Country Manager, Nepal

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Country Manager – Nepal Reports to: Regional Director, Asia

Department: ASIASalary 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.

Background:

CRS started has its operational presence in Nepal in response to the 2015 earthquake with emergency support to over 25,000 households in collaboration with Caritas Nepal and other local partners. In 2020, CRS expanded its recovery and resilience program to Kavrepalanchok and provided emergency response for COVID-19 in Palpa, Gorkha and Kavrepalanchok with activities on WASH, Food, Socio-Economic assistance, and support to the migrant workers in quarantine centers. CRS Nepal is leveraging its earthquake reconstruction track record to help inform longer-term Government of Nepal policies and strategies for Homes & Communities and Disaster Risk Reduction. In partnership with the National Housing and Settlements Resilience Platform (NHSRP), CRS is helping build the capacity of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Agency (NDRRMA) at the national and provincial levels.

The Country Manager (CM) for Nepal is responsible for overall leadership and management of the country program. This position requires an individual with strong leadership abilities; representational, communication, and risk management skills; and a facility for developing networks to build partnerships and diversify program resources. S/he will be responsible for the overall coordination and strategic direction of Nepal in the short- to long-term; provide necessary coaching and supervision for senior managers directly under his or her supervision; ensure high quality program design and implementation; ensure efficient management of public grants and private funds for compliance and high-quality reporting; and provide oversight of the financial management systems.

In addition, there will be a large focus on developing local leadership of country program staff and partners and supporting the implementation of the workforce strategy.

Job Summary:

As Country Manager, you will lead, manage and advance the programming and operations objectives and the mission of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Nepal to serve the poor and vulnerable. Your strategic leadership will enable you to advance CRS’ reputation and impact while you proactively manage security and mitigate security risks and liabilities.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Advance the ASIA Regional Workforce Strategy in Nepal, including supporting the country team to design, implement, assess, and update workforce plans for the country program, promoting succession planning for all senior leadership positions (including your own!), and modeling how CRS leaders put REDI principles into action on a day-to-day basis.
• Advance CRS’ Vision 2030 strategy, as articulated in the ASIA regional strategy. Lead country team reflection of the evolving role of CRS in the sub-region’s countries, which will result in the design of medium and long-term goals. Ensure program and operations leads coordinate their objectives in alignment with strategic priorities.
• Ensure that all projects meet and exceed donor expectations and are designed and implemented for maximum impact and reach. Ensure the CRS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
• Effectively manage senior programming and operations talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring for the Head of Programming and Head of Operations. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Oversee the development of staffing plans for large and complex projects and the recruitment process of senior staff.
• Advance local leadership in line with global and regional parameters, and as articulated more specifically in country strategies. Lead the development of strategic partnerships with national and international organizations that leverages resources, reputation, and expertise in line with CRS partnership principles. Ensure strong representation to key stakeholders, including Church partners (namely Caritas Nepal), local and national government, US government and international donors, including USAID, USDA, the UK Government, World Bank, Asian Development Bank.
• 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 in operations functions. Provide oversight and analysis regarding monthly expenditures.
• Lead and direct the pursuit of strategic growth opportunities, prepositioning and capture planning.
• 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. Promote accountability, learning and knowledge management overseeing application of the MEAL policy, as well as cross-sectoral and cross-department learning.
• Ensure that staff engagement priorities are analyzed, discussed, and addressed in a timely and effective manner.

Required Languages – English proficiency required.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel in-country up to 25%.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Head of Operations, Head of Programming, Communications Coordinator, NHSRP National Coordinator-General

Key Working Relationships:

Internal – ASIA Regional Director, Deputy Regional Directors for Program Quality and Operations, Regional Finance Officer, Regional Business Development Manager, Regional Technical Advisors for DRR, Homes & Communities, and Livelihoods, Regional Communications Officer, HQ departments especially PIQA, IDEA, and Global Fund Support Unit.

External – Caritas Nepal, Catholic Church officials and agencies, Govt of Nepal (NDRRMA, MoUD, MoSW), local partner organizations, , donor agencies especially USAID, USG/DOS, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Global Fund, international and national non-governmental organizations, UN agencies especially IOM, UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, and UNOPS,

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities**:**

• Excellent strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-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:

• Demonstrated experience successfully managing a variety of complex, high-value projects from multiple international donors, including USAID, DFID, and UN agencies; understanding of relevant donor regulations.
• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Experience working with Church partners a plus.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching and mentoring senior program staff.
• Ability to represent the agency at high levels.
• Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Qualifications:

• Masters degree in International Development, International Relations or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience managing high value relief and development programs. Experience in complex development settings preferred.

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