Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Languages
Timeline
Generic

Robert Letchford

Da Nang

Summary

Mr. Letchford has 20+ years of experience in the overseas aid and development sector with experience in Timor Leste, Solomon Islands, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kenya, Liberia, Vietnam and Australia. Has a proven track record as a leader, manager, consultant, and practitioner implementing programs including organizational and institutional evaluations/assessments. Specialties include human and institutional development (HICD), leadership mentoring and coaching. Has worked on programs that have included grants programs with a focus on institutional development of NGOs, public sector organizations and higher education institutions.

Overview

24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Freelance Partner

Integral Global
02.2022 - Current
  • A partner with Integral Global working to deliver personalized leadership coaching for corporate and public sector institutions, utilizing a range of tools (360 surveys...) and AI coaching systems.
  • Robert is also a certified user for Positive Intelligence and Neuro Change: https://www.positiveintelligence.com/) and https://neurochangeinstitute.org/
  • Achieved successful client outcomes by identifying and addressing their unique needs and goals.
  • Cultivated a positive work environment within the firm by promoting collaboration among colleagues.
  • Integral Partner Profile: https://www.integral.global/people/robert-letchford

Chief of Party

International Institute for Education (IIE)
09.2023 - 03.2024
  • Chief of Party, Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program Southeast Asia Regional, International Institute for Education (IIE), September 2023 to March 2024. USD $45 million
  • As Chief of Party (CoP) for the Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program (DISP) for the period of project set-up after which he elected to take a professional break. DISP is designed to provide higher education educational opportunities for Myanmar citizens that also includes Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH) considerations in the project design. Target countries for scholarship included Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka using a range of modalities including online in-person and hybrid options. DISP is designed to target potential future leaders with an emphasis on attracting applications from minority groups (religious, ethnic, LGBTQI and other vulnerable populations) across Myanmar and bordering countries. DISP includes the development and delivery of a Community-Embedded Inclusive Leadership program that focuses on leadership in a conflict environment focusing on inclusive leadership for development of a democratic, pluralistic and peaceful Myanmar post military coup. DISP also has an 8.3-million-dollar grants program to support development of individual and institutional capacity development as well as support an Alumni Network and fund institutional development activities amongst higher education insitutions.

Chief of Party

International Institute for Education (IIE)
01.2019 - 08.2023
  • Chief of Party, Lincoln Scholarship Program, Yangon, Myanmar, International Institute for Education (IIE), January 2019 to August 2023. USD $28 million
  • Led design and implementation of an alumni network program providing opportunities for scholars to implement institutional strengthening programs back in Myanmar after graduation.
  • Mentored junior staff members, promoting teamwork and enhancing overall performance.
  • Initiated process improvements within the project that led to enhanced productivity without compromising quality.
  • Led LSP annual work-plan (AWP) and budgets in consultation with USAID and other key stakeholders in Myanmar, managing the project adaptively to achieve desired results.
  • Oversaw management of IIE Burma Offices, local subcontractors, contractor institutional development, and their scopes of work.
  • Strengthened vendor partnerships by maintaining open communication channels and resolving issues proactively whenever they arose.
  • Relationship development with USAID leadership, USAID technical offices, Government of Burma (GoB) and other key stakeholders.
  • Other tasks as required.

Chief of Party

The Kaizen Company
01.2018 - 01.2019
  • Chief of Party, Training for Pakistan III Program (USAID Funded), Pakistan, The Kaizen Company, January 2018 to January 2019. USD $20 million (Project terminated due to USAID funding cuts in Pakistan)
  • As Chief of Party (COP) for the USAID funded Training for Pakistan III (TFP-III). TFP-III was a cross cutting participant training program designed to support the capacity development of USAID implementing partner beneficiaries, Government of Pakistan (GoP) and civil society stakeholders through provision of a wide variety of capacity development and institutional strengthening services including; in-country trainings, third country trainings and U.S. based trainings, scholarship programs (undergraduate and post graduate), capacity development of local Pakistani based training institutions and USAID Alumni Association for the sustainable development of local Pakistani led training and professional development institutions and associations.

Chief of Party

Institute of International Education
10.2015 - 12.2018
  • Chief of Party, Partner Capacity Development Program (USAID Funded), Vietnam, Institute of International Education, October 2015 to December 2018. USD 6.5 million
  • As Chief of Party (COP) for the USAID funded Partner Capacity Development Program (PCD). PCD was a cross cutting program that supports organizations, and institutions to implement institutional strengthening activities to achieve Vietnam’s continued development and transformation in USAID/Vietnam’s priority areas. PCD worked with VNGOs and Government of Vietnam Agencies and Departments as directed by USAID. PCD utilized HICD and OCD assessments working with selected VNGOs to identify and agree work plans to enable selected VNGOs to be able to bid for, receive and manage USAID funding. PCD also established an Organizational Development Program comprising a series of workshops over a 12-month period for other VNGOs not eligible for technical assistance (HICD/OCD assessments) to provide another avenue for VNGOs to acquire skills and knowledge to bid for, receive and manage USAID funding.

Senior Change Management Advisor

USAID Nairobi Mission
10.2014 - 08.2015
  • Senior Change Management Advisor, USAID Nairobi Mission, Kenya, Management Systems International, October 2014 to August 2015.
  • Worked with USAID (Front Office) Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa to provide change management services to enable institutional strengthening and enhanced governance of the USAID/Kenya Mission. Advised the Mission on transition of the Kenya and East Africa Missions into a single management platform (SMP). The Mission had a staff of approximately 275 personnel and Robert was responsible for working directly with senior Mission management; Front Office, Office Directors, Transition Working Group and Core Transition Team. Key responsibilities included:
  • Project management of the transition process documenting timeline of key activities and milestones to be achieved.
  • Facilitated, design and delivery of a range of staff support services, coaching, and team building activities enabling transition to a new management platform.
  • Provide advice to the Front Office, Office Chiefs and Transition Teams to guide transition activities and communications across the Mission.
  • Design, development and delivery of Mission and team building activities including an all of Mission Insights (personality profiles) retreat and office workshops.
  • Facilitated design and delivery of office retreats to assist them with integration, team building activities, identification of business processes (internal and external) to be reengineered.
  • Coordination of a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) to support implementation of the SMP and effective integration of newly merged offices across the Mission.
  • Other duties as required including project report writing.

Human Resource Team Leader

PAE International
03.2014 - 08.2014
  • Human Resource Team Leader, Justice Sector Support Project (JSSP) in Kabul, Afghanistan, PAE International, United States of America, State Department (INL) funded, March to August, 2014.
  • Robert worked with the US State Department (INL) funded Justice Sector Support Project (JSSP) to provide organizational capacity development inputs for institutional strengthening and enhanced governance in the area of HRM across four (4) institutions including the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA), Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and Supreme Court (SCT). Robert managed a team of six (6) local national advisers to assess HR human and institutional capacity gaps, identify solutions, develop and implement agreed solutions with counterpart institutions. Facilitated the piloting of HRM tool kits across the justice sector gaining approval and support from the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission (IARCSC). Led the development of an interagency donor group, to transition donor funded training programs to key justice institutions including MOJ, AGO and SCT.

HICD Team Lead

Deloitte Consulting LLC
09.2012 - 08.2013
  • Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) Team Lead, HRD Senior Advisor to the Liberia Trade Policy and Customs (LTPC) Project in Monrovia, Liberia, Deloitte Consulting LLC, USAID funded September 2012 to August 2013.
  • As the technical lead for human resource led activities advising the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), and the Bureau for Customs and Excise (BCE) located within the Ministry of Finance. Key responsibilities included:
  • Co-facilitating strategic planning and management development with the top leadership team of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, including the Minister.
  • Co-facilitating the reform of the HR Division in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • Led organizational assessments and drafting of reports and recommendations for HRD focused HICD activities at BCE and MoCI.
  • Led development of HRD functions at BCE and MoCI with development of initial Induction Training Programs and Training of Trainers.
  • Drafted Training & Development Strategy and Policy for institutional development of T&D activities within MoCI.
  • Assisting with the installation of two new HRIS systems, one in each Ministry.
  • Mentored and coached local national BCE and MoCI staff members to ensure institutional strengthening and governance works completed had a sustained impact beyond the life of the project.
  • Led policy change across the MoCI for human resource management and human resource development activities.
  • Assisted project advisors with coaching and mentoring to enable effective skills and knowledge transfer.

