Job Description
Position Title: Project Manager (PM II), FOCUS
Dept./Location: PIQA/Baltimore, MD
Band: D
Reports to: FOCUS Project Director (PD)
Background
Initiated in April 2015, The Faith based Organization Capacity Strengthening for Universal HIV Services Project (FOCUS) is a five‐year Centers for Disease Control (CDC)‐funded award to Catholic Relief Services. FOCUS is designed to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for persons affected by HIV and AIDS and other adversities through identifying service delivery gaps and tailoring targeted interventions to be implemented by faith based organizations (FBOs) and leaders. FOCUS draws on global evidence, which illustrates that HIV and other adversities are best prevented and addressed when PLHIV have access to high quality HIV related health services at facility level and support at community level. FOCUS will help countries to identify HIV service delivery related health and community system gaps and suggest FBO supported interventions and policies that support services that increase HIV Testing Services (HTS), and Care, Treatment & Support (CT&S), reducing this way the risk of HIV infection and promoting health and wellbeing. FOCUS will engage faith based and community leaders in increasing community awareness and influencing policy change at local and national level. Community based healthcare workers will support facility efforts in addressing the barriers to HIV testing and supporting referrals to health facility and social services. FOCUS will specifically aim at increasing pediatric case finding and strengthening the partnership between the government and faith based organizations.
The main objectives of FOCUS are:
- To conduct assessments of faith-based health systems and networks to strengthen sustainable, evidence-based HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services;
- To cross-train and provide technical assistance (TA) to public health, civil society, and faith-based organizations on interdisciplinary approaches to HIV prevention, treatment and support; and
- To develop platforms for faith-based leaders to advocate for equitable policies that make HIV services accessible to communities and individuals disproportionately impacted by HIV, including vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.
FOCUS will be initiated in Nigeria and scoping visits will be conducted in DRC and Zimbabwe in 2017. In collaboration with CDC, FOCUS will explore the opportunities of expanding to other countries too. Each country will have a project team that will implement the country level activities.
Job Summary
The FOCUS Project Manager (PM) will be responsible for planning and the quality of programmatic implementation of the project on time, within budget, and in accordance with CDC guidelines. This position will support the daily management of project activities, coordinate the inputs from country-based staff, lead scoping visit planning, logistics, and implementation. S/he will take the lead role in the design and development of subsequent country Work Plans, Continuation Applications and annual Country Operating Plans (COP). This position will support the initial technical, program, and operational set-up of FOCUS’ presence in FOCUS countries in collaboration with the FOCUS PD, in-country PM, CRS Country Representatives and teams. S/he will provide technical support in the design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the deliverables and outcomes of the project.
Specific Responsibilities
Project Design and Quality:
- Coordinate the country project design and development of project activities and ensure consistency between countries of implementation.
- Develop the Continuation Applications and Country Operating Plans (COP) for PD review, finalization and submission to the donor.
- Ensure that the project execution is in line with the project’s vision and that project plans are effectively implemented and meet technical quality standards.
- Use appropriate project management tools to plan, review and track progress on project implementation as well as on the utilization of project resources; use participatory processes to overcome implementation obstacles.
- In collaboration with the FOCUS PD, identify technical assistance needs for CRS and partners and take the lead in developing of scopes of work (SOW) for technical assistance to faith based partners and government on HTS, CT&S and partnership strengthening.
- Support the key changes in project direction and focus in consultation with the FOCUS PD, Country PMs and HOPs.
- Keep abreast of latest developments in the sector area (collaborate with regional/HQ technical advisors, learn new PQ tools, network with outside technical experts, etc.).
- When feasible, support the PD in identifying opportunities for linkages with other projects and organizations to support FOCUS project objectives.
Partnership:
- Foster positive collaboration with CRS, CDC country teams, FBO networks and facilities and select Government entities related to HTS and CT&S.
- In conjunction with the finance and administration teams, and in collaboration with the Country PMs, develop, implement and monitor capacity strengthening plans to address any capacity gaps for local partners.
- In collaboration with Country PMs, develop appropriate scopes of work, associated budgets, and sub agreements for local technical partners and seek HQ review and approval.
Reporting, Administration, Financial Management and Compliance
- Prepare required annual narrative reports, quarterly performance data, as well as other reports needed/required by CDC and CRS headquarters within donor set deadlines.
- Maintain a reporting tracking and communication system to ensure that reporting deadlines, milestones, expiration dates, and any donor-approved changes in grant procedures are adhered to.
