Chief of Party II, USAID Afghanistan Women in Agriculture Activity

*This post is contingent on donor funding and donor approval of the candidate.

About CRS

CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, health, agriculture, education, and microfinance.

In Afghanistan, the majority of households are dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. However, climatic and economic trends have had significant impacts on the productivity and profitability of agricultural livelihoods. CRS has been working in Afghanistan since 2002, and an evolving, dynamic portfolio designed to support the basic needs of communities and individuals in Afghanistan has been at core of its work since that time. CRS is currently implementing programs in the provinces of Bamiyan, Daykundi, Ghor, Herat, and Kabul, and is exploring additional expansion. CRS maintains five main offices in the country as well as several sub-offices that support the direct implementation of program activities. With over 200 staff, the Country Program is growing to meet new needs throughout the country and provides improved livelihoods, emergency relief, basic needs support, and other life‐enriching services to tens of thousands of households.

Job Summary:

Pending a successful application and donor approval, as Chief of Party II you will provide vision, leadership and overall management of the anticipated U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Afghanistan Women in Agriculture Activity to strengthen livelihoods and resilience in Afghanistan. Your strategic leadership, management and technical knowledge will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming and advance the position of CRS in livelihoods programming and value chain strengthening. As a senior leader you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Lead all aspects of the implementation and consolidation of an anticipated multi-year agricultural livelihoods development activity, including work that improves food security, creates sustainable jobs, and strengthens access to capital and market linkages; lead efforts to share how the project contributes to the thought leadership of the industry.
• Serve as the primary point of contact to the donor, as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with contract, including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration and reporting to donor. Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors. Promote, uphold and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources.
• Ensure the project is designed and implemented to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results and budget, including strategies for phase out and sustainability. Ensure coordination between program and operations leads. Ensure the CRS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
• Effectively manage senior programming and operations talent. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Oversee the development of staffing plans and the recruitment process of senior staff.
• Manage and mitigate risk through monitoring national and regional issues that may impact staff and programming. Ensure all staff understand and adhere to CRS staff safety and security policies and plans and ensure the updating of such plans.
• Represent CRS programming in international circles, highlighting innovative work. Publish program results and deliver presentations. Oversee the development of communication strategies and materials, complying with donor and CRS’ branding and marketing requirements and procedures.
• Manage relationships with consortium partner organizations, including organization of review/planning workshops. Coordinate the roles and activities of staff from other consortium member organizations in implementation inline with CRS partnership principles.
• 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. Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for CRS and partner staff and ensure the design and delivery of high-quality training and technical assistance.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent strategic, analytical, systems thinking, andproblem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Excellent relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams. Coaching/mentoring skills.
• Strong communications and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications

• Established leader in sector as demonstrated by peer reviewed publications, conference presentations etc.
• Demonstrated experience of successful program management, including management of complex, high-value, multi-activity projects, with complicated logistics.
• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.
• Ability to represent and present at high levels.
• Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.

Required Languages – English required. Dari or Pashto an asset.

Travel – The position is anticipated to be based in Kabul. Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% within Afghanistan. Occasional international travel may be required.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Deputy Chief of Party, Finance and Operations Director, Strategic Learning Advisor. Supervisory responsibilities are subject to change.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal – Country Representative, Head of Programming, Head of Operations, MEAL Coordinator, Finance Manager, Regional Technical Advisor for Livelihoods, Regional Technical Advisor for Gender.

External – Donors, partner INGOs and local NGOs, private sector actors, relevant government ministries, and peer agencies.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in agriculture, business, international development, international relations, or a relevant technical area. PhD preferred.
• 10 or more years’ relevant management and technical experience in livelihoods programming, with demonstrated experience in value chain development, private sector engagement, and market-based approaches.
• 7 years’ experience managing donor funds, including USAID funds. Excellent knowledge and experience in budget management.
• 5 years of staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching and mentoring senior program staff.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff): Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. 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.

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
• Acts with Integrity – Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust – Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.

***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.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Note: All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate or global telecommuter, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer