*This post is contingent on donor funding*
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.
Job Summary:
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the most populous, vast and resource rich countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Decades of conflict and other challenges over the past decades have left the Congo with an 80 percent poverty rate, an annual per capita income of just over $120, inadequate social and health services, and weak governmental institutions. Given its fragility and weak institutions, the country is susceptible to health crises, including recent outbreaks of Ebola, measles, cholera, and COVID-19.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. CRS has operated in the DRC since 1961, successfully implementing programs in nutrition, microfinance and livelihoods, emergency, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health, microfinance, and peacebuilding throughout the country. CRS/DRC currently has around 180 staff operating out of 5 offices in Kinshasa, Goma (North Kivu), Kananga (Kasai Central), Mbuji Mayi (Kasai Oriental), Kalemie (Tanganyika).
Pending a successful bid, the Chief of Party I will provide leadership and overall management of the multi-year, USAID-funded Enseignement Technique pour Opportunités Inclusives, Lucratives et Équitables (ETOILE) program in eastern D.R. Congo. ETOILE seeks to enhance inclusive workforce development for Congolese youth, particularly those from marginalized and underrepresented populations, resulting in improved social mobility and economic livelihoods.
The Chief of Party for ETOILE will ensure that activities are needs-driven and evidence-based, adhering to CRS program quality standards for emergency and development and employing best practices based on a long history of multi-sectoral interventions in DR Congo. He or she will ensure compliance with CRS and donor requirements and will maintain positive and productive relationships with the donor and partners throughout the co-creation process and project lifecycle.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
- Lead all aspects of the development, implementation, and management of the program, including sharing how the project contributes to the thought leadership in youth and education programming.
- Serve as the primary point of contact to the donor as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders.
- Ensure the project is designed and implemented to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results and budget, including strategies for phase out and sustainability. Ensure coordination between program and operations leads. Ensure the CRS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
- Effectively manage senior programming and operations talent. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Oversee the development of staffing plans and the recruitment of senior staff.
- Manage and mitigate risk through monitoring national and local issues that may impact staff and programming. Ensure all staff understand and adhere to CRS staff safety and security policies and plans and ensure the updating of such plans.
- Promote, uphold and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources. Ensure compliance with donor grants, including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration and reporting to donor. Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors.
- Oversee the development of communication strategies and materials, complying with donor and CRS’ branding and marketing requirements and procedures.
- Coordinate relationships with consortium partner organizations, including organization of review/planning workshops. Contribute to coordination of the roles and activities of staff from other consortium member organizations in implementation in line with CRS partnership principles.
- 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. Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for CRS and partner staff and ensure the design and delivery of high-quality training and technical assistance.
Basic Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or relevant field.
- Minimum of 7 or more years work experience in a program management position with progressive responsibilities for an international NGO and with significant experience in youth programming.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience managing donor funds, preferably for USAID awards. Strong knowledge and experience in budget management.
- Minimum of 5 years of staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching senior program staff.
Required Languages – English, French.
Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 30 %. The position will be based in Bukavu, D.R. Congo.
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.
- 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.
- Prior experience as a Chief of Party or comparable senior leadership position.
- Demonstrated experience of successful program management, including management of complex, high-value, multi-activity projects with significant focus on youth empowerment and youth employment/entrepreneurship.
- Experience engaging partners (local organizations, private sector, government, etc.) and empowering local stakeholders through locally driven interventions adopting durable approaches. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.
- Experience building relationships with private-sector partners.
- Ability to represent and present at high levels.
- Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.
- Experience working in conflict-affected or insecure areas, with DRC experience preferred.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Program staff.
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Country Representative, Head of Programming, Deputy Country Representative for Operations, Deputy Head of Programming, MEAL/ICT4D Coordinator, Business Development Specialist, Gender, Protection, and Beneficiary Feedback Advisor, Finance Manager, Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality, Regional Technical Advisors, HQ based Public Donor Liaison.
External: Donors, private sector partners and entities, partner INGOs and local NGOs, Caritas, and peer agencies.
Qualifications
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
***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.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
Note: All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.
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 welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.