Chief of Party-Kenya Development Food Security Activity (DFSA) at Catholic Relief

Job Description

Reports To: Country Representative

Location: TBD, Kenya

FLSA: Exempt

Note: This position is contingent upon grant and candidate approvals by the donor.

CRS Kenya seeks a Chief of Party (COP) for the anticipated DFSA) to provide overall leadership and technical direction for the project, ensuring achievement of project deliverables. The COP will be the primary liaison with USAID and will manage project staff and implementing partners to ensure proper reporting, financial management, and compliance. The COP is expected to coordinate with government and other stakeholders to ensure activities complement ongoing initiatives and adhere to country and global standards.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and support CRS consortium partners to achieve program targets.
• Timely submission of high quality deliverables to USAID, e.g. workplans, MEL plan, reports.
• Manage all resources assigned to the project and serve as the primary liaison among stakeholders including the donor, Advisory Board, Country Representative, relevant government ministries, raising decisions and issues as needed.
• Coordinate program implementation, finance, and distribution of commodities according to the policies and procedures of USG and CRS.
• Directly supervise the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), Gender Advisor, M&E Lead, and possibly other senior staff -- such as Finance & Admin Manager.
• Program Quality
• Ensure, in coordination with the key program staff and stakeholders, the program's strategic objectives and results are fully accomplished and meet expected technical quality standards.
• Ensure appropriate program quality support to consortium members through technical leads (under the leadership of the DCOP).
• Oversee periodic technical reviews and manage changes in program direction and focus.
• Oversee that bottlenecks and challenges to program impact are addressed at various levels of stakeholders using forums such as Technical Working Groups,
• General Meetings and Advisory Board meetings.
• Ensure that vision and plans for the program are innovative and are in line with CRS agency and country program strategies.
• In collaboration with program staff, provide guidance and technical oversight to partners and other collaborating agencies to ensure that lessons of sound practice are documented and disseminated.
• Oversee synergy between various technical sectors (through the DCOP) is contributing to achieving program targets
• Ensure that M&E and learning is incorporated into evolving program plans.
• Ensure, in coordination with program staff, that the delivery of quality training, technical assistance and administrative and financial support to all partner agencies, including the selection and coordination of consultants.
• Financial Management and Administration
• Manage program budgets, including 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 USG and CRS administrative and operational procedures and policies, as well as applicable donor regulations.
• Draft, submit program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors.
• Approve and manage financial transactions within the approved authorization limit.
• Commodity Management
• Ensure planning, appropriate call forwards, sale of proceeds and documentation of commodities are in accordance to USG regulations and agreed targets.
• Support Commodity Manager to address bottlenecks in commodity calls forward, movement and distributions.
• Facilitate appropriate linkages with the CRS Regional Office and Headquarters in commodity management issues.
• Advisory Board Coordination
• Ensure Advisory Board members are kept abreast of all programmatic, administrative and financial situations.
• Ensure periodic communication with Country Directors of Consortium Members to highlight achievements and manage challenges in their teams' performance.
• Address bottlenecks that may arise within the consortium in a timely manner in coordination with the CRS Country Representative.
• Human Resource Management
• Lead, coach, mentor and manage a team of consortium staff to meet program objectives.
• Conduct periodic reviews of staff performance in line with CRS and partner agency's performance management system; mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork.
• Manage the recruitment portfolio for the program, in collaboration with Human Resources and CRS country program management, to ensure optimum service delivery through recruitment of competent and qualified staff.
• Conduct activities to promote commitment, increase skills and knowledge of the consortium team.
• Develop terms of reference for all program consultants and ensure that they are fulfilling their tasks.
• Reporting
• Continuously update the donor on the operations of the program.
• Ensure that reporting (PREP, OP reports, quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports) are timely and of high quality.
• Growth, Learning and Innovation
• Investigate opportunities for growth by identifying funding opportunities and developing concept and proposals in coordination with country program staff.
• Promote innovation within the consortium to improve program quality.
• Facilitate the use of M&E data to improve program quality and facilitate learning to enhance skills and knowledge of team members and support scaling up best practices.
• Support country program and agency learning and knowledge management through linkages with the CRS Kenya Head of Programs unit, relevant staff in the regional office, and headquarters, as well as other agency DFSA leads.
• Representation and Advocacy
• In collaboration with CRS Country Representative and leadership of other consortium members:
• Act as primary program contact to donor and other local and international stakeholders, responsible for addressing all program matters.
• Strengthen linkages with existing and potential partner agencies.
• Oversee program communication strategies, including compliance with donor's branding and marketing requirements.
• Liaise with National and County Government of Kenya representatives.
• Facilitate high quality marketing of the consortium with various stakeholders and in appropriate forums.
• Facilitate donor visits to program.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: CRS Country Representative, Country Directors of Consortium Members (Advisory Board), DCOP, Operations staff, and other DFSA staff.

External: Consortium members, USAID, FFP, Ministry of Agriculture, other related government bodies and authorities, and service providers.

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
• Accountability and Stewardship
• Build Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Continuous Improvement and Innovation
• Strategic Mindset

Qualifications and Skills:

• Minimum Masters Degree in Development Studies, International Relations, Agriculture, Public Health or related field required. PhD preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively increasing management responsibility in developing countries, including experience in operational research, nutrition or food security.
• 7 years of experience managing donor funds, including multi country grants. Excellent knowledge and experience in budget management.
• Prior management of significant USAID funding required; preferably FFP.
• 5 years of staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment with proven leadership and inter-personal skills and ability to build and motivate diverse and talented teams. Experience coaching and mentoring senior program staff.
• Proven experience in managing complex consortium or partnership relationships required.
• Strategic vision and capacity to oversee a vast and complex program required.
• Experience with participatory methods and partnerships required.
• Public relations skills required.
• Proven ability to think strategically.
• Flexibility to work both in a team and independently.
• 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 desired.
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally as required.
• Excellent English oral and written communication skills required.
• Experience working in a variety of developing environments required; Kenya experience desired.
• Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer