Note: Position contingent upon award.
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 in Pakistan:
In Pakistan, CRS has been addressing the needs of the most vulnerable people through a comprehensive approach to humanitarian assistance and community development. CRS’s programs focus on strengthening local systems by collaborating with Pakistani partners and Government institutions to ensure local ownership and sustainability. Since 2005, CRS has worked to expand quality basic education for marginalized girls and boys in Pakistan through improving school infrastructure for formal schools, supporting Afghan refugee children to access educational services, and providing accelerated learning programs for older out-of-school children. Most recently, CRS Pakistan has been implementing the USAID-funded Education Resilience Activity (ERA) project in Pakistan to support the Ministry of Education to improve the education systems for climate resilience and inclusiveness of marginalized populations, particularly girls and children with disabilities.
Job Summary:
As Chief of Party I you will provide leadership and overall management of a USDA McGovern Dole Food for Education (MGD/FFE) project in Pakistan in Sindh province. The solicitation lists Pakistan as a priority country in which USDA expects the awardee to support the government to develop a replicable school feeding program. In addition to school feeding, the project will include complementary literacy, nutrition, and school WASH interventions. 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 school feeding and early grade literacy programming. As a senior leader you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
• Lead all aspects of the development, implementation and consolidation of the MGD/FFE project, including sharing how the project contributes to the thought leadership of the industry. Serve as the primary point of contact to USDA as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders.
• Effectively partner and liaise with senior government counterparts at the provincial and federal levels. Ensure high level advocacy and engagement to support development of sustainable and replicable project interventions and strategies.
• Ensure the project is designed and implemented to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results and budget, including strategies for 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 USDA grants, including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration and reporting to USDA. 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, at the senior level and/or for complex programs
• 5 years’ experience managing donor funds, USDA or USAID Title II experience highly preferred. 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
• Fluent English (oral and written) required
• Working ability (oral and written) in a Pakistani language desirable
Travel
• The position is anticipated to be based in Karachi. Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% to project sites with occasional visits to Islamabad.
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
• Demonstrated experience of successful program management, including management of complex, high-value, multi-activity projects, with complicated logistics.
• Knowledge and experience in Pakistan and/or South Asian context desirable.
• 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.
Agency 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.
Supervisory Responsibilities (if none, state none): Program, Operations, Finance/Grants, MEAL, and Government Liaison leads, as per project needs
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Senior country management and regional technical teams
External: USDA, Other Donors; UN agencies; Government of Pakistan technical ministries; Provincial Government partners; implementing partners; peer international and local NGOs
***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.
How to Apply:
