***This position is contingent upon successful bidding and signing an agreement with donor***
About CRS: 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.
CRS launched its work in Sierra Leone in 1963 supporting relief and development operations in the country. CRS Sierra Lone has proudly maintained a strong reputation and relationship with partners and the communities we serve in the country implementing a multi-sector program portfolio. Today, CRS Sierra Leone has a robust portfolio built around several major programs in Health, Agriculture Emergency Response, as well as Education. CRS has its main office in Freetown and two field offices located in Kenema (East) and Kabala (North).
JOB SUMMARY: CRS is seeking a Chief of Party (COP) for an anticipated 5 year USAID-funded project to improve value chains (with a focus on productivity and post-harvest loss), and nutrition in Sierra Leone. The project is anticipated to be a 5 year, $17M program.
The Chief of Party will provide overall leadership, vision and technical direction for the project and ensure the achievement of project deliverables. The COP will be the primary liaison with USAID and will manage project staff and implementing partners to ensure proper reporting, financial management, and compliance. The COP is expected to coordinate with local governments, agricultural extension agents, local and international NGOs and other stakeholders to ensure that activities complement ongoing initiatives and adhere to country and global standards.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Responsible for the overall planning, implementation and management of the project as well as the achievement of the project’s goals and objectives in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Serve as the team lead for the project and ensure strong communication and coordination with and between all team members as a means to effectively achieve program objectives. Encourage transparency among and between members to promote coordination and effectiveness.
• Lead the planning of project activities and set high quality performance targets ensuring adherence to technical standards, best practices and donor guidelines.
• Design strategies, partnerships and interventions to guarantee the project is gender and ability-sensitive and that CRS and implementing partners are accountable to beneficiaries.
• Ensure grant management compliance for the project with donor and CRS regulations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and collaboration for the team and country stakeholders, including USAID, implementation partners, government partners and other key stakeholders.
• Ensure timely, high-quality and complete submission of work plans, quarterly and annual reports, financial reports, and any other reports required by the donor.
• Promote sustainability of project activities with effective networking, linkages to other programs, capacity building of project staff, and institutional strengthening of implementing partners and community-based organizations.
• Ensure project activities are rigorously tested and generating evidence to support scale up
• Responsible for the overall planning, implementation and management of the project as well as the achievement of the project’s goals and objectives in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Serve as the team lead for the project and ensure strong communication and coordination with and between all team members as a means to effectively achieve program objectives. Encourage transparency among and between members to promote coordination and effectiveness.
• Lead the planning of project activities and set high quality performance targets ensuring adherence to technical standards, best practices and donor guidelines.
• Design strategies, partnerships and interventions to guarantee the project is gender and ability-sensitive and that CRS and implementing partners are accountable to beneficiaries.
• Ensure grant management compliance for the project with donor and CRS regulations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and collaboration for the team and country stakeholders, including USAID, implementation partners, government partners and other key stakeholders.
• Ensure timely, high-quality and complete submission of work plans, quarterly and annual reports, financial reports, and any other reports required by the donor.
• Promote sustainability of project activities with effective networking, linkages to other programs, capacity building of project staff, and institutional strengthening of implementing partners and community-based organizations.
• Ensure project activities are rigorously tested and generating evidence to support scale up
AGENCY-WIDE COMPETENCIES (for all CRS Staff)
These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning
These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
Internal to CRS: Country Representative, DRD/PQ, DRD/MQ, Head of Programming and all program staff, particularly unit managers, ACCES-SMC staff, Headquarters technical staff.
External to CRS: Officials at USAID, government organizations, representatives from for-profit and other non-profit organizations.
Internal to CRS: Country Representative, DRD/PQ, DRD/MQ, Head of Programming and all program staff, particularly unit managers, ACCES-SMC staff, Headquarters technical staff.
External to CRS: Officials at USAID, government organizations, representatives from for-profit and other non-profit organizations.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Master’s Degree in International Development, agriculture, social sciences or other relevant field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience managing USAID funded projects; familiarity with USG rules and regulations and compliance requirements. . Previous COP or DCOP experience strongly preferred.
• Previous development experience in Africa, working with smallholder farmers in agriculture, agro-enterprise, marketing or related field preferred. Technical expertise in value chains and/or nutrition preferred.
• Experience collaborating with international bodies, host governments and local partners to implement development projects.
• Experience managing teams and building partnerships.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and networking skills required.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Experience working in low resource, rural settings to achieve project goals and outcomes
• Master’s Degree in International Development, agriculture, social sciences or other relevant field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience managing USAID funded projects; familiarity with USG rules and regulations and compliance requirements. . Previous COP or DCOP experience strongly preferred.
• Previous development experience in Africa, working with smallholder farmers in agriculture, agro-enterprise, marketing or related field preferred. Technical expertise in value chains and/or nutrition preferred.
• Experience collaborating with international bodies, host governments and local partners to implement development projects.
• Experience managing teams and building partnerships.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and networking skills required.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Experience working in low resource, rural settings to achieve project goals and outcomes
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.
EOE
HOW TO APPLY:
