Chief of Party, Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP III)

Job Description

Req. No.: I1338
Position Type: Full Time
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Estimated Length of Service: 2-4 years

Job Summary:
CRS/Ethiopia is currently the lead agency of the FFP emergency food aid program, Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP) in Ethiopia, which is an emergency food security program that first started in 2008 to address acute food security shocks. CRS expects to lead a consortium of international and national members in implementing a new grant starting summer 2014 with a program value of up to $100 million annually in cash, commodities and resiliency programming. The program is managed through the Core Management Team located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Chief of Party (CoP) leads and manages the Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP) Consortium and program in Ethiopia. The JEOP CoP is responsible for the overall management including coordination within the Consortium, coordination with and reporting to the donor, and liaising with the Government of Ethiopia. The JEOP CoP chairs and coordinates the Steering Committee meetings and Program Coordination Team (PCT) meetings as well as provides overall leadership. The CoP will have key responsibilities overseeing program management, quality and representation as outlined below:

Job Responsibilities:

Program Quality:

• Supervises and coordinates program activities with the Deputy Chief of Party for Program Quality.
• With key program staff and stakeholders, ensure that the program’s strategic objectives and results are fully accomplished and meet expected technical quality standards.
• Ensure that vision and plans for the program are innovative and are in line with CRS agency and country program strategies.
• Oversee periodic technical reviews and manage changes in program direction and focus.
• In collaboration with program staff, provide guidance and technical oversight to partners and other collaborating agencies to ensure that lessons of sound practice are documented and disseminated.
• Ensure that M&E learning is incorporated into evolving program plans.
• Ensure integration of program interventions with other CRS programs or through linkages with other service providers.
• With program staff, ensure the delivery of quality training, technical assistance and administrative and financial support to all partner agencies, including the selection and coordination of consultants.

Management and Administration:
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• Supervises and coordinates JEOP operational activity with the Deputy Chief of Party for Operations, including SILC, M&E, Early Warning and Nutrition/BCC.
• Manage program budgets, including tracking of financial and material resources.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of program finances and progress status, review actual financial performance against the budget, and explain variances on a regular basis.
• Ensure staff compliance with all CRS administrative and operational procedures and policies, as well as applicable donor regulations.
• Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors.
• Supports the Deputy Chief of Party for Operations in ensuring monitoring of commodity management and compliance with sub-agreements.
• Plans for cash and food resource needs and submits resource requests for USAID consideration and approval.
• Keeps USAID (Mission and Washington) up to date on resources use, status and requirements.

Representation and Advocacy:

• Provide direction and oversight to JEOP Consortium, ensuring that sub-recipients adhere to their assigned scopes of work and sub-award terms, and ensuring all members of the consortium work cooperatively and productively to achieve project objectives.
• In collaboration with the CRS/ET Country Representative, acts as primary program contact to the donor, Government of Ethiopia and other local and international stakeholders, such as the World Food Program and NGOs, responsible for addressing all program matters.
• In collaboration with the CRS/ET Country Representative, strengthen linkages with existing and potential partner agencies.
• In collaboration with CRS/ET Country Representative, oversee program communication strategies, including compliance with the donor’s branding and marketing requirements, as well as CRS marketing and communication procedures.
• Plans and coordinates Steering Committee Meetings with the Consortium and USAID.
• Plans and chairs Program Coordination Team meetings.
• In collaboration with CRS/ET Country Representative, represents CRS and the Consortium at USAID led Emergency Task Force meetings on a weekly basis.

Human Resource Management:

Lead, manage and supervise a team of CRS and consortium staff to meet program objectives.

• Conduct periodic reviews of staff performance in keeping with CRS’ performance management system and mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork.
• Manage recruitment portfolio for the program, in collaboration with Human Resources and CRS country program management, to ensure optimum service delivery through recruitment of competent and qualified staff.

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

Key Working Relationships:
Internal: CRS Country Representative, CRS Head of Programs and Head of Operations, CRS Program Quality Director, Deputy Chief of Party/Operations and Programs, and CRS sectoral Managers
External: USAID Mission Department Directors (Food for Peace and Feed the Future), Food for Peace Officers in DC, Program Managers of Consortium Members and Technical service providing agencies, Consortium Country Directors, Regional and Federal Government of Ethiopia officials.

Supervision: A team of CRS and consortium staff

Travel: Willingness to travel approximately 25% of the time to remote areas of the country.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Master’s Degree in Development Studies, International Relations related field, or significant relevant field experience
• Minimum 8 years of progressively increasing management responsibility in developing countries including experience in emergency, relief food aid, nutrition, food security or similar programming.
• Prior management of significant USAID Title II funding required, preferably as a Chief of Party or Country Representative
• Proven leadership and inter-personal skills and ability to build and motivate diverse and talented teams
• Proven experience in managing complex consortium or partnership relationships required
• Strategic vision and capacity to oversee a vast and complex program required
• Experience with participatory methods and partnerships required
• Public relations skills required
• Proven ability to think strategically
• Flexibility to work both in a team and independently
• Cultural sensitivity, patience and flexibility
• Demonstrated personal accountability and driven to serve others
• Understanding of and experience with faith-based organizations, local church structures, and accompaniment and capacity-building principles in local partnerships desired
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally as required
• Excellent English oral and written communication skills required
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel and Outlook required
• Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time

Disclaimer Clause: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties and responsibilities associated with the position.

NOTE: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.