Chief of Party, Housing Recovery and Reconstruction Platform, Nepal

Job Description

CRS Global Job Title: Chief of Party

CRS Nepal Job Title: National Coordinator

Department: Nepal-Housing Recovery and Reconstruction Platform

Reports To: Country Representative

Country/Location:Nepal/Kathmandu

About CRS:
CRS is an international NGO based in the United States that works in over 100 countries to promote human development by responding to major emergencies, fighting disease and poverty, and nurturing peaceful and just societies. CRS was established in 1943 to help war-torn Europe and its refugees recover. Today, we continually seek to help those most in need, providing assistance based on need, without regard to race, creed or nationality.

CRS Nepal arrived in response to the 2015 earthquake with emergency support to over 19,000 households in conjunction with partners. CRS has transitioned to recovery programming in Gorkha and Okhaldhunga districts, supporting over 18,3000 HHs through shelter, livelihoods and community infrastructure programming and is ensuring accountability to beneficiaries through a robust feedback mechanism. CRS Nepal has been coordinating the reconstruction through leadership of the Housing Recovery and Reconstruction Platform (HRRP) since March 2017 in collaboration with National Reconstruction Authority and implementing partners. HRRP supports the 32 earthquake affected districts by advising, monitoring and documenting the housing reconstruction process. CRS has also been awarded the USAID-funded Farmer to Farmer program which provides technical assistance from US agriculture experts to organizations in Nepal to improve productivity, improve access to markets, and build local capacities. This aligns with CRS Nepal’s continuing shift to resilience and development programming. Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) has been a focus area of all CRS programming in Nepal with advances made in HR systems, community participation and organizational dynamics.

HRRP Background:

The Housing Recovery and Reconstruction Platform (HRRP) was established in December 2015 to take over supporting coordination of the post-earthquake housing reconstruction from the Nepal Shelter Cluster, as it returned to the pre-earthquake format as a standard cluster. HRRP provides coordination support services for the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), Building and Grant Management and Local Infrastructure (GMALI) Central Level Programme Implementation Units (CLPIUs), other relevant government authorities, and Partner Organizations (POs). HRRP3 is primarily funded by DFID Nepal and CRS Nepal. Other financial contributors and implementing partners include Oxfam, Caritas Nepal, Plan International, and the National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal (NSET) which leads on technical coordination.

The fourth phase of HRRP (HRRP4) starts on August 1st, 2019 and will run through July 2021.

In the previous phase of HRRP, the platform has been the leader in documenting the recovery, promoting collaboration, and contributing to a collaboratively agreed unified approach to the recovery. HRRP 3 was largely supporting coordination of I/NGOs with government, however as HRRP 4 starts the number of partners is now so few the coordination support will be direct towards the government, with a focus on urban recovery, the most vulnerable, retaining investments made in resources and systems during the response beyond the response, supporting local agency and leadership of the response and strengthening building code regulation.

Job Summary:

You will provide leadership and overall management of the Housing Recovery and Reconstruction Program (HRRP) to serve earthquake-affected households in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor guidelines and industry best practices. Your leadership, management and technical knowledge will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming and advance the position of CRS as a leading agency in the Housing Recovery and Reconstruction field.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead all aspects of the development, implementation and consolidation of the Housing Recovery and Reconstruction Program, including sharing how the project contributes to the thought leadership of the sector. Serve as the primary point of contact to DONOR as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders. Lead design and implementation of agency-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in Housing Recovery and Reconstruction that effectively engage partners, donors, and governments. Manage planning and implementation of sustainability plan for appropriate exit strategy. Ensure cross-sectoral approach that integrates gender, protection mainstreaming, and disaster risk reduction.
• 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.
• Create and maintain proper conditions for learning and research across CRS, partners and Housing Recovery and Reconstruction stakeholders. 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.
• 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. Emphasis on localization to support capacity strengthening of local governments and relevant national agencies with the Housing Recovery and Reconstruction sector.
• 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 process of senior staff.
• Ensure the project is designed and implemented to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results and budget with an emphasis on 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, including safeguarding of data. Lead pre-positioning and strategic growth opportunity development for HRRP.
• Oversee the development of communication strategies and materials, complying with donor and CRS’ branding and marketing requirements and procedures.
• Represent CRS at global forums and major donor forums to present CRS’ work and research in Housing Recovery and Reconstruction to influence technical partner approaches, future funding opportunities, and policies. Network with relevant organizations to increase CRS’ profile in Housing Recovery and Reconstruction, influence in the global Housing Recovery and Reconstruction community, and donor diversification.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Building Construction, Engineering, Architecture, Anthropology, Law, Political or Social Science, Business Administration, International Relations, Education, or Other Built Environment Professional Accreditation with minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Bachelor’s Degree in the above fields with minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience.
• Minimum of ten years of work experience in Housing Recovery and Reconstruction with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO. Experience leading a Housing Recovery and Reconstruction cluster or recovery platform is preferred.
• Deep understanding and application of technical principles and concepts in Housing Recovery and Reconstruction. Good knowledge of related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Demonstrated excellence in organizational and program management skills.
• Demonstrated experience working with Government and success to transfer knowledge to diverse audiences through training, mentoring, and other formal and informal methods.
• Demonstrated experience and skills to represent the organization at the highest levels at meetings with donors, government, international NGOs, local partners and civil society. Understanding of partnership principles.
• Track record of contributing significantly to successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding in Housing Recovery and Reconstruction.
• Proficient in Google products (Drive, Sheets, Slides, Docs etc), MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Skype), Social media, Adobe products, Web Conferencing Applications and strong understanding of information and budget management systems and knowledge-sharing networks.
• Demonstrated experience in interoperating data, analytics, GIS and guiding information management and communications.
• Technical and/or academic research experience and publications highly desirable.

Personal Skills

• Excellent relationship management skills with ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision and to work with individuals in diverse geographical and cultural settings.
• Excellent strategic, analytical, problem-solving and systems thinking skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including research publications
• Excellent presentation, facilitation, training, mentoring, and coaching skills
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Required/Desired Foreign Language: Fluency in written and spoken English essential. Written/Spoken Nepal is a plus.

Travel Required: Minimum of 20% travel to earthquake-affected areas.

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory: Deputy National Coordinator, Operations Coordinator, National Technical Coordinator, and Information Management Manager, MEAL Officer.

Internal: Country Representative,Head of Programs, Head of Operations, Finance Manager,CRS Global Shelter and Settlement Technical Advisors

External: Central and District Project Implementation Units (including GMALI, Building, Education) and their associated ministries,National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), Local level Government of Nepal, other Stakeholders including UN, Red Cross, Donors, and Partner Organizations working in Recovery and Reconstruction, HRRP Strategic Advisory Group (SAG), Universities, Associations, Private Sector, media and Community Groups.

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

What we offer

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, generous retirement savings plan and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

***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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

About the Organization

CRS staff, alongside our partners and the people we serve, work daily to bring our mission and guiding principles to life. We share our stories of hope, compassion and solidarity to inspire others to join us in creating a more just and prosperous world for all.