Chief of Party

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to save, protect, and transform lives in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries worldwide. The organization is committed to improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable, regardless of race, religion, or nationality. CRS engages in various programs, including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The agency's work culture is collaborative and mission-driven, welcoming individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values. CRS is dedicated to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, ensuring that its processes and policies reflect this commitment. The organization prioritizes candidates from the regions in which it operates, and its talent acquisition procedures emphasize the rights and dignity of all individuals.

Job Overview:
As Chief of Party, you will provide leadership and overall management of a health systems strengthening project aimed at ensuring program sustainability in Nigeria. Your role will involve leveraging your leadership, management, and technical expertise to deliver high-quality programming while enhancing CRS's reputation as a leading agency in public health systems management. You will be responsible for proactively managing security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security and mitigating risks associated with the project. This position requires a strategic approach to project implementation, ensuring that donor expectations are met in terms of results and budget management. You will coordinate efforts between program and operations leads, ensuring adherence to CRS program quality standards and MEAL policies. Additionally, you will manage senior programming and operations talent, fostering team dynamics and staff well-being through coaching and mentoring. Your leadership will also extend to overseeing recruitment processes and ensuring compliance with grant regulations, financial tracking, and reporting requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Your primary responsibilities will include leading the development, implementation, and consolidation of the health systems strengthening project. You will serve as the main point of contact for CDC-PEPFAR and engage with public, private, and non-government stakeholders. It is essential to ensure that the project meets donor expectations regarding timely and quality results, as well as budget compliance. You will oversee the coordination between program and operations leads, ensuring that CRS program quality standards are upheld. Managing senior programming and operations talent will be a key aspect of your role, which includes providing coaching, mentoring, and performance assessments for direct reports. You will also be responsible for developing staffing plans, managing recruitment processes, and monitoring national and regional issues that may impact staff and programming. Ensuring adherence to CRS staff safety and security policies will be crucial, as will promoting the efficient use of agency and donor resources. You will approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests, while also overseeing the development of communication strategies and materials that comply with donor and CRS branding requirements. Additionally, you will coordinate relationships with consortium partner organizations and create an environment conducive to learning and sharing ideas.

Required Qualifications:
To qualify for this position, you must possess a Master’s degree in international development, International Relations, or a relevant technical area, with a PhD preferred. You should have at least 7 years of relevant management and technical experience, including 5 years of managing donor funds and multi-country grants. A strong knowledge of budget management is essential, along with experience in health program implementation, particularly in health systems strengthening, health information systems, surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, and quality improvement in health service delivery. Experience as a chief of party or senior expert advisor is required, along with at least 2 years of staff management experience that fosters a learning environment. You should also have experience coaching senior program staff.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree in international development, International Relations, or a relevant technical area. A PhD is preferred, indicating a higher level of expertise and knowledge in the field.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of relevant management and technical experience, with at least 5 years dedicated to managing donor funds, including multi-country grants. Candidates should have a strong background in health program implementation, particularly in areas related to health systems strengthening and quality improvement.

Languages:
The mandatory language for this position is English. Candidates must be proficient in English to effectively communicate and manage the project. Additional languages may be beneficial but are not specified as mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This position includes supervisory responsibilities and requires a willingness to travel up to 50%. CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. For candidates employed outside the U.S., benefits packages are based on the country of employment. The anticipated duration of the assignment for expatriates is informed by a term limit based on the job type and level, as well as the agency's needs. CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants and staff from all forms of exploitation and abuse, and successful candidates are expected to adhere to the agency's Code of Conduct.