Job Description

CONTEXT

CRS is seeking an experienced Project Director for an anticipated Animal Health and Laboratory Surveillance Support Activity, funded through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteer Program in support of the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA)’s zoonotic disease action package. This anticipated 3 year, US$ 3.5 million project will supplement and expand upon ongoing One Health and GHSA activities in Mali, ultimately increasing the capacity of the Malian government to detect zoonotic diseases quickly and accurately through strengthening of the animal health surveillance and disease identification network. The project will build the human and material capacity of multiple One Health Actors, including veterinary laboratories, government veterinarians, and livestock sector actors, in the areas of zoonotic disease diagnosis, specimen collection and transport, and passive surveillance of livestock disease. It will also develop innovative and effective means to strengthen the linkages between the animal and human health sector, further advancing the One Health approach in Mali.

Through the Farmer-to-Farmer Program’s unique voluntary technical assistance component, the project will strategically draw upon the expertise of a pool of experienced global technical experts in multiple project-related areas. These expert Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteers will be selected to serve in well-targeted, short-term, high-impact volunteer field assignments which will support capacity building and peer-to-peer technical exchange in one or more of the project’s core areas of focus.

Summary of the Post:

The Project Director will be responsible for all work planning and reporting to USAID and is expected to play a lead role interacting with counterparts and other development partners. S/he will serve as the Chair of the One Health sub-group of the Livestock Donors Group (PTF-Elevage, Sous groupe Une Seule Santé), or to designate a member of her/his staff to serve this function. This will include close coordination and collaboration with other donors, activities and local institutions in both the livestock and human health sectors. S/he will be responsible for overall program leadership, strategic planning, management and quality assurance. The Project Director will ensure that results are achieved and is also responsible for facilitating communication and close coordination with all stakeholders of this activity.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide effective strategic vision and leadership to drive forth the project’s multi-sectoral objectives, ensuring all interventions are well aligned with global best practices, relevant WHO and OIE standards for human and animal health; and CRS’ Program Quality standards
• Lead the development and submission of annual Country Operating Plans (COP)
• Develop and maintain strong relationships and collaboration with relevant Ministry of Health and Ministry of Livestock actors, the LCV, the DNSV, and the relevant regional directorates of animal health and regional laboratories. Conduct regular meetings with each of these actors to ensure continuous adaptation of program approaches and work plans to meet evolving needs.
• Collaborate with the CRS HQ Farmer-to-Farmer team on the refinement of volunteer technical assignments; the sourcing, selection and placement of volunteers with the appropriate skills; and the evaluation of impact of volunteers’ capacity-building activities
• Lead all quarterly and annual reporting processes to USAID; provide oversight on the development of all official documentation produced for the project (success stories, lessons learned, case studies, etc.)
• Coordinate closely with the CRS/GHSA CDC-funded project to maximize synergies in animal and human health linkages, particularly in the areas of laboratory strengthening and specimen collection and transport.
• Conduct periodic visits to relevant decentralized government laboratories or veterinary service providers to be acquainted with issues around program effectiveness.
• Serve as chair of the One Health sub-group of the Donors Livestock Group. Represent the project and CRS in all other relevant national coordination bodies, including the Laboratory Sub-Commission (INRSP) and the Surveillance Technical Working Group (DNS).
• Lead the development of project learning, including driving forth strategic opportunities for operational research, testing of innovation, and publication/dissemination of project learning, in line with CRS Mali’s 5-year Health Sector Strategy
• Ensure the full application of CRS Mali’s MEAL Policies and Procedures, with the technical support of MEAL-focused staff. Facilitate the sharing of best practices and lessons learned to contribute to agency knowledge management.
• Closely monitor project expenses, ensuring they are in line with approved budgets; conduct regular analyses to identify sources of variance and develop timely solutions to address over- or under-spending
• Provide technical oversight for the recruitment, selection and supervision of project consultants; assure the technical quality of all intermediate and final deliverables
• Effectively supervise the project team, including a range of technical, management support, and administrative staff. Carry out coaching, strategically adapt individual development plans, and proactively manage the performance of all direct reports.
• Supervise technical assistance provided to the relevant GoM actors and capacity building activities for project personnel and partner organizations, to improve program quality and impact.
• Supervise the identification, evaluation and strengthening of pertinent partnerships in the zoonosis domain, and the strong application of CRS partnership principles, tools and approaches.

Required education, experience and skills

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree or higher in public health, veterinary or livestock science, or similar field. Doctorate in veterinary medicine highly preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas: zoonotic diseases; disease surveillance systems and / or laboratories, preferably in animal health; programs focused on the “One Health Care” approach
• Excellent knowledge of the structure of the human and animal health systems in Mali.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in managing complex projects funded by donors, preferably with an international NGO. Experience on USAID projects would be an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in developing effective working relationships with various partner organizations, stakeholders, and government entities, preferably with a key function of coordinating various stakeholders
• Skills and experience in all aspects of project management
• Experience and capacity in personnel management conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience in using MS Windows and MS Office software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), online conferencing applications, information management systems.

Personal Skills:

● Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound judgments, make good decisions and deliver innovative solutions.

● Strong capacity in relationship management. Ability to build relationships with people at all levels, both internally and externally. Strategic in your approach to each relationship.

● Good presentation, facilitation, and representation skills

● Proactive, resourceful, solution- and results-oriented.

Foreign Language required/desired: Fluent French (spoken/written) with a very high-level of English proficiency required

Field Travel : 20%

Key Relationships

Supervision : Project Team- TBD : Technical Advisor(s), Program Manager, MEAL Manager, Admin Assistant

Internal: Health Director, Head of Programming, Chief of Party GHSA/CDC; Farmer-to-Farmer Global Director; Country Representative; Grants Management Staff ; Senior/Regional Technical Advisors

External: Actors of relevant government divisions (MSHP, Ministere d’Elevage, LCV, DNSV/DRSV; DNS ; INRSP); USAID/Mali; other GHSA human and animal health partners ; other financial and technical partners in the livestock, One Health, or surveillance/lab space.

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.

• Trusting Relationships
• Professional Growth
• Partnership
• Accountability

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

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.