Head of Programming, Republic of Congo

  • Mid-level, Full-time staff position
  • Posted on 24 March 2020

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Head of Programming, Republic of Congo (RoC)

Job Type: Regular, Full Time

Job Location: Brazzaville, RoC

Reports to: Country Manager, RoC

Salary Grade: 11

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.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) began its programming in the Republic of Congo in 2017 at the invitation of the country’s Catholic Conference of Bishops and with a specific intent to provide emergency assistance during the last years of a long civil war. In 2018, CRS opened an office in Brazzaville to support work with the Global Fund and OFDA. In 2020, CRS is working with malaria prevention as the Primary Recipient of the Republic of Congo’s Malaria grant and in emergency response and recovery with funded projects under OFDA and WFP, as well as privately funded support to help strengthen the capacity of Caritas Congo in humanitarian efforts.

CRS’s commitment to investing in local people and strengthening local institutions and networks is a primary focus for CRS in RoC. This focus is highlighted by our support to Caritas Congo, with private funds integrated with our joint projects, to expand and strengthen their capacity and efforts to prevent and respond to natural and man-made disasters. Under funding from the Global Fund, CRS is also working with the Ministry of Health and the PNLP (Programme National de Lutte contre le Paludisme) to decrease malarial cases nationwide while also building national systems. With the same grant, CRS is working with Caritas and RENAPAC, a national NGO, to strengthen local civil society outreach in health programming.

In 2020, CRS/Republic of Congo will continue to focus sectoral efforts on Malaria prevention and Emergency Response and Recovery, while also looking to add social cohesion programming. CRS RoC will look to strengthen its strategic partnership efforts with Caritas Congo, the Ministry of Health, and RENAPC and also broaden its collaborations with other public, UN, civil society and private organizations. CRS seeks to do this while carrying out quality programming with strong MEAL support.

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, management and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming. As part of the Senior Management Team you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

  • In collaboration with the Country Representative (CR) provide strategic direction for the design of the CP strategic frameworks and plans, including the development of resource mobilization strategies to optimize the impact of programming interventions in line with regional and agency strategic priorities.
  • Lead high-quality project design incorporating project management standards and MEAL methods, appropriate to scope, context and technical requirements of projects. Coordinate planning of activities across various projects from different sectors to ensure integration of program interventions and efficiency in implementation.
  • 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 for projects and to the recruitment process of senior project staff.
  • Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Promote accountability, learning and knowledge management overseeing 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 resource mobilization staff oversee the business development cycle to ensure quality proposals per agency and donor standards.
  • Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of appropriate partnerships and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
  • 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 curriculums and deliver trainings.

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.
  • 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 a plus
  • Experience in community development, community mobilization, or similar grassroots, self-help initiatives.
  • Experience in project grants management, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, etc., preferably for projects funded by multiple public donors, including USAID and the Global Fund.
  • Experience with successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding.

Required Languages –English Fluency and Advanced French proficiency (verbal and written ability)

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel 10- 15 % of time.

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
  • Presentation and facilitation skills
  • Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

  • Excellent English writing skills.
  • Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
  • Experience and abilities in capacity strengthening - developing curricula and facilitating trainings.
  • 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)

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

Supervisory Responsibilities Direct reports include Project Managers

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Country Manager, Operations Manager, Global Fund Project Director, Finance Manager, Operations and Finance teams, Global Fund Team

External: National and Diocesan Caritas offices, UN agencies, local government ministries and authorities, and other humanitarian actors, RDC Country Program Staff, CARO regional team, HQ support teams and other HoPs in the region,

***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.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

About the Organization

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.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) began its programming in the Republic of Congo in 2017 at the invitation of the country's Catholic Conference of Bishops and with a specific intent to provide emergency assistance during the last years of a long civil war. In 2018, CRS opened an office in Brazzaville to support work with the Global Fund and OFDA. In 2020, CRS is working with malaria prevention as the Primary Recipient of the Republic of Congo's Malaria grant and in emergency response and recovery with funded projects under OFDA and WFP, as well as privately funded support to help strengthen the capacity of Caritas Congo in humanitarian efforts.

CRS's commitment to investing in local people and strengthening local institutions and networks is a primary focus for CRS in RoC. This focus is highlighted by our support to Caritas Congo, with private funds integrated with our joint projects, to expand and strengthen their capacity and efforts to prevent and respond to natural and man-made disasters. Under funding from the Global Fund, CRS is also working with the Ministry of Health and the PNLP (Programme National de Lutte contre le Paludisme) to decrease malarial cases nationwide while also building national systems. With the same grant, CRS is working with Caritas and RENAPAC, a national NGO, to strengthen local civil society outreach in health programming.

In 2020, CRS/Republic of Congo will continue to focus sectoral efforts on Malaria prevention and Emergency Response and Recovery, while also looking to add social cohesion programming. CRS RoC will look to strengthen its strategic partnership efforts with Caritas Congo, the Ministry of Health, and RENAPC and also broaden its collaborations with other public, UN, civil society and private organizations. CRS seeks to do this while carrying out quality programming with strong MEAL support.

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