Head of Programming I, Cameroon and Chad

JOB DESCRIPTION

About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

Country Background:

CRS has worked in Cameroon since 1960. Responding to the country’s strategic needs, the first interventions aimed to reduce infant mortality and increase food security. Since then, projects have strengthened local capacity in healthcare and in response to emergencies, including the Anglophone crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions, the Lake Chad Basin crisis in the Far North, and the influx of refugees from Central African Republic. The current portfolio is largely focused on emergency response and resilience programming that focuses on emergency food and non-food items assistance, livelihoods recovery, and infrastructure rehabilitation, social cohesion, and local governance capacity building. Strengthening of local partners is also a key focus in all programs through both stand-alone and integrated capacity strengthening projects, and CRS Cameroon worked with almost 40 partners in FY22. The country program has been actively positioning for other opportunities, including a large health project. CRS works out of its main office in the capital Yaoundé and three field offices in the Northwest (Bamenda) and the Far North (Maroua and Mokolo).

CRS has been supporting activities in Chad since 1984 and opened a program office in N’Djamena in 2002 in response to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. Currently, CRS interventions include emergency response, microfinance, livelihoods and agricultural activities, peacebuilding, child protection, and capacity strengthening activities, while the country program is also positioning for health opportunities. CRS implements these projects for vulnerable communities from its head office in N’Djamena and in the western and southern regions of Chad with an office in the Lac Region (Bol) and staff based in a partner office in Logone Oriental Region (Goré). The country program is also currently ramping up its response to the Sudanese refugee crisis in the East of the country, with plans to open an office in Abéché.

Job Summary:

As a member of the Country Program (CP) Senior Management Team, you will provide strategic direction, leadership, and management of the CP’s programming to ensure the establishment and successful implementation of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. Your leadership, management and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming. As part of the Senior Management Team you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the Country Representative (CR) provide strategic direction for the design of the CP strategic frameworks and plans, including the development of resource mobilization strategies to optimize the impact of programming interventions in line with regional and agency strategic priorities.
• Lead high-quality project design incorporating project management standards and MEAL methods, appropriate to scope, context and technical requirements of projects. Coordinate planning of activities across various projects from different sectors to ensure integration of program interventions and efficiency in implementation.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance assessment for direct reports. Contribute to developing staffing plans for projects and to the recruitment process of senior project staff.
• Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Promote accountability, learning and knowledge management overseeing implementation of the MEAL policy, as well as cross-sectoral and cross-department learning.
• Coordinate with CP operations leads to ensure appropriate project budgeting and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.
• In coordination with resource mobilization staff oversee the business development cycle to ensure quality proposals per agency and donor standards.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of appropriate partnerships and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Ensure technical assistance and capacity strengthening for project teams and partners in project management standards and related MEAL, business development and operational activities. Identify training opportunities, develop training curriculums and deliver trainings.
• Represent CRS in meetings with Church and Caritas officials, other project partners, NGOs, UN agencies, Government Ministries, donor representatives, and other external fora.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations, or relevant field.
• Minimum of five years of relevant field-based program management, at least three years of middle/senior management experience.
• Experience in the development of successful proposals, reports, strategic alliances, project design, project management, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience in partner capacity strengthening, staff development, training, and mentoring, as well as in team building and strategic planning initiatives. Experience working with Church partners a plus
• Experience in community development, community mobilization, or similar grassroots, self-help initiatives.
• Experience in project grants management, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, etc., preferably for projects funded by multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Experience with successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding.

Required Languages – Excellent English oral and written communication skills; Advanced proficiency in French (oral and reading competence)

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% throughout Cameroon and Chad as well as to regional meetings, as needed.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Team leadership abilities
• Presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent English writing skills.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience and abilities in capacity strengthening – developing curricula and facilitating trainings.
• Experience using MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, and knowledge sharing networks.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Direct supervision of3-4 Senior Program Staff, 1 MEAL Coordinator, 1 Business Development Specialist as well as matrix management of 7 other Programs Managers in Cameroon and Chad

Key Working Relationships:

**Internal:**CRS Cameroon Country Representative, Head of Operations, and Finance Manager; Chad Country Manager, Operations Manager, and Finance Manager; program and MEAL staff; CARO Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality and relevant regional technical advisors.

External: Local government and line ministries, local and international NGOs, partners, UN agencies, donors, affected communities.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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