Deputy Chief of Party

Job Description

Job Summary

You will manage and represent Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) DFSA Girma project activities operating through its fully operational sub-offices in Magaria and the four additional sub-offices for the project in the Departments of Magaria and Doungass, and the town of Zinder, to ensure implementation of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable in line with Girma objectives. Out of the Magaria sub-office you will ensure the development and effective management of operational systems and resources and the delivery of high-quality programming in coordination with the CRS main office in Niamey.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

A. Finance

• Supervise the Senior Finance Officer in the strategic management of financial resources.
• Collaborate directly with the Chief of Party to ensure that project expenditures are appropriate and consistent with financial plans. Review financial reports to ensure that inter-department coordination and dispensing department behavior is such as to promote budget conformity and good cash management in accordance to donor requirement. Work with the Senior Finance Officer to take corrective action when required.
• Review program budgets to ensure that they reflect overall project priorities and expectations, mitigate risks, and reflect maximum obtainable efficiency. Review periodic forecasts with these objectives in mind.
• Authorize project field expenses.

B. Administration/Logistics

• Ensure that the physical plant is appropriate to need and that it is managed in conformity with CRS policies.
• Ensure that transportation services other than fleet management are appropriate to need and delivered in conformity with CRS policies.
• Ensure proper stewardship of project resources, and the optimal utilization and maintenance of program assets and resources including proper inventory controls (includes oversight of inventory receiving and shipping as well as warehouse, fleet and asset management and the disposition of assets) in a way that meets CRS standards, USAID requirements, and local regulations.
• Ensure high quality reporting that allows for proper tracing and tracking of inventory and assets.

C. Human Resources

• Supervise the HR Officer in strategic management of human resources, including talent mapping, succession planning and career development. Communicate project priorities and guide him/her to ensure alignment of efforts.
• Ensure that the project is adequately staffed to meet the needs of the grant. Ensure that recruitments are conducted as per policy.
• Ensure the integrity (accuracy, security) of information from HR information systems
• Facilitate enabling conditions for learning - a safe environment for sharing ideas, challenges, and solutions - where shortcomings can be detected, analyzed, and quickly responded to. Identify capacity building needs for project teams and partners, including opportunities for interdepartmental learning.
• Ensure compensation policies and practices are administered to support internal equity, market competitiveness and policy adherence.
• Ensure implementation and continuation of performance management system.

D. Compliance:

• Perform periodic conduct systems checks in all support departments and offices to ensure compliance with CRS and USAID standards, and to ensure responsive support to staff, programs, and partners.
• Identify management system weaknesses, establish priorities, provide recommendations for improved systems performance and ensure compliance.
• Oversee compliance with local laws. Ensure that legal commitments are made in accordance with local law and US law where applicable.
• Act as lead contact for and lead responder to any issues that emerge from internal and external audits.
• Coordinate with the Head of Operations and the Risk and Compliance Manager to identify risks, proactively develop concrete actions and strategies to reduce risk levels and mitigate fraud / corruption in the implementation of the project.
• Plan, organize, liaise, oversee, and monitor CAP implementation for A-133 and other audits of subrecipients.
• In collaboration with the CRS Security Manager, proactively mitigate security risks and timely report security incidents to Girma Chief of Party and Head of Operations.

E. Security:

• Serve as security focal point for the region
• Ensure compliance with CRS security policies and procedures
• Ensure monitoring of the security situation in the region and communication of security information and incident reports to the main office.

F. Partner Capacity Building:

• Lead relevant project staff to help partners identify and resolve management quality issues, and to continually improve quality.
• Provide timely, efficient, appropriate technical assistance to staff and partners in management issues. This may be done directly by project staff, with support from pool MQ staff or other TDYers, as applicable.

Basic Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Master’s in business administration, finance, accounting, human resources, or other relevant field.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in finance, human resources, Supply Chain Management or a senior level administrative.
• Minimum of 5 years work experience in a non-profit, development, and/or humanitarian organization with progressive responsibilities and some project management experience. Experience with an international organization a plus.
• At least two years of this should be in a developing country outside candidate’s country of origin.
• 5 years of experience managing donor funds, including multi country grants. Strong knowledge and experience in budget management.
• 5 years of staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching senior program staff.
• Experience working with projects funded by multiple public donors, including USAID. Experience in developing long range DFAPs/DFSAs, or similar funding mechanisms is a plus.
• Experience in stakeholder management and establishing and strengthening community partnerships.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Knowledge of procurement and general office administration/management issues.
• Ability to work in a complex environment and to lead and work with a multi-cultural team.
• Strong communications (both writing and speaking) and analytical abilities.
• Excellent proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), online conferencing applications, and information management and budget systems.

Required Languages: French and English are required, local language (Hausa) is a plus

Travel: at least 50% to all zones of operation in the region of Zinder and to the communities of intervention.

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.
• 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
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented
• Able to live in an environment where everyday comforts may not be readily available

Agency-wide Competencies

• Integrity
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Supervisory Responsibilities

Senior Finance Officer, Administrative Manager, Human Resources Officer, Fleet Manager, Secretary and Head of base-Zinder.

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.

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

About the Organization

Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States. Our mission is to assist the poor and disadvantaged, leveraging the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to alleviate human suffering, promote development of all people, and to foster charity and justice throughout the world. Working through local offices and an extensive network of partners, CRS operates on five continents and in 98 countries. We aid the poor by first providing direct assistance where needed, then encouraging people to help with their own development. Together, these approaches foster secure, productive, just communities that enable people to realize their potential. As the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community, CRS is also committed to educating the people of the United States to fulfill their moral responsibilities toward our global brothers and sisters by helping the poor, working to remove the causes of poverty, and promoting social justice.