention initiatives in priority states and incorporate inl‑provided data as required.
o public advocacy and awareness: direct multi‑sectoral advocacy and awareness campaigns that elevate the social and economic implications of recruitment, ensuring compliance with relevant mexican media/digital platform restrictions noted in the nofo.
4. monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting
lead performance monitoring set‑up and implementation, including development/refinement of the project change map and performance indicator reference sheet (pirs).
ensure accurate, timely submission of quarterly performance reports through inl's devresults system, coordinating inputs from partners and internal teams.
promote adaptive management and evidence use, integrating lessons learned and monitoring insights into ongoing implementation (and, where feasible, supporting research/evaluation components).
5. compliance, risk management and safeguarding
ensure activities and partner delivery comply with donor requirements, including annual workplans and key technical materials (e.g., m&e plan, curricula/training products, and other specified approvals).
maintain and regularly update project risk tracking and mitigation actions, including safety risks to implementers and participants.
model and enforce strong safeguarding practices in line with childfund's commitment and expectations for all staff and partners.
childfund's core competencies
* teamwork – the ability to work effectively and collaborate with others; values and respects individual differences.
* communication – demonstrates empathy and tact when communicating with others and uses a storytelling approach when appropriate.
* results orientation – gets things done; takes proactive steps to achieve organisational goals and quality standards.
* decision making – uses good judgement, critical thinking and non‑traditional ways to evaluate problems and opportunities; reflects and innovates to improve decisions and outcomes.
* resilience – thrives and grows in rapidly changing, demanding and complex environments.
* digital literacy – adopts and champions new technology to relevant contexts, stays aware of technological trends and embraces technological solutions to business challenges.
other required competencies
* fluency in spanish and english.
* strong networking and relationship‑building skills.
* good presentation skills and demonstrated ability to conduct effective capacity building and training in virtual and face‑to‑face settings.
* demonstrated ability to manage complex stakeholder dynamics and facilitate consensus across government, civil society and justice/security actors.
* strong analytical and writing skills, including the ability to translate technical content (policy/legal/m&e) into clear briefs, training products, and donor‑facing reports.
* high integrity and discretion when handling sensitive information, with sound judgement in high‑risk or politically sensitive environments.
* demonstrated cultural humility and community‑engagement skills, including the ability to work respectfully with affected communities and prioritise do‑no‑harm approaches.
* proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and partners, including coaching, delegation and performance management to meet deliverables on time and within scope.
* strong planning and organisation skills, including managing multiple priorities, timelines and approvals processes in a cooperative agreement context.
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