Chief of Party I at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

About The Job

Job Summary:

• As Chief of Party (CoP) I, s/he will provide the vision and overall leadership to the USAID Youth Activity team. 
• You will be responsible for overseeing the overall management of the project including the quality of programmatic implementation (including monitoring, evaluation and learning and administrative elements) of the activity. 
• Your leadership, management and technical knowledge will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming and advance the position of CRS as a leading agency in the Youth field. 
• As a senior leader s/he will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.
• S/he will also serve as the primary point of contact to USAID as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders relating to this activity. 
• S/he is responsible for ensuring compliance with USAID grants including oversight of partner budgets, finance and administration, and reporting to USAID.
• The CoP will operate within the organizational structure of CRS while coordinating the roles and activities of staff on the project in the implementation of the project interventions. 
• The successful candidate will also be responsible for representing the Youth Activity, to major stakeholders especially USAID and key relevant ministries within the country.

Roles And Key Responsibilities:

• Lead all aspects of the development, implementation, and consolidation of the USAID Youth Activity, including sharing how the project contributes to the thought leadership of the industry.
• Ensure the project is designed and implemented to meet donor 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 the CRS program quality standards are adhered to per 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 USAID grants, including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration and reporting to USAID. Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors.
• Oversee the development of communication strategies and materials, complying with donor and CRS’ branding and marketing requirements and procedures.
• Coordinate relationships with consortium partner organizations, including organization of review/planning workshops.
• Contribute to coordination of the roles and activities of staff from other consortium member 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.

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in international development, International Relations, or a relevant technical area. PhD preferred.
• 7 or more years’ relevant management and technical experience.
• 5 years’ experience managing donor funds, including multi country grants. Strong knowledge and experience in budget management.
• 5 years of staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching senior program staff.
• Required Languages - English
• Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 25%.

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.
• Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams. Coaching 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:

• Recognized leader in sector as demonstrated by peer reviewed publications, conference presentations etc.
• Demonstrated experience in positive youth development.
• 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.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervises the USAID Youth Activity-Project Manager and other key project personnel.

Key Working Relationships

• Internal: 
  • Country Representative, Head ofProgramming, Program Managers, Finance Manager, Deputy Regional Director, Regional Technical Advisor, and HQ Specialist
• External: 
  • All project partners, private and public sector stakeholders, donors, industry experts, local and international NGOs and local and international Catholic agencies