Chief of Party, Liberia

Job Title: Chief of Party I

Reports to: Country Manager

Department: WARO/Liberia

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 has been working in Liberia since 1957 with current programmatic focus targeting health, nutrition, peacebuilding, and agriculture. CRS Liberia is beginning implementation as Principal Recipient (PR) of a 12-month Malaria and Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH) Grant funded by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund). CRS will draw on the agency’s global malaria, health systems strengthening and Global Fund expertise to oversee and strengthen vector control, malaria case management, prevention of malaria in pregnancy, health product management systems, health management information systems and M&E, human resources for health (including community health workers), and overall program management.

Job Summary:

As Chief of Party I, you will provide vision, leadership and overall management of the Global Fund Malaria/RSSH grant to serve the poor and vulnerable. You will oversee CRS Liberia’s relationship with Global Fund, the Ministry of Health (MoH), National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), various service providers, partners, and other public, private, and non-government stakeholders. Your strategic leadership, management and technical knowledge will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming and advance the position of CRS as a leading agency in combating malaria. As a senior leader you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Lead all aspects of the development, implementation and consolidation of the Global Fund Malaria/RSSH Grant, including sharing how the project contributes to the thought leadership on combatting malaria. Serve as the primary point of contact to Global Fund as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders.
• Ensure the project is designed and implemented to meet donor and MoH 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 Global Fund and CRS program quality standards are adhered to as per Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (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.
• Promote, uphold and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources. Ensure compliance with Global Fund regulations, including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration and reporting to Global Fund. Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and reprogramming requests to the donor.
• 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 Global Fund and CRS’ branding and marketing requirements and procedures.
• Manage relationships with partner organizations, including organization of review/planning workshops. Coordinate the roles and activities of staff from Sub Recipient organizations in implementation in line 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.
• Ensure that gender equity is consistently and intentionally streamlined into all program activities, including staff recruitment and training.
• Champion CRS commitment to safeguarding everyone from harassment, exploitation and abuse through robust systems of prevention and response, as well as our commitment to gender equity.

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in International Development, International Relations, Public Health or a relevant technical area. PhD preferred.
• 10 or more years’ relevant management and technical experience, preferably with a track record of successful Global Fund program management, including management of multi-activity projects, complicated logistics and large budgets, as well as management of health products and medical commodities
• 7 years experience managing donor funds, preferably focused on malaria and health. 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.

***Required Languages:***English

Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 40 %.

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.

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.