Job Title: Head of Programming
Organisation: Catholic Relief Services (CRS Nigeria)
Requisition Number: I1152
Area of Interest: Other
Position Type: Full Time
Location: Nigeria/Abuja
Job Description: Background: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 99 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 our approach in every country in which CRS operates. CRS re-established its presence in Nigeria in 2000 and currently focuses on agriculture, governance, peace-building and Health/HIV programming.
Primary Function:
The Head of Programming (HoP) for CRS/Nigeria is responsible for managing the country program portfolio, anticipating appropriate opportunities for funding in-line with the country and Agency strategy, and ensuring effective partnerships – especially with Church partners – to reach program objectives. The HoP will lead the programming team with clear planning and priorities then monitor and evaluate progress against those plans. The HoP will represent CRS with stakeholders in development in Nigeria.
Specific Job Responsibilities:
1. Program Quality and Growth
• The HoP will ensure that all country program (CP) activities are effectively and efficiently contributing to strategic objectives and results are achieved according to expected technical quality standards.
• Ensure that vision and plans for the program are innovative and are in-line with CRS Agency and CP strategies.
• Based on CP and Agency strategy as well as CP strengths, manage business development cycle.
• Investigate, vet (in collaboration with CR and HQ) and develop Cross Sector Engagement (CSE) relationships with business community, government, research, and hospitals in-line with CP and Agency strategy.
• Oversee, in collaboration with sectoral teams, periodic technical reviews and manage changes in program direction and focus in collaboration with partners, donors, and larger CRS technical experts.
• In collaboration with the programming team, provide guidance and oversight to partners and other collaborating agencies to ensure that lessons of sound practice are documented and disseminated.
• Oversee CP's monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system, using data analysis as the basis for measuring performance, and ensure that M&E learning is incorporated into evolving program plans. Collaborate with Regional and Headquarters technical staff to identify and implement appropriate ICT4D solutions to improve timeliness and quality of M&E and project implementation.
• Ensure that CP program interventions are developed within the framework of Integral Human Development (IHD) and complementary to other programs, including government and church.
• Ensure effective gender-mainstreaming in both programming and management aspects of implementation.
• In collaboration with the programming and project-specific teams, ensure delivery of quality training, technical assistance and administrative and financial support to all partner agencies, including the selection and coordination of consultants.
• Collaborate with Regional and HQ Advisors to promote sharing of learning and identify relevant innovations.
2. Management and Administration
• Manage CP budgets, including tracking of financial and material resources.
• Ensure accurate and timely management of program budget and tracking of financial and material resources.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of program finances and progress status; review actual financial performance against the budget, and explain variances on a regular basis.
• Ensure staff compliance with all CRS administrative and operational procedures and policies, as well as applicable donor regulations.
• Approve CP expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors, according to Agency policies and procedures.
3. Representation and Partnership
• Maintain and strengthen partnership, collaboration and communication with Catholic Church entities, especially the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN) as related to their development activities.
• Provide leadership and guidance for programming staff to ensure strong Church partnership relations and capacity strengthening support, in-line with HQ and Regional initiatives.
• In collaboration with CRS/Nigeria Country Representative (CR), act as CP contact to donor and other local and international stakeholders.
• In collaboration with CR, strengthen linkages with existing and potential partner agencies as well as stakeholder groupings, including technical working groups, such as the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), food security, and emergency coordination.
• Ensure that CP strategy elements related to institutional capacity strengthening and service provision take into account CRS partnership principles and Agency priorities.
• Oversee CP communication strategies, including compliance with donor branding and marking requirements, as well as CRS marketing and communication efforts.
4. Human Resource Management
• Lead, manage, and supervise programming team staff. This might include supervision of COPs for certain consortium programs.
• Conduct periodic reviews of staff performance in keeping with CRS' performance management system and mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork.
• Manage recruitment portfolio for the CP, in collaboration with Human Resources both in-country and HQ, to ensure optimum service delivery through recruitment of competent and qualified staff.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Program Team, possibly Chief of Party staff for certain consortium programs.
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Country Representative, Head of Operations, Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality and Growth, Regional, Africa-wide, and HQ Technical Advisors, other HoPs, Programming Unit Heads, M&E Advisor / Coordinator, Finance Manager and HR.
External: Church (Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria – CCFN, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria – CSN, Diocesan and other implementing partners, etc.), USG (USAID, CDC, etc.) and other donors, Government of Nigeria (National Planning Commission, relevant Ministries, etc.) Primary Recipient and other GF partners, consortium partners (current and potential), NGO network members and CSE.
Head of Program Competencies:
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.
• Builds and leads effective teams
• Supervises and Develops Program Staff
• Focuses on Quality
• Leads growth in programs
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.
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning
Qualifications:
• Master's Degree in International Development or a relevant technical area such as Peace-building, Health, or Agriculture.
• Minimum 5 years of international development experience managing and implementing multi-faceted programs in developing countries.
• Experience with participatory methods and partnerships required.
• Demonstrated capacity and experience with institutional strengthening of local civil society and government agencies.
• Knowledge of key USG regulations including, but not limited to USAID 22 CF Part 226 Administration of Assistance Awards to U.S. Non-Governmental Organizations, 22 CFR Part 145 Grants and Agreements with Non-Profits, OMB Circulars A-122, Cost principles for non-profit organizations and A-133 Audit of states, local governments, and non-profits preferred.
• Proven leadership and inter-personal skills and ability to build and motivate diverse and talented teams.
• Proven experience in building and maintaining institutional linkages required.
• Demonstrated commitment to improving gender equality and gender responsiveness in programming and operations.
• Cultural sensitivity, patience and flexibility.
• Demonstrated personal accountability and driven to serve others.
• Understanding of and experience with faith-based organizations, local church structures, and accompaniment and capacity-building principles in local partnerships highly desired.
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally as required.
• Professional proficiency in French, Spanish, Portuguese or Arabic as international staff.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
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