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Position Title: Head
of Programs
Department/Country: Sahel
West Africa
Location: Niger
Reports To: Deputy
Country Representative
FLSA: Exempt
Job Summary
CRS/Niger has ongoing programs funded by the Global Fund,
USAID Food for Peace, OFDA, UNICEF and projects funded by private donors.
CRS/Niger is also currently exploring additional funding sources that would
supplement its programming activities. While the Deputy Country
Representative (DCR) has increased responsibility for partnership relations
and provides oversight to the Global Fund Programs, the Head of Programs
(HOP) will focus on providing support and guidance to all non-Global Fund
Program Managers and Chiefs of Party, and is responsible for the rest of the
current and future program portfolio, and continued program growth. This
includes oversight of relationships with counterparts, timely disbursement
and tracking of funds to Sub Recipients, provision of technical support for
staff and partners, as well as support needed to comply with donor reporting
and program quality standards. It also involves the implementation of all
projects including emergency responses and all M&E activities assuring the
efficient management of projects and budget. In particular, the HOP will work
with staff on the development of new initiatives and help ensure substantial
portfolio growth in the program.
Specific Responsibilities and Competencies:
1. Focus on Program Quality
a. Ensures
detailed and realistic project implementation plans are developed with staff
and partners.
b. Understands the
interdependencies between PQ and MQ processes and identifies and corrects
resulting issues promptly.
c. Implements
effective systems for financial/budget management (including budget
development, compliance, cost allocations, etc.)
d. Ensures high quality
and timely reporting.
e. Ensure that
all programming staff use the two Propack volumes and the agency M&E
standards to ensure high quality program design and management
f. Promotes
knowledge management and risk management as a part of all staff’s
responsibilities.
g. Regularly travels to
the field to visit projects and support further progress.
h. Supports
accountability, learning and innovation in key areas of both management and
program quality.
i. Supports
program and partner staff in designing and conducting baseline surveys,
mid-term evaluations, and final evaluations as per the program's approved
M&E plan.
j. Coaches
staff in the use of integral human development, the justice lens and
partnership principles to strengthen participatory, innovative and holistic
development approaches.
2. Supervision and Staff Development
a. Orients new
staff to CRS values, culture, tools and processes.
b. Meets regularly with
individual staff members for coaching, mentoring, and support.
c. Delegates’
opportunities to staff that are suited to their skills and further growth.
d. Promotes the ongoing
development of program staff skills (in technical and non-technical topics)
in areas where they lack capacity.
e. Provides
timely, constructive and meaningful feedback.
f. Coaches staff
on building effective partnerships.
g. Mitigates risk by
ensuring staff understands financial and administrative processes (cost
allocation, regulatory issues, contract management, etc.).
h. Completes all
aspects of CRS performance management on time and effectively.
i. Utilizes
regional and headquarters resources (including regional/HQ technical
advisors, Resource Acquisition Department, etc.) to further the development
of staff.
3. Budget Management
a. Ensures that
Programming staff are well-equipped to properly manage their budgets;
b. Overall
responsibility to ensure that each project budget in CRS Niger is well
managed and adheres to donor intent and regulations;
c. Approves
release of resources (cash and/ or commodities) to partners/projects as per
approved plans and agreements and reimbursement and/or liquidations of
project expenditures;
d. Coordinates
preparation of the annual budget (APP) in programming department.
4. Builds and Leads effective teams
a. Organizes the
team’s work around shared vision and goals.
b. Holds regular
program team meetings and ensures action points from team meetings are
accomplished.
c. Identifies and
utilizes individual talents toward program goals.
d. Coaches staff to
grow and perform their jobs well.
e. Masters and
supports CRS programming, administrative and financial procedures and
systems.
f. Promotes
constructive integration between programming staff and the Resource
Management staff.
g. Works
collaboratively with staff and keeps them well informed.
h. Promotes positive
conflict resolution and ongoing learning among the team(s).
i. Supports
staff and local partners to build effective relationships founded on respect
and trust.
j. Approaches
other people and their views with diplomacy, humility, and
integrity.
5. Lead Growth in Programs
a. Identifies
program priorities and takes a lead role in developing a strategic plan to
grow projects (with partners, CP staff, regional/HQ technical advisors,
Business Development Team, etc).
b. Assesses
the funding environment as well as CRS' strengths/opportunities.
c. Networks
and identifies potential partnerships and consortiums for proposals.
d. Proactively
cultivates new partner and donor relationships.
e. Prompts
staff and partners to identify new opportunities.
f. Incorporates
innovative and emerging trends into new or existing programs (when
appropriate).
g. Mobilizes
proposal design teams to draft and submit proposals that efficiently include
value-adding input from diverse sources.
h. Regularly
reviews progress against indicators.
6. Representation
Represents CRS in various forums including meetings with
church officials, other NGOs, Government ministries, US Government
representatives and diplomatic missions, as deemed appropriate by the Country
Representative.
Supervisory Responsibilities: The Niger HOP
will supervise the following programs:
· DFAP
Chief of Party
· Head
of Monitoring & Evaluation
· Head
of Emergency Response Unit
· Program
Quality and Growth Manager
· Program
Manager for Multiple Projects
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.
· Serves
with Integrity
· Models
Stewardship
· Cultivates
Constructive Relationships
· Promotes
Learning
Head of Programming Competencies: HOPs
are expected to use these competencies in the accomplishment of the
responsibilities above.
· Builds
and Leads Effective Teams
· Supervises
and Develops Program Staff
· Leads
Growth in Programs
· Focuses
on Quality
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: CRS Country Representative,
Resource Management Coordinator, , Project staff and Team Leaders in the
programming department, Finance Managers; Human Resources Manager;
Administration Manager, Internal Auditor, SWA DRD PQ/MQ and Technical
Advisors as well as RAD and PIQA staff in HQ.
External: Partner organization
technical & management staff, Catholic Church officials and Caritas
staff, Diocesan representatives, USAID, FFP, Niger Government ministries,
WFP, WHO, UNICEF and all relevant local and international technical
institutions and NGOs.
Qualifications:
1. Master's degree in
International Development, Social Sciences, or related discipline, or an
equivalent university degree with extensive fieldwork experience over and
above listed below.
2. At least 6 years
experience in program management.
3. Excellent organizational,
planning and analytical skills; detail-oriented, adaptable, flexible.
4. Experience in
program design/development and implementation (Design, monitoring, evaluation
& reporting).
5. Experience in Budget
management.
6. Extensive experience
in the use of participatory methodologies.
7. In depth knowledge
of CRS policies, procedures and standards.
8. Proven in-depth
knowledge of donor cash and in-kind policies and regulations, including Title
II food-supported programming, USAID/ USDA commodity management and
compliance regulations.
9. Excellent
partnership skills and the ability to interact effectively with donors,
collaborating agencies, and local partners.
10. Demonstrated strengths in relationship
management; strong cross-cultural skills.
11. Demonstrated ability to provide leadership
in strategic planning initiatives.
12. Willingness to travel and spend time in
field offices and visiting project sites.
13. Native fluency in English and professional
proficiency in French.
EOE/M/F/D/V
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