Job Description
NOTE: This position is contingent on funding.
Background
The CRS Egypt country program began in 1956 at the invitation of the Egyptian president Nasser by providing relief assistance to the victims of the Suez War. Over the following few decades, CRS Egypt moved from large-scale food relief to long-term poverty alleviation and development programs. CRS Egypt currently has a main office in Cairo, and sub-offices in Maadi and Mohandessin. CRS Egypt also works with a variety of partner organizations in Cairo and Upper Egypt, working to build partner capacity in executing projects across a variety of sectors.
Currently CRS Egypt has three main programs: livelihoods, interfaith peacebuilding and education assistance. Projects under these programs range from the provision of technical assistance and capacity building to partners, and promoting peace and tolerance, to providing educational grants and increasing the quality of education in community schools. More specifically CRS’ educational assistance for refugees and asylum seekers provides over 30,000 children with access to education through a financial grant program and improves the quality of education received by students through a variety of non-formal educational activities and initiatives to improve the learning environment of students.
As CRS seeks to expand its education programming to benefit not only refugees but also vulnerable Egyptians, CRS intends to apply with its local partner Caritas/Egypt for a USAID cooperative agreement. The project aims to eradicate illiteracy in 2,000 locations across Upper and Lower Egypt and to leverage a whole of village inter-generational approach. The project also focuses on creating models for replication during and after the project, in a way that engages local government structures.
Job Summary
The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) is responsible for the day-to-day management of the project. S/he is responsible for developing strategies and plans, monitoring project activities, and reporting to ensure the quality of The Literate Village Project. S/he coordinates the development of annual work plans, strategic plans, and donor reports. S/he also develops and maintains systems to track program quality. S/he supports the development of strong MEAL systems for monitoring program implementation and ensures that data is analyzed and interpreted to strengthen the program. The DCOP guarantees that lessons collected from the field and other stakeholders are analyzed, communicated and applied in a systematic and consistent fashion. S/he is also responsible for ensuring the coordinated collection, compilation and sharing of regular reports, including financial dashboard reports, donor compliance reports, as well as external communications, publicity and general awareness materials. The DCOP ensures learning and knowledge sharing among the Literate village project team, local partners, and with other stakeholders.
The DCOP is responsible for program development and assists the Chief of Party (COP) with representational aspects of the program. S/he attends internal and external meetings for the Literate Village Project and coordinates with other international and local partners in an effort to increase project impact. The DCOP works closely with sub-recipients by coordinating project activities, conducting meetings, and leading strategy development processes. In addition, the DCOP leads the transition and sustainability process for the Literate Village Project.
Specific Responsibilities
The incumbent will carry out the following functional areas:
Key Tasks:
- Program Quality
- Ensure that the Literate Village Project meets CRS standards for program quality
- Coordinate the implementation of project strategies to improve the quality of the Literate Village and to achieve USAID targets
- Work closely with the MEAL team in data and interpretation analysis.
- Lead the capacity building of the local partners.
- Knowledge and Information Management
- Develop and promote enhanced utilization of KIM tools for decision-making at all level
- Develop a communication strategy within and outside the Literate Village Project
- Strengthen links between knowledge sharing and information systems, and improve integration of information systems in the Literate Village to facilitate an enhanced exchange of ideas
- Identify and document case studies, best practices, and lessons learnedEnsure key program documents and reports are made available, reviewed and shared internally and externally as needed
- Planning
- Lead the preparation and submission of the annual workplan, Detailed Implementation plan, Results Framework, etc.
- Regularly update and share the calendar of the Literate Village activities
- Support the Chief of Party to identify and pursue supplemental funding opportunities to complement the Literate Village programming
- Coordinate with other stakeholders to ensure the best synergies and integration between existing programs and the Literate Village Project activities
- Manage all the sub-awards
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
- Coordinate semi-annual and annual program reviews and follow up on actions
- Manage the Literate Village performance dashboard, analyze data and follow up on recommendations for improved performance as needed
- Monitor the implementation of the sub-recipient Scope of Work and Results Framework
- Make frequent visits to the field to monitor the implementation of activities for quality improvement
- Ensure that the agreed upon ICT4D strategy is implemented and closely monitored
- Promote a culture of learning and information sharing among the Literate Village team
- Reporting
- Coordinate the development, review, and submission of high quality monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports
- Ensure timely and accurate documentation of donor reports, field trip reports, etc.
- Lead the completion of quarterly, semi-annual and annual donor reports for the Literate Village Project
- Lead the drafting and submission of documents formally requested of CRS from donors and government including programmatic reports and funding applications
- Analyze and disseminate trip reports and follow up on action items
- Grants Management
- Lead the review and revision of the project financial reporting and accounting systems
- Develop, analyze and review of grant and Sub-recipient grant agreements. Ensure receipt and maintenance of all Sub–recipient agreements and supporting documents.
