Project Director - Lafia/PRORESA

Job Description

CRS is seeking a Project Director for a three years project, Lafia/PRORESA-funded resilience project implemented in the regions of Timbuktu and Gao. CRS, in partnership with Save the Children and local partners, ASG and Tassaght, will collaborate with other European Union-funded consortia to ensure coverage of livelihoods, nutrition, social safety net, and governance activities throughout the project zone. This project started in December 2016 for 3 years and is one of five to be concurrently implemented in Timbuktu and Gao by a variety of international NGOs, in close collaboration with CONFED (the national office for European Union collaboration), the EU Delegation in Mali and the Ministries of Health (Nutrition Division) and Rural Development.

CRS is the overall project lead and the Livelihoods technical lead on the project. Save the Children serves as the Nutrition technical lead. CRS and partners will focus on implementing in the Timbuktu region, but will be responsible for overall oversight and livelihoods technical support to Save the Children and their partner in the Gao region.

The donor, the EU, is focused on common approaches and common indicators so the project Director will need to be active and present in meetings with the donor, CONFED, and the leads of the two other projects. The EU seeks to set up a Bamako-based project steering committee as well as a community of practice. CRS Consortium is the lead of the Agriculture and Livelihood and Child Protection sector of the community of practice.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for the overall planning, implementation and management of the project as well as the achievement of the project’s goals and objectives in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Serve as the team lead for the project and ensure strong communication and coordination with and between all team members as a means to effectively achieve program objectives. Encourage transparency among and between members to promote coordination and effectiveness.
• Support the project’s Steering Committee (to be established by the donor)
• Support the project MEAL Manager to provide technical guidance to other grant recipients to ensure a streamlined MEAL approach
• Lead the planning of project activities and set high quality performance targets ensuring adherence to technical standards, best practices and donor guidelines.
• Design strategies, partnerships and interventions to guarantee the project is gender and disability-sensitive and that CRS and implementing partners are accountable to beneficiaries.
• Ensure grant management compliance for the project with donor and CRS regulations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and collaboration for the team and country stakeholders, including PRORESA, CONFED, and the European Union, implementation partners, government partners and other key stakeholders.
• Ensure timely, high-quality and complete submission of work plans, quarterly and annual reports, financial reports, and any other reports required by the donor.
• Promote sustainability of project activities with effective networking, linkages to other programs, capacity building of project staff, and institutional strengthening of implementing partners and community-based organizations.
  
  

AGENCY-WIDE COMPETENCIES (for all CRS Staff)
These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning

Supervisory Responsibilities: Direct supervision of at least 5 staff in a central unit

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
Internal to CRS: Country Representative; Head of Programming and all program staff, particularly MEAL and Agriculture unit managers; Timbuktu sub-office staff; Security Manager and Security Staff; Finance; Regional and Headquarters technical staff.

External to CRS: Officials at the European Union, CONFED, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Health; partner staff (Save the Children, ASG, Tassaght)

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s Degree in International Development, Agriculture, Nutrition, or related field.
• Demonstrated technical experience and knowledge of resilience, livelihoods, safety nets, and governance.
• At least 7 years of experience managing large-scale, multi-year proposals in Africa.
• Experience collaborating with international bodies, host governments and local partners to implement resilience-oriented projects.
• Experience managing teams and building partnerships.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and networking skills required.
• Fluency in written and spoken French and English
• Ability to guide a team in a challenging security context and manage from a distance as necessary
• Strong communication skills

Language: Fluency in written and spoken English and French. All project documents must be submitted in French.

Travel: up to 50%, including to Timbuktu and Gao. Security restrictions may apply to certain travel.

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.

Applications will be received until this position has been 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.