- Support the PD with the opening, mid-term review, and closure meetings (with support from country PMs) to ensure broad understanding of donor terms and requirements.
- Ensure that the project communication strategies, including compliance with donor’s branding and marking requirements as well as CRS marketing and communication procedures are followed.
- Coordinate with operations staff for purchasing and inventory control as per CRS/donor requirements
- Maintain, update and upload project documentation including reports, continuation applications and agreement modifications onto Gateway on a regular basis.
- Ensure that project expenses comply with CRS financial guidelines, policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Prepare annual project budget and manage project budgets, including tracking of financial and material resources in coordination with the Country PMs and the finance team.
- Ensure the financial management of the project as per the project budget, including the completion of budget templates and forecasts, reviewing and analysis of monthly budget comparison reports and timely submission of financial reports and annual expenditure analysis reports in the PEPFAR Records Organizations Management Information System (PROMIS).
- Review project expenses and cash pipeline and ensure compliance with all CRS administrative and operational procedures and policies, as well as applicable donor regulations. Ensure proper financial management systems are in place and followed.
- Request approval in a timely manner for project expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification from FOCUS PD.
Growth, Representation and Advocacy:
- Support the development and growth of the project in line with the donor, CRS agency and country strategic priorities.
- Identify project expansion priorities and opportunities for new funding. Coordinate the expansion related country scoping visits in collaboration with the PD, country PMs and teams.
- Coordinate with country based PMs and proposal design teams and assist in the development and review of technical and financial proposals for expanding the project.
- Undertake representation, advocacy and influencing work in countries and externally when delegated by the PD.
Monitoring, Accountability, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL)
- In coordination with the HQ and country MEAL teams, develop and implement strong MEAL systems, using CRS tools and resources to maximize project impact on project participants.
- Support the PD with collaborative and structured evaluation processes to review data, reach agreement about findings, and apply learning and recommendations.
- Liaise with staff in countries of implementation to encourage sharing of best practices and solutions to challenges; support the MEAL Technical Advisor to identify, document and disseminate best practices and lessons learned.
- Support the PD with leading the learning agenda and championing learning with project staff and partner teams.
Human Resource Management:
- With Project Director and Human Resources, identify project staffing needs and contribute to job descriptions and hiring staff and consultants
- Serve as point of contact for consultants.
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
Project Manager Competencies:
These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each Project Manager to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.
- Sets clear goals and manages toward them
- Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders
- Manages financial resources with integrity
- Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning
Supervisory Responsibility:
Key Working Relationships
Internal to CRS: CRS HQ based Project Director, Country Project Managers, country-level program staff, Country Representatives and Heads of Programming; CRS Regional Technical Advisors for health; CRS HQ Program Impact and Quality Assurance (PIQA) Senior Technical Advisors for Health and HIV; Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Advisor and Unit, Partnership and Capacity Strengthening Unit, and HQ finance team.
External to CRS: Officials at CDC, FBO network leaders, representatives of country governments and ministries, other PEPFAR implementing partners and research institutions.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
Qualifications/Work Experience:
- Master’s degree in Public Health, International Development, or a related field.
- Seven or more years of professional overseas experience, with progressively increasing responsibility in managing complex projects. Experience in managing PEPFAR projects in Africa preferred.
- Five or more years of prior management of significant donor funding as Program Manager is required.
- Five or more years of experience in project design and proposal development experience, including results frameworks/logic models, technical narratives, detailed implementation plans and budgeting. MEAL experience desirable.
- Experience with HIV/AIDS service delivery programs, health system and faith-based network strengthening highly desirable.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully manage program grants, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting.
- Demonstrated experience in working with donor agencies.
- Familiarity with CDC regulations and requirements highly desirable.
Personal/Professional Skills:
- Strong interpersonal, communication and organizational skills as well as good judgment and vision.
- Excellent written and strong verbal communication skills. Spoken and written fluency in English is required and professional proficiency in French is preferred.
- Strong coordination, management, negotiation skills and a demonstrated ability to multi-task.
- Demonstrated management skills
- Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively in diverse environments and under pressure.
- Diplomacy, flexibility, and resourcefulness.
- Commitment to gender- and disability- responsive programming.
- Advanced Word, Excel and PowerPoint experience.
Travel: Ability to travel overseas to FOCUS project countries up to 40% of time and be part of extended TDYs. Willingness to travel to attend conferences, workshops or other related activities, when needed.
Disclaimer Clause: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS’ recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
NOTE: All interested applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. at the time of application.
Catholic Relief Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer
