Introducing Zinc Network
Zinc Network is a B-Corp certified international development company headquartered in London and with offices in Washington, D.C., Tbilisi, Riga, Warsaw, and Nairobi. We’re on a mission to achieve meaningful, measurable change through the application of behavioral science and strategic communications, technology, and human-centered design (HCD).
We have 100+ team members from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds, including diplomats, behavioral scientists, researchers, content producers, digital experts, and service designers. We work with a broad range of governmental, NGO, and private sector clients, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); the U.S. Department of State (DOS); the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD); the UK Home Office (HO); the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); UN agencies and missions; Microsoft; and the Internet Watch Foundation.
We conceptualize and create award-winning programs, interventions, and campaigns that change the way that people think, feel, and act across a wide range of pervasive social issues, including disinformation and hate speech, violent extremism, poor governance, threats to children and young people’s online safety, gender-based violence, and more.
Zinc seeks a Chief of Party (COP) for the anticipated USAID Central Asia Media and Countering Disinformation Activity. The COP will provide strategic and managerial oversight of the activity. This position will be based in Central Asia – most likely in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Key responsibilities:
- Lead a cutting-edge program dedicated to advancing creative, results-driven approaches to countering disinformation, advancing information integrity, and strengthening independent media across Central Asia
- Drive overall program strategy and technical direction, and supervise partners and personnel, including by providing project management, operations, and financial leadership to reach program goals
- Serve as the primary liaison between USAID, government counterparts, project stakeholders, implementing partners, media outlets, investigators, private sector entities, and Zinc Network’s project management division
- Apply technical expertise in countering disinformation, advancing information integrity, and/or strengthening independent media to the Activity’s work planning, implementation, activity adjustments, and monitoring and evaluation
- Identify issues and risk associated with program implementation in a timely manner and guide appropriate adjustments
- Facilitate close collaboration and teamwork, including mentorship and development of local partners and staff
- Lead regular work planning and oversee reporting and program learning activities
- Represent the project compellingly to the client and all other internal and external stakeholders
- Oversee the collection and dissemination of successes and lessons learned to inform programme adaptation, build an evidence base of what works, and inform scale-up strategies
Requirements
Sharing our enthusiasm for measurable impact and data-driven insight, you are a great leader and communicator who is passionate about issues related to advancing democracy and good governance. Naturally, you have a high degree of rigor, leadership experience, attention to detail, ability to translate complex concepts into succinct, compelling messages, and the soft skills to successfully manage multi-disciplinary teams in complex environments. You also have:
- Extensive experience and expertise in the sectors of countering disinformation, information integrity, and/or media development – including strong connections to local, regional, and support organizations and media outlets working in Central Asia
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as international relations, organizational development, communications, media, political science, or digital media and communications. Master’s degree preferred
- Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible work experience leading international donor-supported programs
- At least 5 years of professional experience working directly with formal/informal civil society, journalists, activists, investigators, and/or media outlets
- Exceptional communication skills with a proven ability to foster a cohesive and collaborative environment working with a range of program stakeholders
- Skills related to the management and handling of grant-giving programs including experience and coordination with international, regional, and local partners
- Outstanding written and verbal communications skills in English, including creative presentation of information and use of data visualizations
- Fluency or proficiency in Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Tajik, Turkmen, and Russian is a plus
- Able to travel internationally and willingness to work flexible hours to accommodate colleagues working in multiple time zones
- An entrepreneurial mindset, and enthusiasm for working in a fast-paced environment that’s receptive to new ideas
- A good sense of humor and a dedication to turning failures into growth opportunities
