Job Description
| Organization | Catholic Relief Services |
| Job: | Deputy Head of Programming |
| Reports to: | Head of Programming |
| Department | Programs |
| Salary Grade: | 10 |
About CRS
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) 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.
CRS Sudan began implementing programs in Darfur in 2004 with emergency relief food distribution, health, water and sanitation, shelter, education and agriculture. With an annual program value of over $30 million, CRS provides lifesaving assistance to address the needs of the most vulnerable in conflict-affected and natural disaster-prone areas, and implements longer term programs to respond to climate and conflict-related shocks and build resilience through skills building and preparedness, enhancing basic services, and strengthening linkages between local communities and government. CRS Sudan works with and through a wide network of local and international partners and has 180 plus national and international staff based in Khartoum, West and Central and East Darfur.
Job Summary:
You will contribute to providing strategic direction and management of the Country Program’s (CP’s) portfolio complementing the Head of Programming (HOP) efforts at ensuring the establishment and successful implementation of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management and programming skills will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming in alignment with CRS approaches as well as donor standards. Your portfolio will include multisectoral programming funded by US government, European Commission, and UN donors as well CRS Sudan’s MEAL and Program Quality Technical Support Unit.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
- Complement the HOP in providing overall management of projects and departments as well as strategic direction for the design of CP strategic frameworks and plans, including resource mobilization strategies to optimize the impact of programming interventions.
- Lead where appropriate and contribute to high-quality project design incorporating project management standards and MEAL methods, appropriate to scope, context and technical requirements of projects. Coordinate planning of activities for projects 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 creating and maintaining the proper conditions for learning. Help establish a safe environment for the sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to small deficiencies. Promote accountability, learning and knowledge management as part of the implementation of the MEAL policy.
- Coordinate with CP operations staff to ensure appropriate project budgeting and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.
- Coordinate the identification, assessment and strengthening of appropriate partnerships and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
- Contribute where needed in the business development cycle as lead coordinator, writer, or technical lead to ensure quality proposals per agency and donor standards.
- Coordinate technical assistance and capacity strengthening for project teams and partners in project management standards and related MEAL, business development and operational activities. Help identify training opportunities, develop training curriculums and deliver trainings.
- Ensure that safeguarding, protection, and gender equity are consistently and intentionally streamlined into all program activities, including staff recruitment and training.
- Champion CRS commitment to safeguarding everyone from harassment, exploitation, and abuse through robust systems of prevention and response as well as our commitment to gender equity.
Required Languages – English – Arabic language is a strong plus
Travel – The position is based on Khartoum with estimated 50% travel to the field locations
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative and contextualized solutions.
- Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
- Strong planning, management and decision-making skills.
- Demonstrated capacity to build, mentor and lead diverse teams in challenging field conditions.
- Commitment to building a diverse team and a safe working environment.
- Cultural awareness with the capacity to learn rapidly and adapt management approaches to varying cultural and security contexts.
- Good presentation and facilitation skills for diverse groups.
- Demonstrated capacity to lead teams responding rapidly to evolving challenges, devising appropriate solutions and achieving results.
- Demonstrated capacity to manage multiple tasks in parallel meeting multiple and conflicting deadlines
- Demonstrated capacity to live and work in remote and insecure field locations with very basic amenities and few or no other international staff and adhere a strict curfew and movement restrictions.
- Team leadership abilities
- Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented
- Strong financial management skills
QUALIFICATIONS
Basic Qualifications
- Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations, MPH or relevant field.
- Minimum of 5 years work experience in a program management position with progressive responsibilities for an international NGO, preferably with at least 2-3 years working in direct implementation of projects in remote and resource constrained environments.
- Good 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 institutional donor funding.
Preferred Qualifications
- Excellent English writing skills with demonstrated experience winning awards from multiple donors
- Demonstrated experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships.
- Demonstrated experience developing staff capacity with staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
- Experience and abilities in capacity strengthening – developing curricula and facilitating trainings.
- Strong MEAL knowledge and understanding of how to demonstrate achievements to different audiences
- Experience using MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, and knowledge sharing networks.
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
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.
- Integrity
- Continuous Improvement & Innovation
- Builds Relationships
- Develops Talent
- Strategic Mindset
- Accountability & Stewardship
Key Working Relationships:
Internal – Head of Programming, Heads of Offices, Chiefs of Party, Program Managers, Head of Operations, Operations Advisor, Business Development Specialist, HR Manager, Finance Manager, Supply Chain Manager and Administration Team.
External – Donors, UN agencies, partners, clusters, government agencies, peer NGOs and Caritas partners, when needed.
***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 safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer
