Program Manager II – Program Quality

Reports To: Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) – Programs

Length of Contract: 2 years

About CRS:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) 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.

CRS has worked in Kenya since 1965. Over the years, CRS’s focus shifted from direct relief and food distributions to a comprehensive development program that works with partners and enhances the local capacity. CRS Kenya programs now support care reforms, children affected by HIV, and community-based efforts to increase household incomes, improve family health and sanitation, and enhance agricultural live lihoods

Background:

CRS, representing a consortium of international non-governmental organizations, local implementing partners and research institutions is leading the USAID Nawiri Program in Isiolo and Marsabit, a USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) funded 5-year Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) in Kenya. The overarching goal of this multi-sectoral activity is to sustainably reduce persistent levels of acute malnutrition in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). The activity is being implemented through multi-sectoral activity implementation and adaptation and local system and institutional strengthening.

Job Summary:

The Program Quality Manager (PQM) reports to the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) Programs and is responsible for co-developing strategies and plans, monitoring the quality implementation of project activities, and reporting, in collaboration with members of the consortium Senior Management Team (SMT).

The PQM will coordinate the development of harmonized consortium annual detailed implementation plans and PREP applications submitted to the donor. S/he will play a key role in tracking the progress of and monitoring project workplans by all consortium partners based on the annual and updated/ adapted quarterly workplans. S/he will collaborate with the consortium SMT to ensure the program’s adherence to program quality standards in line with CRS and BHA guidelines. S/he is also responsible for ensuring the coordinated collection, compilation and sharing of donor compliance reports.

Job Responsibilities:

• Assist in the preparation and submission of the PREP and Scopes of Work for the Nawiri consortium members.
• Ensure that the Nawiri Project meets CRS and BHA standards for program quality
• Coordinate with consortium partners on the implementation of Quality Assurance (QA) measures, including priority strategies, to improve the quality of Nawiri activities and to achieve project targets/ enhance impact.
• Work closely with MEAL team to strengthen the consortium’s timely use of data, information and learning to make more informed decisions to improve the quality of the program.
• Support the integration of innovations and best practices across Nawiri interventions
• Maintain Nawiri’s reporting calendar and work with project teams to ensure high quality reports are submitted on time for internal reviews and to BHA.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in PQ for staff and partner organizations, to enhance program quality and impact.
• Design and deliver innovative on-the job training on Agency PQ standards.
• Collaborate with SMT and other staff to plan, support preparation for and co-facilitate Program Review meetings. Make frequent visits to the field to monitor the implementation of workplans and propose recommendations to the COP, DCOP/P and SMT for quality improvement.
• Coordinate the development, review, and submission of high-quality weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
• Lead the drafting and submission of documents formally requested of Nawiri from donors and government, including programmatic reports and funding applications.
• Analyze and disseminate trip and training reports from all consortium partners and follow up on action items.
• Contribute to strengthening local relationships, including with the local partner, local Church, County Governments, etc.
• Work with the COP and DCOP to prepare presentations on program issues and any other marketing materials as needed.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Strong communications and presentation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
• Proven outstanding reporting skills in the English language.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in project design and evaluations, preferably for grants from multiple public donors.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• Strategic level MEAL skills and experience preferred.
• Relationship building and teamwork abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Proven demonstrated Workshop Facilitation Skills
• Familiarity with relevant institutional donor regulations, policies, procedures and priorities. Familiarity with USAID R&Rs an advantage.
• Knowledge of CRS program quality standards, programs, justice agenda and Catholic Social Teaching principles a plus.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.

Required Languages – Excellent spoken and written English. Kiswahili language skills a bonus.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% within Kenya.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: COP/Nawiri, Nawiri SMT team, Head of programming, deputy head of programs, program managers, senior leadership, regional PQ team and CRS headquarters senior technical staff.

External: Local partner program staff, BHA, UN and cluster representatives.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, international relations, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum seven years of international development experience, with at least five years’ experience in a developing country.
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.
• Demonstrated experience of successful management, including management of functions of complex, multi-stakeholder, and multi-activity projects. Consortium management experience a distinct advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to write and edit high quality program reports, including in conjunction with multi-sectoral and/ or multi-disciplinary teams.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a constructive learning environment.

Agency-wide 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.

• Integrity.
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation.
• Builds Relationships.
• Develops Talent.
• Strategic Mindset.
• Accountability & Stewardship.

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

What we offer:

CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, mission-driven culture that is committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

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.

CRS provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and ap plicants for employment and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or handicap, medical condition and any other status protected by law. As an equal opportunity employer, CRS will recruit, hire, train and promote persons solely on their qualifications and abilities. CRS Kenya strives to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and work, stay, and do their best.

CRS’ emphasis on family values supports benefits, including maternity and paternity leave, policies that promote exclusive breastfeeding, the availability of a baby room at the office, and flexible working hours where possible. Women are highly encouraged to apply

By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.

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.