Head of Programming, Yemen At Catholic Relief Services

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:

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, program expertise, management oversight, partnership and business development skills will ensure that CRS and its partners develop and deliver high-quality programming and continuously work towards improving program impact. You will play a critical role in advancing local leadership and ensuring the capacity of staff and local partners is strengthened to advance CRS and its partners strategic priorities, particularly localization and impact.

Background:

CRS has been registered in Aden/Yemen since November 2022 with the aim of serving the complex needs of the country, both in the south, and in the north whenever is feasible. CRS programs currently include education and livelihoods, and we also support partners who work in the health sector. With the vast needs in the country, yet the significant local capacities, CRS will work with the local government, civil society, and other local stakeholders to advance local leadership and catalyze humanitarian and development outcomes at scale.

Despite the large-scale humanitarian and development needs in Yemen, the funding environment has been extremely competitive, and donor resources are limited. CRS current funding in Yemen is limited to private discretionary and restricted funds in addition to funding from other Caritas member organizations. The Head of Programs in Yemen would thus provide particular focus to prepositioning CRS and its partners to mobilize donor resources, particularly institutional and other non-traditional donors to CRS.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

In collaboration with the Country Manager (CM) and EMECA DRD/PQ, provide strategic direction for the design of the CP strategic frameworks and plans, to ensure programs growth and scale through advancing local partnerships in line with regional and agency strategic priorities.
Lead CRS efforts in Yemen to mobilize donor resources through effective prepositioning, donor engagement, and the design and implementation of high quality/high impact programs.
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 curricula, and facilitate trainings and other learning events.
Work with partners and staff to lead high-quality project design incorporating project management standards and MEAL methods, appropriate to scope and context, and incorporating technical advice and best practices from EMECA RTA expertise.
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 appropriate to the strategic plan of advancing localization and local partnerships.
Ensure high quality documentation of impact and learning; including supporting team and partner learning through partnership reviews, program reflections and other learning events, reflecting on CRS and its partners experience.
Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties, with the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Promote accountability, learning and knowledge management. Oversee 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 other CP, partner and regional staff, oversee the business development cycle to ensure quality proposals per agency and donor standards.
As a part of the CRS/Yemen Senior Management Team, proactively manage and mitigate a range of risks, including financial, program and security.

Required Languages — Professional working proficiency in English; Arabic language skills will be highly advantageous.

Travel – The position is based in Aden/Yemen, with travel of up to 40% of the time both in Country and in the region 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.
Excellent partnership and capacity strengthening skills. Ability to manage multiple, complex partnerships with Government, UN, and national and International NGOs.
Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams. Coaching/mentoring skills.
Strong communications and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.
Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Supervises a team of 4 senior national project and program managers, including a MEAL manager.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Direct reports; EMECA Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality; regional technical advisors and other regional staff; technical advisors in the Humanitarian Response Department; HQ Security colleagues; colleagues in Overops departments, USOps, Finance, HR, Audit and Charitable Giving.

External: Donor agencies, host country government agencies, international and national non-governmental organizations, CI agencies, UN agencies.

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.
Proven experience with successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding.
Strong analytical English writing skills with proven 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 is a plus.
Experience in community development, community mobilization, or similar grassroots, self-help initiatives.
Demonstrated experience successfully managing a variety of complex, high-value projects implemented through local partners with funding from multiple international donors, including USG, UN agencies and European Govts.; understanding of relevant donor regulations.

Preferred Qualifications:

Staff management and team leadership experience, including coaching and mentoring senior program staff.
Experience and expertise in education, livelihoods and cash programming through partnership models is preferred.
Previous Head of Programs experience is a plus.
Experience facilitating capacity development in program quality and business development, for CRS & partner senior programming staff.
Experience mentoring, coaching and developing teams & organizations a plus.
Strong communications and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.
Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
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):

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.

***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 skills, 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