Country: Togo
Closing date: 01 Sep 2019
Job Title: Deputy Chief of Party I,McGovern-Dole International School Feeding and Child Nutrition Program (MGD) Togo
Reports to: Chief of Party
Department: CARO
Type of Post (if applicable**): accompanied
FLSA Status: For HR Use Only
Salary grade: For HR Use Only
Note:This position is contingent upon donor funding.
About CRS:
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to *save, protect, and transform*lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS' relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.
Country Background:
CRS began operations in Togo in 1958, implementing humanitarian aid and community health programs. From 1985 until 1992, CRS ran 83 child nutrition centers and 54 canteens at public primary schools in rural areas, with support from USAID Food for Peace. From 2004 to 2014, programming in Togo included peacebuilding, support for persons living with HIV, and emergency response. In 2017, through health, activities, agriculture livelihoods, partner capacity building, and social cohesion programming, CRS' projects improved the lives of 108,322 persons. CRS plans to implement a $27 million, 5-year, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) McGovern-Dole International School Feeding and Child Nutrition Program (MGD) in Togo beginning October 1, 2019. The MGD Program will support education, child development and food security for low-income, food-deficit families, and provides donated U.S. agricultural commodities, as well as financial and technical assistance, to support school feeding, literacy and maternal and child nutrition projects in the proposed prefectures of Kpendjial and Oti Sud in Savanes region and the prefecture of Dankpen in Kara region, reaching over 100,000 direct participants.
Job Summary:
As Deputy Chief of Party I based in Kara and under the leadership of the Chief of Party, you will work as part of a dynamic team to ensure the delivery of high-quality programming by managing, overseeing and reporting on key programmatic and technical aspects of the McGovern-Dole International School Feeding and Child Nutrition Program (MGD) project in accordance with USDA and CRS regulations, procedures and guidelines. You will ensure positive and effective relationships with all local partners and government stakeholders, improve the talent of your team, ensure stewardship of Agency resources to positively impact the lives of over 100,000 poor and vulnerable as a legacy of your efforts. As a senior leader you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
- Manage key components of early child literacy, social behavior change (SBC) for WASH and nutrition and Infrastructure development of the MGD project. Serve as a point of contact on areas of responsibility to USDA as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders, when needed.
- Manager key functions of the MGD project to meet USDA expectations in terms of timely and quality results, budget execution and reporting. Contribute to ensuring coordination between program and operations leads, especially with the Benin Finance Manager for budget management and the Togo supply chain staff to ensure the proper sequencing of food distributions with other project interventions. Contribute to ensuring the CRS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
- Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics among direct reports and ensure staff well-being. Participate in the recruitment, training and development of staff in coordination with Togo program Human Resources Officer to ensure full orientation of new staff. Complete all aspects of the CRS Performance Management system for direct reports and provide timely coaching, feedback, mentoring, support, resources, while firmly and promptly addressing performance issues. Strategically tailor individual development plans.
- Manage and mitigate risk through monitoring national and regional security issues that may impact the safety and security of staff, Agency assets and programming. Ensure all staff understand and adhere to CRS staff safety and security policies and plans.
- Promote, uphold and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and USDA resources. Help ensure compliance with USDA grants, including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration and compliance with the Agency's Subrecipient Financial Management policy.
- Maintain relationships with key staff of consortium partner organizations in regard to their programmatic responsibilities. Include consortium partners and community participation and local authorities in project processes and catalyze the development of local partner safeguarding policies and practices for safeguarding participants at all stages of project implementation. Contribute to the coordination of the roles and activities of staff from other consortium member organizations to implement their respective components in line with CRS partnership principles.
- Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies. Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for CRS and partner staff and recommend trainings and technical assistance.
Basic Qualifications
- Master's degree in International Development, International Relations or a relevant technical area(s).
- 5 or more years of relevant management and technical experience, with experience in one of more of the following areas: early child literacy, WASH, school feeding/nutrition, and food security.
- 3 years of experience managing external donor, including USDA funds, required. Strong knowledge and experience in budget management.
- Recognized leader in sector as demonstrated by prior positions, peer reviewed publications, conference presentations, etc.
- Demonstrated experience of successful project management, including management of complex, high-value, multi-activity projects, with challenging logistics.
- Experience in the management of USDA school feeding programs desired.
- 3 years of staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching project manager staff.
- Experience in working in partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.
- Ability to represent and present at high levels in English and French.
- Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Visio), web conferencing applications, and information and budget management systems.
- An understanding of Togo context desired.
Required Languages - Fluency in French and excellent English writing skills.
Travel - Nationally up to 30% of time and occasional international travel.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Very good strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
- Very good relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
- Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams.
- Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
Preferred Qualifications
- Recognized technical experience and qualifications in sector
Demonstrated experience of successful management, including management of functions of complex, multi-activity projects.
Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.
Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.
* Integrity
* Continuous Improvement & Innovation
* Builds Relationships
* Develops Talent
* Strategic Mindset
* Accountability & Stewardship
Supervisory Responsibilities: 4 direct reports:
* Education Manager
* Social Behavior Change (SBC) Manager
* Infrastructure Manager
* MEAL Manager
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Chief of Party, Country Manager, Education Manager, SBCC Manager, Infrastructure Manager, MEAL Manager, Regional Technical Advisors, HQ Technical Advisors, Benin-Togo Country Representative, Benin HoOps, and Benin HOP. Benin Finance Manager
External: Representatives of the Ministries of Education, Social Action, Grassroots Development, Agriculture, Consortium Members, Representatives of UNICEF, WFP, GIZ, local service providers
*Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.*CRS' processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.*
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/M/F/D/V - CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
How to apply: