Head of Office at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an International non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 100 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs, therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to programs in every country in which CRS operates. CRS re-established presence in Nigeria in 2000 and currently focuses on vulnerable children, agriculture, health and HIV, extractives and governance, and peace building programming.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Head of Office

Job Ref Code: HDC9419
Location: Yola, Adamawa (with frequent travel within Northeast (NE) Nigeria (including within security level III states))
Band: 10
Department: Operations
Reports To: Deputy Country Representative, NE Nigeria

Job Summary

• Through the Head of Office, Adamawa State, CRS will continue to offer high quality humanitarian and development assistance to communities in Adamawa State. Based in Yola, the Head of Office (HOO) Adamawa will oversee CRS’ operations support in Adamawa State.
• S/he will maintain coordination and communication with key operations personnel based in NE Nigeria for the agency’s humanitarian and development assistance ensuring integration with the country program operations and program quality standards.
• The HOO supervises the Adamawa office in maintaining quality implementation, overseeing the overall administration, logistics, coordination and finances.
• The HOO focus is to assist in the office team stay abreast of the multiple activities, grant technical financial and policy oversight, provide guidance and support to the partner organizations, support the capacity building of CRS staff with active hands-on collaboration, and maintain open channels of communication and coordination with programming and operations staff with the NE main office in Maiduguri.
• The HOO will also manage the quality and timeliness for all financial and administrative reporting.
• He/she will promote coordination between other offices in the NE and ensure integration and collaboration across CRS’ development and humanitarian assistance.
• S/he defers to DCR/NE authority on major issues of policy and procedure and is the chief security officer for CRS in Adamawa State.
  

Specific Responsibilities
Operational Quality and Management:

• Oversee specific and clearly defined operational directions and day to day activities as indicated in the donor agreements, successful implementation of operational strategies, M&E, financial, programmatic, and staff management.
• Serves as operational point person for the program and provides strategic and technical leadership to CRS staff in Adamawa and partners for all of its operational components.
• Oversees management and maintenance of up to date operational documentation related to all project approvals, monitoring and implementation in both hard and soft copies.
• Promotes strong operational linkages and exchange with other CRS offices engaged in similar programming to ensure the sharing of best practices and expertise, and particularly across the northeast operations and the country program.

Partnership and Capacity Building:

• Establishes and maintains excellent collaborative working relationships with local partners
• Manages relationships, negotiations and intensive communication efforts with partners in all phases of grant/project implementation
• Facilitates coordination with partners, including knowledge management, learning and capacity building for partner staff

Reporting:

• Ensures timely and quality preparation of donor project narrative reports, quarterly performance indicator tracking tables, baseline and final evaluation reports, as well as other reports needed/required by the local government, donors, the region or headquarters as per reporting schedules.

Security

• Supervises the Security Officer for Adamawa State and oversees overall security management in Adamawa State; ensures cohesion, application of security instructions and guidance as well as regular updates of Adamawa State specific security procedures and manuals.

Budgeting, Financial Planning and Compliance:

• Ensures proper financial management systems are in place and followed in coordination with the Awards Management Officer (AMO) and finance team/department.
• Ensures grant/project management compliance with donor regulations.
• Ensures the review and timely submission of financial reports by partners working in close coordination with the AMO, finance team and other resource management staff in North East Nigeria.
• In collaboration with program and operations leadership, and the finance staff/department, reviews and analyzes budget comparison reports and takes necessary steps to ensure proper management and utilization of grant/project budgets.
• Ensures that systems are in place for the management of equipment and local procurement activities in support to grant/project successful implementation.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervises and mentors operational staff working on specific-based project support activities
• Ensures timely and quality adherence to CRS Performance Management System for all staff under his/her supervision.
• Prepares employee job descriptions, performance plans and performance appraisals for projects officers/assistants that are engaged for specific clearly defined projects in coordination with other program and operations managers.
• Ensures CRS grant/project staff have the equipment and logistical support needed to carry out their roles/responsibilities.
• Contributes to the planning and implementation of capacity building for grant/project-based staff

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Master's degree in Development, Project Management, Business, Organizational Development, Non-formal Education, Psychology or Public Administration; significant work experience in a directly related field will be considered in lieu of graduate degree.
• Minimum of 8 (eight) years of experience in project management, within international organizations or the private sector, including: management of human resources, project activities and/or budgets;
• Experience working in security compromised areas
• Experience managing an office in a field-based setting
• Experience with high level representation with various partners
• Demonstrated experience in community mobilization, organization and mediation among local actors
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English. Working knowledge of either Hausa or Kanuri highly desirable.
• Strong cross-cultural skills and experience working with people from different ethnic/cultural backgrounds
• Demonstrated capacities to establish and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships with donors, government officials, local organizations, communities and other stakeholders
• Proven ability to multi-task and meet deadlines
• Proven ability to develop proposals and write reports meeting donor requirements
• Must be able to work independently and represent CRS
• Proficiency in computer applications (MS Word, Excel)
• Willingness to travel within northeast Nigeria
• Must be familiar with and committed to gender equity in programming and management practices

Application Closing Date
5:00pm; 17th September, 2019.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should download the "CRS Application Form" using the link below, fill and send with a detailed Resume as one document (in a PDF Format) indicating position being applied for and the Job Ref Code as the subject of the application to: [email protected]

Click here to Download Application Form (Doc) - Dropbox

Click Here for Job Details (Docx)

Additional Information
Equal Employer Opportunity:

• “CRS is an equal –opportunity employer, does not discriminate based on race, color, religion and we are committed to gender sensitive programming and management’. etc.
• Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply”

Safeguarding:

• By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to the above safeguarding-related topics.

Statement of Commitment to Protection:

• ‘’CRS’ recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation’