Deputy Head of Programming, RoC Brazzaville

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.

About CRS Congo Brazzaville

CRS first intervened in Congo Brazzaville in 1997 and 1998 but did not work in-country again until CRS DRC established a sub-office in Brazzaville in 2018. From 2018 to 2020, the CRS Brazzaville office was overseen by the CRS DRC office; however, following the approval of another large, multiyear phase of the Global Fund malaria project, the Country Program became an independent Country Program in August 2020.

Program Context in CRS Congo Brazzaville

While the CRS Congo program is relatively new and is still establishing itself in the country, the CRS Congo Brazzaville CP has extensive experience implementing projects in emergency response, conflict mitigation and management, education, partnership and local leadership capacity building, and malaria mitigation.

Currently, the CP is implementing the NFM3 phase of the Global Fund project. This project reports directly to the CR. The Deputy HoP will be expected to provide business development support as it applies for GC7 and support in applying CRS methods in MEAL and program integration with other projects. The Deputy HoP will manage the MEAL Department (headed by a PM I) and three projects: 1) a four year Food for Education (FFE) project funded by USDA in partnership with WFP, 2) a people-to-people (P2P) peacebuilding project in a conflict-affected area in two districts in the Pool Department of Republic of Congo, and 3) an emergency rapid response grant funded through a consortium funded by a USAID rapid response fund mechanism in which the CP participates with other CRS CPs.

Job Summary:

You will contribute to providing strategic direction and management of the Country Program’s (CP’s) programming and work with program managers to ensure the establishment and successful implementation of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management and programming skills will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Providing strategic direction for the design of CP strategic frameworks and plans, including resource mobilization strategies to optimize the impact of programming interventions in line with regional and agency strategic priorities.
• Lead where appropriate and contribute to high-quality project design incorporating project management standards and MEAL methods, appropriate to scope, context and technical requirements of projects.
• Coordinate planning of activities for particular projects to ensure integration of program interventions and efficiency in implementation.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance assessment for direct reports.
• Established or uses standards, systems and tools that support program quality.
• Leverages opportunities with key stakeholders, articulating CRS’s and partners added value and voice.
• Leverages and builds strategic relationships with donors and exerts influence that enhances CRS and partners’ ability to pursue funding and business opportunities.
• Contribute to creating and maintaining the proper conditions for learning. Help establish a safe environment for the sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to small deficiencies. Promote accountability, learning and knowledge management as part of the implementation of the MEAL policy.
• Coordinate with CP operations staff to ensure appropriate project budgeting and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.
• Coordinate the identification, assessment and strengthening of appropriate partnerships and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Contribute where needed in the business development cycle to ensure quality proposals per agency and donor standards.
• Coordinate technical assistance and capacity strengthening for project teams and partners in project management standards and related MEAL, business development and operational activities. Help identify training opportunities, develop training curriculums and deliver trainings.

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or relevant field.
• Minimum of 5 years work experience in a program management position with progressive responsibilities for an international NGO.
• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, etc., preferably for projects funded by multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Experience with successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding.

Required Languages – Fluency in English preferred (must be able to edit and write at a high level in English); Competent working knowledge of French to be able to communicate with staff, partners, donors, and government representatives and write emails.

Travel– Must be willing to travel to the field at least 50% of the time

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Ability to lead business development teams to respond to RFAs and other grant application mechanisms from start to finish.
• Excellent writing and editing skills in English.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding principles.
• Strong knowledge of CRS MEAL principles, standards, and tools.
• Excellent skills at building relationships with donors.
• Team leadership abilities.
• Presentation and facilitation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Experience working with Church partners a strong plus.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Some experience and abilities in capacity strengthening – developing curricula and facilitating trainings.
• Experience using MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, and knowledge sharing networks.

Supervisory Responsibilities (if none, state none)

Four CRS staff

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Country Representative, Head of Operations, program staff in CRS Congo Brazzaville, DRD PQ CARO, regional BD, MEAL and program support staff assigned to CARO.

External: Partner representatives, donor representatives, local government representatives, Catholic Church representatives.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

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
• Acts with Integrity
• Collaborates with Others
• Builds and Maintains Trust
• Open to Learn
• Strategic Mindset
• Develops and Recognizes Others

***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. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

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.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

ABOUT US

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.

ABOUT THE TEAM

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