Senior Compliance Manager – Environmental, Social, and Governance, Restore Africa Program

Job Location: Remote

Reports to: Chief of Party Malawi or Uganda, supporting both countries

Salary Grade: 11

*Contingent on donor award; Uganda and Malawi nationals encouraged to apply

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.

Job Summary:

CRS will serve as the Lead Implementing Organization of the Climate Asset Management funded “Restore Africa” program in Malawi and Uganda, which will run through 2027. This program aims to bring landscape restoration and climate resilience to rural farming communities at a massive scale. The program is funded through a climate investment fund; land restoration activities are expected to generate high quality Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) for registration, compliance and sale through a world-leading voluntary carbon standards organization. This new and innovative program requires a seasoned and hands on Senior Program Manager Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Compliance to ensure we adhere to all CRS, GEA and funder policies and obligations.

You will oversee overall funder compliance as well as environmental, social, and governance compliance for a project in Malawi and Uganda, and potentially additional related projects in other countries in the future. Specifically, you will ensure compliance with EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulations, funder compliance requirements, local legal frameworks in Uganda and Malawi, and CRS internal policies and regulations to ensure effective delivery of high-quality programming to the poor and vulnerable. Your knowledge and guidance will reduce risk of losses, risks to staff, and risks to the effectiveness of our programming and to the people we serve through the application of the principles of stewardship, integrity, transparency, and accountability.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

Consistent with “Restore Africa” program scope, establish and manage the multi-country (Malawi and Uganda) program-specific Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Compliance Plan consistent with CRS and the funder’s (Global Evergreening Alliance) policies and procedures. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead and implement the environmental and social risk assessment process for CRS and subcontractors, conduct Office Health and Safety and security risk assessments for the in-country programs, establish emergency preparedness and response procedures to address the identified risks, in ensure that appropriate incident reporting procedures are in place. Train CRS and subcontractor staff on the same
• Manage compliance with anti-terrorism regulations and mandatory reporting and disclosures.
• Establish comprehensive systems to monitor compliance of all project sub-contractors with funder requirements, contract terms, and ESG-I requirements
• Support compliance with Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) Standards and VERRA Verified Carbon Standards to ensure carbon credits are generated
• Collaborate with CRS global audit, risk and compliance, and office of general counsel leads in HQ and the regional level and CP leadership on implementing and strengthening internal control systems and continuous process performance improvement
• Support the procurement of annual external audits and work on remediation and closure of any observations or findings
• Track compliance with any CRS global and country environmental guidelines and policies
• In collaboration with CP management, programming, and/or operation leads, design and facilitate relevant compliance and ESG training sessions and contribute to relevant components of institutional capacity strengthening plans for CRS and subcontractors
• Advise senior leadership on risks and appropriate mitigations.

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic Qualifications

• Masters degree in International Development, International Relations or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience managing large scale development grants, preferably focusing on carbon credits and ESG-I compliance.
• Proven track record of successful compliance program management, including management of multi-activity projects, complicated logistics and large budgets, and multiple subcontractors.
• At least 3 years of supervisory experience, including performance evaluation, coaching and mentoring.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years work experience in international development, at least 5 of these years overseeing risk and compliance for a complex project (multiple countries, multiple subcontractors, and/or complex donors) required.
• Experience managing compliance with EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulations is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of corporate ESG evolving norms and standards strongly preferred
• Knowledge of carbon credit markets strongly preferred.

Required Languages – English

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 35%.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong relationship management skills
• Strong analytical, organizational, and systems thinking skills
• Ability to make sound judgment
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of data analytics techniques and process performance improvement leading practices
• Knowledge of accounting systems
• Coaching and training abilities.
• Proficient in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio) and information management systems.

Agency-wide 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
• Leads Change

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Country program and regional operations and compliance leads; CRS office for Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC); CRS Office of General Counsel (OGC)

External: Subcontractors, local legal advisors, vendors, consultants

***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.

To ensure the safety of our staff, our partners, and the people we serve, CRS requires that staff be vaccinated against Covid-19. CRS complies with all federal and state laws to allow for accommodations, as needed with supporting documentation. However, accommodations may limit the roles that candidates are eligible for based on role requirements (e.g., travel, meetings with staff, partner, donors).

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