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Program Manager II-Head of Programs - I 08 026
Source: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) - USA
VB
| Deadline: | 07 Jul 2008 |
| Organisation: | Catholic Relief Services (CRS) - USA |
| Location: | Sierra Leone |
| Type: | permanent |
| Salary: | TBA (000's USD) |
| Description: | Req #: I 08 026
Length of Assignment: Three years
Job Background/ Summary:
Catholic Relief Services/Sierra Leone (CRS/SL) played a key relief role during the country's civil war, and since 2002 has supported the country's rehabilitation and transition into longer term development. CRS/SL focuses on programs to facilitate and sustain the country's efforts to improve rural livelihoods. Key sectors in this regard include agriculture, food security, peace building, health and HIV/AIDS. Current large-scale projects include the USAID/FFP Title II-funded Livelihood Expansion and Asset Development (LEAD) program, and the USAID-Mission funded Promoting Linkages for Livelihood Security and Economic Development (LINKS) program. CRS is also implementing two life skills projects, a peace and justice project and a community nutrition project, and funding sources include the Global Fund, UNICEF and CRS private funds. Primary Function: The main role of the Head of Programs (HoP) is to provide oversight of CRS/SL's programming interventions and to ensure the necessary staff and systems are in place to develop and implement high-quality programs. CRS/SL is engaged in complex consortium relationships, as well as integrated programming. The HoP must ensure timely and pertinent communication and coordination among departments, with partners and with the local Government. In collaboration with the Country Representative (CR), the HoP also manages the growth strategy for the country program. Specific Responsibilities: 1. Program Quality and Management 1. Provide management oversight for ongoing agriculture, health, food/livelihood security and peace building programs. 2. Ensure program quality through implementation of project review systems, comprehensive M&E systems and staff/partner development. 3. Assist program staff to use appropriate project management tools to plan, review and track progress on project implementation as well as on the utilization of project resources. 4. Support program staff in the planning of project activities and the establishment of high quality performance targets, ensuring adherence to technical standards, best practices and donor guidelines. 4. Oversee the internal review process of all project proposals and ensure project format, design and quality are in compliance with agency standards and program quality principles, WARO guidelines and the CRS ProPack. 5. Work with program staff to ensure that all programming documents (Annual Program Plans, project proposals, etc) are of the highest quality. 6. Ensure that all projects are guided by the country, region and agency SPPs. 7. Work with program staff to ensure CRS interventions are integrated wherever appropriate in order to increase impact. 8. Support the coordination of action plans and activities to ensure complementarity and consistency in the various interventions and to eliminate duplication and waste. 9. Ensure program department collaboration with other departments to ensure effective program implementation. 10. Ensure that programs and projects activities are compatible and in compliance with CRS' visionary directions and with the principles of justice, solidarity, and subsidiarity, including the Justice Lens and Catholic Social Teaching (CST), and ensure that staff are trained accordingly. 11. Ensure that gender sensitivity is taken into account in day-to-day operations as well as in program interventions and with partners. 12. Ensure that CRS principles on HIV/AIDS in the workplace are followed. 13. In collaboration with the Country Representative, ensure prudent use of Regional Small Project Funds as a mechanism to strengthen counterpart operational capacity and to test new projects. 2. Budgeting, Financial Planning and Reporting 1. Work with CR, program staff and finance department to ensure compliance with CRS and donor regulations and requirements for financial accountability and project reporting. 2. Ensure appropriate budget planning and tracking, and financial reporting of CRS public and private projects. 3. Collaborate with Admin/Finance to ensure project managers are trained on budgeting and finance tools and systems to increase their capacity to adequately track project expenses. 4. Maintain a schedule for reporting of all publicly and privately funded projects and ensure regular, timely and accurate reports. 5. Review and submit required reports including donor and private fund narrative reports, quarterly performance indicator tracking tables, baseline and final evaluation reports, as well as other reports needed/required by the local government, donors, the region or headquarters. 6. Ensure the provision of regular updates to government and non-government coordination bodies as requested. 3. Coordination and Communication 1. Ensure transparent coordination mechanisms and regular information-sharing with relevant staff. 2. Actively participate in the Senior Management Meetings. 3. Encourage active and open dialogue among the program staff. 4. Oversee regular programming and coordination meetings with the programming and support departments. 5. Ensure systems are in place for the proper documentation of meetings and timely circulation of resulting information/outcomes. 6. Coordinate visits of CRS, donors, partners, etc. 7. Ensure the research, documentation and sharing of lessons learned/best practices for CRS/SL interventions. 8. Maintain communication with regional technical advisors, deputy regional directors, regional director and headquarters staff as appropriate. 4. Supervisory Responsibilities 1. Supervise staff in the program unit to ensure efficient and quality implementation of project activities. 2. Mentor and coach staff and assist them to develop performance and development plans in line with the CRS Performance Management System. 3. Work with CR and program staff to identify key training needs, and proactively seek and promote appropriate training opportunities for staff. 4. Work with CR and program staff to develop and use standardized job descriptions and performance review. 5. Oversee the enhancement of project managers' capacity in proposal development, project management and monitoring and evaluation 6. Ensure that programming staff are aware of and/or trained in the agency and region strategic frameworks, the country program SPP, and the general and sectoral program quality principles. 7. Ensure that in-house training skills and expertise are shared among staff. 8. Work in close coordination with line managers and promote a team approach that involves programming staff at all levels whenever possible/appropriate. 5. Fundraising and Proposal Development 1. Work with CR, program staff and relevant regional and HQ staff to strengthen relationships with existing donors, including ensuring that donor contributions are efficiently used and reporting requirements are adequately met. 2. In collaboration with the CR, provide vision and guide the process of growth based on agency/region/country strategic frameworks and plans, including the development of CRS fundraising strategies and alliances and the identification of potential funding sources and strategic opportunities to expand the program's focus, reach and influence. 3. Lead/supervise the preparation of proposals for CRS program strategies/interventions not covered by current funding. 6. Partnership and Church Relations 1. Work with CR to ensure effective collaboration between CRS and the local Church. 2. Ensure that CRS program managers and field staff maintain good relationships with the Church and other implementing partners and provide them with smooth support throughout the project cycle. 3. Work with relevant resource persons to develop a CRS/SL strategy of collaboration with the Church. 4. Work with CR and other relevant staff to ensure that all staff know the CRS partnership principles. 5. Maintain strong partner relations and engage in the identification of new potential partners. 7. Representation 1. Upon the CR's request, assume responsibility of representation of the country program to government officials, Church officials, partners, NGOs, UN agencies and the various diplomatic missions. 2. Together with the CR and program staff, maintain and/or develop productive relationships with key individuals in relevant government ministries, local Catholic Church (Bishops and other Clergy), other churches, counterpart institutions and NGOs, foreign and local NGO community, UN Missions, Diplomatic Corps, USAID, other donors, etc. 8. Security 1. Participate in the implementation of, and monitoring of compliance with, security protocols. Key Working Relationships: Internal: Country Representative; Head of Programs; other department heads; program staff; support staff; Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality; CRS regional technical advisors (RTAs), various CRS/HQ departments. External: Consortium partners (CARE, World Vision, Africare); local partners (especially Caritas); Sierra Leone government ministries; local church, USAID; EU missions, local bilateral institutions, other funding agencies, local/international NGOs, UN agencies, local and US Catholic agencies. Personal/Professional Skills: 1. Demonstrated strong ability with project grants management, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, etc). 2. Proven leadership in staff management and program implementation. 3. Ability to work independently, but also coordinate effectively as part of a team. 4. Ability to lead a multi-cultural team with a high level of respect for local culture. 5. Demonstrated ability to provide leadership in strategic planning initiatives. 6. Strong analytical and organizational skills. 7. Ability to represent the Agency in high level meetings with donors, local Church and local government. 8. Experience with institutional strengthening and partnership building. 9. Capacity to work closely with, understand, and support local Church partners. 10. Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English. 11. Strong computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point). Qualifications 1. Master's Degree in international relations, international development or related field of expertise. 2. Minimum five years in a management position, supervising senior staff, with international or intercultural experience (preferably in a developing country). 3. Minimum four years living and working in a developing country. 4. Minimum three years experience with managing CRS projects, and with CRS proposal writing and project review processes. 5. Ability to represent the Agency in high level meetings with donors, local Church and local government. 6. Proven ability to be an effective supervisor of staff of varying levels of responsibility. 7. Demonstrated ability to provide leadership in strategic planning initiatives. 8. Ability to work both as a motivating member and a leader of a diverse team. 9. Professional proficiency in French, Spanish or Portuguese. Physical Requirements/Environment: The position is based in the Freetown headquarter office. The position requires approximately 25 percent travel within Sierra Leone, in areas with limited amenities, as well as attendance at regional conferences and workshops when requested. To apply for this position please visit the Catholic Relief Services website at www.crs.org/about/careers. Regrettably, email submissions can not be accepted. |