Performance Appraisal & Management Development Adviser

Deloitte Consulting LLC
10.2010 - 03.2012
  • Performance Appraisal & Management Development Adviser to the Director-General of the Administrative Reform Secretariat (ARS) in the Afghan Civil Service Commission, ACSS project, Kabul Afghanistan, Deloitte Consulting LLC, USAID funded October 2010 to March 2012.
  • Assisted the ARS to undertake a range of activities in two main areas, performance appraisal reform at the national and regional levels; and, management development to strengthen the institutional capacity of the ARS to deliver services to the Afghan Civil Service for performance appraisal as well as strengthen the internal management capacity of the ARS. Key responsibilities included:
  • Civil Service Performance Appraisal Reform
  • These works were developed and implemented based on an assessment of performance management reforms implemented by the Independent Afghan Reform Civil Service Commission (IARCSC). Works outlined below were designed to enhance as well as address organizational (whole of government) needs to have a systemic impact.
  • ARS Management Development
  • Activities included designed and implementation programs to improve perception of external stakeholders about the ARS through improved service delivery:
  • Co-facilitated whole-scale organizational change efforts including two large staff retreats.
  • Co-designed development of a short attitude survey used to drive discussions at workshops.
  • Co-created a new program of management development with a comprehensive set of original bilingual materials.
  • Co-designed and facilitated large, all staff workshops (up to 120 people) to drive change and institutional strengthening efforts.
  • Assisted the ARS to implement four (4) change projects designed to improve the performance of the ARS that included areas of ‘communication strategy, ‘staff recognition & rewards system’, ‘staffing and workload assessment’.

Organizational Development Advisor

GRM International
10.2009 - 08.2010
  • Organizational Development Advisor for the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs (MJLA), GRM International, AusAID funded October 2009 to August 2010.
  • Assisted the MJLA and National Judiciary (NJ) working with the Chief Justice, Chief Magistrate, Public Prosecutor, Public Defender, Attorney General and MJLA HR team to undertake a range of corporate and human resource service activities to strengthen institutional capacity. Key responsibilities included:
  • Consolidate and standardize existing corporate and individual agency work-plans.
  • Facilitated planning workshops and seminars for organizational development of corporate services across the justice sector.
  • Facilitated the establishment of a justice sector corporate service group with whom a number of workshop were organized to build their awareness of current HR workplace practices, identify associated problems (payroll, training and development, recruitment…) and worked with them to find ‘good’ practice solutions for implementation back the in workplace.
  • Facilitated the design and development of other consultancies to support the National Judiciary to transfer the recruitment, management the remuneration of magistrates from the Ministry of Human Resources to the National Judiciary.
  • Produced an extensive report with recommendations for development of a sustainable MJLA intern program linked to higher education institutions to enable identification and recruitment of new lawyers into the Ministry.

AID and Development Specialist

CARA Consulting
04.2008 - 06.2009
  • AID and Development Specialist, CARA Consulting, Perth, Australia, April 2008 to June 2009.
  • Robert supported a business development project for Horizon Power (HP) a Western Australian state-owned enterprise responsible for provision of electricity to remote communities in the state by providing strategic consulting inputs to build HP’s awareness of the aid and development market. Inputs included:
  • Drafting a Strategic Report for HP executive management.
  • Face-to-face meetings and attendance at executive management meetings.
  • Other actions as requested by HP.

Consultant

Parsons Brinkerhoff
05.2008 - 11.2008
  • Consultant, Parsons Brinkerhoff, Timor Leste Electricity Sector Plan, Perth, Australia, May to November 2008.
  • Evaluated client needs and expectations, establishing clear goals for each consulting engagement.
  • Provided technical and contextual inputs for development of a sustainable infrastructure strategy plan focused on the development of the electricity sector in Timor Leste in the form of a proposal to the Government of Timor Leste (GoTL).

Job Analysis Advisor

Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM)
09.2007 - 04.2008
  • Job Analysis Advisor, Ministry of Planning & Finance (MoPF), Dili, Timor Leste, Ministry of Planning & Finance Capacity Building Project (MPFCBP), Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM), AusAID funded September 2007 to April 2008.
  • Robert as Team Lead assisted the Human Resource Department of the Ministry to undertake a job analysis and Training Needs Analysis (TNA) for approximately 700 staff across eight (8) departments.

Communications and Taxpayer Services Advisor

Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM)
02.2006 - 10.2006
  • Communications and Taxpayer Services Advisor, Timor Leste Revenue Service (TLRS), Dili, Timor Leste, Ministry of Planning & Finance Capacity Building Project (MPFCBP), Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM), AusAID funded February 2005 to October 2006.
  • Robert assisted the TLRS to undertake taxpayer services reforms for communications, service delivery, training and development of TLRS staff for improved taxpayer services. Key responsibilities included:
  • Assessment of existing taxpayer services and service standards.
  • Design, development, distribution and analysis of a taxpayer client satisfaction survey.
  • Co-facilitation of TLRS organizational development workshops for improvement of service delivery and stakeholder workgroups (industry groups).
  • Establishment of change management projects to facilitate a process for development and implementation of service delivery reforms including tax service charter, service standards, identification, design and implementation of appropriate training (customer service, communications and public relations).
  • Other duties as required.

Census National Training Manager

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
01.2004 - 09.2004
  • Census National Training Manager, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), January 2004 to September 2004.
  • As the National Training Manager assisted the Timor Leste National Statistics Directorate (TLNSD) led institutional development activities to design and implement a training function, system, training tools and supporting documentation to train one hundred (100) trainers, who then trained four thousand (4000) field staff for the 2004 National Housing and Population Census.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align training objectives with organizational goals.
  • Created engaging instructional content that catered to diverse learning styles (literate and non-literate participants), enhancing participant comprehension., including the use of multiple languages.

Advisor to Training Coordinator & Translator

Murdoch University, Asia Research Center
08.2001 - 07.2003
  • Advisor to Training Coordinator & Translator for Timor Leste Revenue Service (TLRS), Ministry of Finance Training Program, Murdoch University, Asia Research Center, Dili, Timor Leste, August 2001 to July 2003.
  • Assisted the training coordinator to develop and establish a training function and facility within the Timor Leste Government Compound for the training and development of TLRS staff and management.

Lecturer Telecommunications Management

Technical And Further Education (TAFE) College
01.2001 - 07.2001
  • Lecturer Telecommunications Management, Technical And Further Education (TAFE) College, Karratha, Western Australia, January to July 2001.
  • Assisted in the establishment of the first CISCO Systems training program at TAFE. Responsibilities included:
  • Student management and acting as a first contact point for enrollment.
  • Delivery of CISCO theory and practical sessions.
  • Delivery of CISCO practical and theory tests.
  • Assignment marking and overall course management for the initial program.

Education

Masters - International and Community Development

Deakin University
01.2007

Bachelor of Arts - Sustainability Studies

Murdoch University
01.2000

Bachelor of Commerce - Telecommunications & Asian Studies

Murdoch University
01.1999

Skills

  • Institutional Strengthening, organizational development & capacity building
  • Performance evaluation
  • Coaching, mentoring and leadership development
  • Project design and management
  • Cross cultural & diversity inclusion programming

Certification

  • Certificate IV, Workplace Assessment and Training, Australia, 2004
  • Certified Professional Coach Training, Australia, 2021-22, International Coaching Academy (https://coachcampus.com/), Certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
  • Positive Intelligence Coach, Certified by Positive Intelligence (https://www.positiveintelligence.com/), 2024.

Languages

English, Native
Indonesian, Advanced

Timeline

Chief of Party

International Institute for Education (IIE)
09.2023 - 03.2024

Freelance Partner

Integral Global
02.2022 - Current

Chief of Party

International Institute for Education (IIE)
01.2019 - 08.2023

Chief of Party

The Kaizen Company
01.2018 - 01.2019

Chief of Party

Institute of International Education
10.2015 - 12.2018

Senior Change Management Advisor

USAID Nairobi Mission
10.2014 - 08.2015

Human Resource Team Leader

PAE International
03.2014 - 08.2014

HICD Team Lead

Deloitte Consulting LLC
09.2012 - 08.2013

Performance Appraisal & Management Development Adviser

Deloitte Consulting LLC
10.2010 - 03.2012

Organizational Development Advisor

GRM International
10.2009 - 08.2010

Consultant

Parsons Brinkerhoff
05.2008 - 11.2008

AID and Development Specialist

CARA Consulting
04.2008 - 06.2009

Job Analysis Advisor

Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM)
09.2007 - 04.2008

Communications and Taxpayer Services Advisor

Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM)
02.2006 - 10.2006

Census National Training Manager

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
01.2004 - 09.2004

Advisor to Training Coordinator & Translator

Murdoch University, Asia Research Center
08.2001 - 07.2003

Lecturer Telecommunications Management

Technical And Further Education (TAFE) College
01.2001 - 07.2001

Bachelor of Arts - Sustainability Studies

Murdoch University

Bachelor of Commerce - Telecommunications & Asian Studies

Murdoch University

Masters - International and Community Development

Deakin University

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