- Maintain files of required financial compliance documentation (A-133, NICRA letter etc); review documentation for potential issues; make recommendations to the Senior Management Team for improvements and action to be taken.
- Familiarize and support local partners on financial management procedures, utilization of reporting package, and timeliness of report submission, as it relates to project grant implementation.
- Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports for internal and external customers – namely the local partners and USAID’s local mission.
- Representation and Partnership
- Ensure the Literate Village Project is professionally and consistently represented at relevant sector coordination, donor, government, and network meetings
- Maintain good donor relationships through frequent contact and fulfillment of donor requirements
- Assist in strengthening local relationships, including with the local partner, local Church, Government of Egypt, etc.
- Work with COP to prepare presentations on program issues and any other marketing materials as needed
- Mentoring and Supervision
- Directly supervise several positions.
- Work with the Literate Village staff to develop and implement progressive but realistic staff development plans and annual performance plans using the CRS Performance Management System
- Provide necessary and timely feedback and support to all staff being directly managed
- Ensure that staff are adequately trained in key strategic areas of personal and professional development
- Partnership, Coordination, Communication and Capacity Building
- Share USG policies and guidance with partners, and lead discussions on new guidance to ensure it is adequately understood by all partners.
- Regularly coordinate with other departments to ensure maximum communication and coordination for efficient and effective program operations and project implementation.
- Identify the need for and develop project admin/finance capacity building events.
Key Working Relationships:
Supervisory: TBD
Internal: Chief of Party, Technical support Manager, , Head of Programming for CRS/Egypt, Deputy Head of Programming for CRS/Egypt, CRS/ Egypt CR, Education Regional Technical Adviser, Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality, CRS Egypt Operations staff including finance, operations, security and administration.
External: Caritas Egypt Education adviser, Caritas Egypt Senior Management, Caritas Egypt technical heads of offices throughout Upper Egypt, USAID Education Mission, and education actors in Egypt, and Ministry of Education.
Agency-Wide Competencies:
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.
Program Quality Competencies:
- Builds and Leads Effective Teams
- Supervises and Develops Program Staff
- Leads Growth in Programs
- Focus on Quality
Position Requirements and Qualifications:
Professional Qualifications:
- A master’s degree in education, international development or a relevant field
- At least 5 years of experience in the strategic management of education or development projects, preferably at either a Chief of Party or Deputy Chief of Party level. Specific technical experience in education for vulnerable groups or literacy preferred.
- At least 10 years of progressively more responsible experience managing international development projects. Significant work experience in the Middle East a plus and a strong preference for significant experience in Egypt.
- Experience managing a large budget.
- Proven experience working with USG funded projects. In particular, the successful candidate will be able to manage often competing and concurrent deadlines and requirements originating from USAID, CRS/Baltimore and CRS/Egypt.
- First-hand experience working with partners, and preferably church partners. In particular, the candidate will be able to be sensitive to partner requests and modes of operating while maintaining a strong focus towards results.
- Have strong representation, negotiation and diplomatic skills, especially when relating to USAID, Egyptian government entities and local partner management.
- Be a strong team player, be able to inspire staff but have the ability to coach staff as a mentor, and have highly developed interpersonal and multicultural skills.
- Be a good listener, have the ability to solicit diverse and counter perspectives, yet be a decisive leader.
- Fluent in English, with excellent oral and written communications skills, and possess advanced computer literacy.
- Fluency in Arabic through not required is a strong plus.
Personal Competencies:
- Excellent interpersonal skills with a strong team work and beneficiary/local partner-service focus; able to work with diverse groups of people as a member of multi-cultural teams, both as team leader and team member;
- Communicative and dynamic/skilled in obtaining information from staff and/or external partners and potential sponsors as necessary to accomplish duties.
- Demonstrated strength in partner relationships; diplomatic and able to manage conflicts and to move groups toward consensus
- Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge and skills formally and informally to diverse audiences;
- Patience and dedication to strengthening local partner organizations and working with partners in a spirit of authentic partnership;
- Able to prioritize work, multi-task and control processes.
- Strong representation, presentation and communication skills.
- Able to work diligently and independently.
- Ability to work in a team work environment and coordinate team work.
- Ability to work under pressure with short deadlines.
- Maturity, diplomacy, tact and discretion, with strong negotiation skills.
- Ability to remain calm and professional in tense situations
- Comfortable working with Roman Catholic organization and upholding the principles of Catholic Social Teaching
Disclaimer:
This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
EOE
