Job Description

Note: Position contingent upon award.

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.

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.

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.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 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

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.

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

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.

What we offer

CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. Benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role. CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. 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 safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, 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 committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse. The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.

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.

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

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

General Requirements

CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements. All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.

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