Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Recruits Deputy Chief of Party

Catholic Relief Services is the official agency of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops for relief and development assistance overseas.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is recruiting to fill the following position:

Job Title: Deputy Chief of Party

Band: Band E-2
Location: Benue

Responsibilities

• Reports to the Chief of Party
• Facilitate the consortium to achieve high levels of program quality through technical service provision work in close collaboration with SMILE Technical Director to re-align and harmonize SMILE targeting strategies for effective integration and implementation of HIV and AIDS and OVC activities (periodically review jointly for relevance and effectiveness).
• Lead the development of a compliance assessment checklist and ensure adherence to all relevant USAID guidelines and program quality standards for HIV and AIDS and OVC programming for the SMILE consortia and sub-recipients
• Support and work closely with the SMILE Technical Director, HES and Nutrition technical advisors, the M&E/Knowledge management Director, the Senior Program Managers as well as other relevant technical and grant management staff from SMILE in order to:
• Assist consortium partners and especially SMILE sub-recipients in developing organization specific OVC targeting and implementation strategies.
• Contribute in the development of technical guidelines and standards for performance excellence.
• Actively contribute in the establishment of network for referral services between state level actors and recommend organizations SMILE should collaborate with at community, LGA and state level.
• Co-facilitate (together with the Technical Director and relevant technical resource persons) planning and facilitation of technical workshops for capacity-building and experience-strengthening for all SMILE sub- recipients in OVC programming.
• Train and provide technical assistance in relation to OVC programing to all sub-recipient project management teams implementing SMILE program
• Provide guidance and technical assistance to SMILE sub-recipients and partners to facilitate institutional capacity assessment to identify major challenges and develop effective Capacity building plan and schedule. DCoP is directly responsible for monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of the capacity building action plan for all SMILE sub-recipients.
• Assist SMILE consortium partners and all sub-recipients to support the tracking and achievement of SMILE targets and in close collaboration with the M&E Director develop a comprehensive M&E systems, tools and plans for measuring performance at partner and consortium level
• Supporting CoP and SMILE Technical Director in planning, guidance and coordinate with the key program staff in the consortium as well as relevant stakeholders to ensure that planning and monitoring is grounded on the program’s strategic objectives and results area.
• DCoP is also responsible for planning and overseeing training of relevant program and sub-recipient staff on relevant policies, regulations and program quality standards by GoN, CRS and USAID to ensure adherence
• In close collaboration with CoP and SMILE Technical director guide assessment of technical support needs and capacity building needs of SMILE sub-recipients and facilitate provision of effective technical support to upgrade standards for performance and operating procedures that support efficiency and high quality improvements in the provision of care and support as well as OVC programming.

Financial Management

• Assist CoP in coordination of financial aspects of programming work with the SMILE Grant Manager
• Guide the annual planning and budgeting exercise and track expenditure as well as analyze performance periodically, share analysis with CoP and CR
• Ensure effective coordination and communication between technical staff and finance for effective service delivery.
• Review annual and quarterly partner budgets and forward to CoP with recommendation.

Promote Innovation Across Consortium

• Work with SMILE TA’s and Technical Director, SMILE and SVH CoP as well the HOP to identify, design and/or integrate additional “wrap around services”
• Promote and facilitate innovation through capacity building and motivation of implementing staff
• Along with the Cop, periodically review progress, integration with other USG funded partners and achievements of SMILE program to identify bottlenecks and recommend appropriate actions to maintain the program on target

Facilitate learning and Knowledge Management

• In close collaboration with the SMILE Technical Director and M&E Director promote identification, documentation and exchange of lessons learned and best practices among the SMILE consortium partners and sub-recipients
• Identify other international and local programs focusing on HIV and AIDS and OVC program quality improvements and assist SMILE CoP to facilitate linkages and exchange of experience with such programs to enhance adoption of innovative approaches among SMILE consortium partners and sub-recipients
• Facilitate establishment of ‘learning communities” (a model community which the SMILE technical staff as well other stakeholders may visit often with their staff and facilitate learning through experiences with the community)
• Coordinate and support the M&E Technical Quality Coordinator in developing and conducting surveys, assessments and studies.
• Provide inputs into developing communications and networking systems, Newsletter, website, events with Government and other stakeholders
• Identify and design appropriate studies and prepare abstracts to participate and represent if required the SMILE program on national, regional and global forums

Contracting and Management of External Services:

• Identify gaps and develop strategy and resources to address the gap by contracting appropriate services from technical institutions and individuals,
• Establish linkage and develop framework for collaboration with local and National and international institutions of research and higher learning.
• Develop SoW and manage consultants as required

Reporting

• Support and develop guidelines to, accompany the data collection and analysis tools for reports in consultation with SMILE M&E Director and respective SMILE Technical and program staff
• Analyze and interpret data from surveys and sub-recipient reports
• Fulfill donor’s reporting requirements in a timely manner in coordination with Grant Manager, CRS Finance and M&E (Quarterly reports, Annual reports, COP indicator reports, PEPFAR reports, CRS/APP etc.) and take the lead to write the report and submit to the Chief of Party
• Work with the SMILE M&E Director and technical and program staff to develop and implement a score card system to appraise performance in relation to quality and timeliness of reports submitted by consortium partners and sub-recipients
• Compile, polish and prepare final narrative as well as statistical reports and forward to CoP for final review and submission

Representation and Advocacy

• In consultation with the CoP represent the Consortium on relevant technical forums (GoN, USAID, UN and others).
• Liaise with the SMILE Technical Director and respective Technical and Program staff and strengthen linkages with technical persons from the relevant State and federal ministries to provide support to the SMILE staff and sub-recipients achieving their goals
• Monitor and support sub-recipients strategy to maintain and strengthen collaboration with the respective LGA’s and States
• Maintain technical linkages with CWA and HQ and keep the Chief of Party, CR and HoP on the loop

Requirements

• MSc or PhD degree in public health, Social Science or related technical field with a minimum of 7 years’ experience on technical and managerial positions.
• Three to five years in a management position, supervising senior staff, in an international or multicultural environment,
• Previous field work experience working through partner organizations
• Proven experience managing USAID/USG reporting, budgeting, procurement, and project management procedures and at least three years of management experience with USG funded and/or PEPFAR program in Nigeria and Africa,
• 3 to 5 years of supervisory experience, excellent partnership and interpersonal skills to work in a team environment with dependable ability to dialogue, network, and work effectively with senior managers of local and international institutions
• Excellent communication and writing Skills in English
• Proven ability to work independently, plan strategically and analyze situations critically
• Computer proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook
• Travel more than 60 % of the time

Application Closing Date
9th October, 2013

Method Of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to download the CRS application form and send with a detailed CV attached as a word documents to: [email protected] applicants must state the position applied for in the CRS application form and in the subject of the email e.g ADMIN OFFICER