Chief of Party I

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, providing assistance without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization focuses on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS is committed to safeguarding vulnerable populations and ensuring that its processes reflect a dedication to protecting children and adults from exploitation and abuse. The agency fosters a collaborative, mission-driven culture that emphasizes improving the lives of the poor globally. It welcomes individuals from diverse faiths and secular traditions who share its values and commitment to service.

Job Overview:
As Chief of Party I, you will be responsible for providing overall leadership, management, and strategic direction for a five-year cooperative agreement funded by the U.S. Department of State. This project aims to enhance the quality of life for persons with disabilities in the regions of Ca Mau and Quang Ngai. Your role will involve expanding medical and rehabilitation services, strengthening social services, improving the implementation of disability-inclusive policies, and enhancing institutional capacity for sustainable service delivery. You will act as the primary liaison with both U.S. Government and Government of Vietnam counterparts, overseeing a decentralized, multi-partner program that operates at various levels including individual, facility, provincial, and national. Your leadership will ensure high-quality programming and advance CRS's position as a leading agency in Vietnam, while also managing security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security risks and contributing to country program leadership discussions.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide overall leadership for the technical, operational, financial, and administrative performance of the project, ensuring alignment with Department of State objectives, targets, budget, and compliance requirements.
• Lead senior staff performance and foster a positive team culture, ensuring safeguarding, duty of care, security, and staff development across project locations.
• Drive sustainability and transition planning by enhancing the capacity of government, service providers, and partners, supporting approaches that can continue beyond project funding.
• Ensure a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) system that utilizes disability-disaggregated data, participant feedback, and learning to improve quality and demonstrate results.
• Oversee the management of the anticipated $28.5 million award, including financial oversight, resource allocation, compliance, budget monitoring, and value-for-money decisions.
• Manage consortium governance and performance, including partner roles, sub-award management, technical quality, risk management, and timely corrective actions.
• Lead the decentralized management model across Ca Mau and Quang Ngai, ensuring effective coordination between national functions, provincial teams, and subrecipient delivery.
• Coordinate the project’s four interconnected objectives, ensuring that person-centered case management integrates rehabilitation, social services, and policy capacity strengthening.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with the U.S. Government and senior Government of Vietnam counterparts, representing the project with national and provincial authorities, consortium partners, and organizations of persons with disabilities.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of eight years of relevant management and technical experience, particularly in rehabilitation, health systems strengthening, public health, and inclusive programming.
• At least five years of experience managing donor funds, including consortium grants, with strong knowledge and experience in budget management.
• Minimum of two years of staff management experience, demonstrating the ability to coach senior program staff effectively.
• Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the capacity to see the big picture and make sound judgments.
• Excellent relations management abilities, capable of relating to individuals at all levels internally and externally.
• Proven team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams and strong coaching skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.

Educational Background:

• A Master’s degree in International Development, International Relations, or a relevant technical area such as Health Systems, Public Health, Rehabilitation, Disability, or Medicine is required.
• A PhD is preferred, particularly for candidates with extensive experience in the field.
• Educational qualifications should reflect a strong foundation in the principles of international development and humanitarian assistance, particularly as they relate to disability inclusion and public health.

Experience:

• A minimum of eight years of relevant management and technical experience is required, with a strong emphasis on rehabilitation and health systems strengthening.
• Experience managing complex, high-value, multi-activity projects is essential, particularly those involving complicated logistics and diverse stakeholders.
• Candidates should have a proven track record of successful program management, including experience with U.S. Government funding management, which is highly preferred.
• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships is also crucial for this role.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required for this position.
• Fluency or a high level of proficiency in Vietnamese is strongly preferred, as it will facilitate communication with local stakeholders and partners.

Additional Notes:

• This position is contingent on donor approval and award.
• The role may require travel up to 50% of the time.
• Supervisory responsibilities are included in this position, indicating a senior leadership role within the organization.
• CRS offers a comprehensive benefits package for U.S.-based staff, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan.
• Benefits for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. will be based on the country of employment and the in-country office where the candidate will perform the role.
• The anticipated duration of the assignment for expatriates will be informed by a term limit based on the job type and level, as well as the agency's needs.