Chief of Party I, USDA Food for Peace - Kenya at Catholic Relief

Job Summary

• As Chief of Party you will provide leadership and overall management of the USDA Food for Peace (Title II) emergency food assistance program in Kenya to serve food-insecure and vulnerable populations, including food insecure communities in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). Your leadership, management and technical knowledge - particularly in commodity management and large-scale USG-funded programs - will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming and advance the position of CRS as a leading agency in emergency food assistance. As a senior leader you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of the development, implementation, and consolidation of the Food for Peace program in Kenya, ensuring alignment with emergency food security objectives and USDA requirements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact to USDA/FAS, U.S. Embassy, and national stakeholders including National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), line ministries, and humanitarian coordination platforms.
• Ensure strong coordination with public, private, and non-governmental partners to maximize impact and avoid duplication.
• Ensure the project is designed and implemented to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results and budget, including strategies for phase out and sustainability, as well as including beneficiary targeting, food distribution, and nutrition outcomes. Oversee implementation of appropriate interventions (e.g., general food distribution, targeted nutrition support, recovery activities) aligned with emergency needs.
• Provide strategic and technical leadership for all commodity management systems, including procurement planning, call forwards, port clearance (Mombasa), inland transport, storage, and distribution.
• Ensure coordination between program and operations leads. Ensure the CRS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
• Effectively manage senior programming and operations talent. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Oversee the development of staffing plans and the recruitment process of senior staff.
• Manage and mitigate risk through monitoring national and regional issues that may impact staff and programming. Ensure all staff understand and adhere to CRS staff safety and security policies and plans, and ensure the updating of such plans. 
• Promote, uphold, and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources. Ensure compliance with USDA/FAS grants (including 2 CFR 200), including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration and reporting to USDA. Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors.
• Oversee the development of communication strategies and materials in compliance with USDA branding and marking requirements. Ensure proper acknowledgment of U.S. Government support in program materials and beneficiary communications.
• Coordinate relationships with consortium partner organizations, including organization of review/planning workshops. Contribute to coordination of the roles and activities of staff from other consortium member organizations in implementation 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 ensure the design and delivery of high-quality training and technical assistance.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, International Relations or a relevant technical area. Master preferred.
• 5-8 years’ relevant management and technical experience, including senior leadership roles on USDA or USG-funded programs.
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale commodity-based programs (e.g., Food for Peace, or USDA McGovern-Dole).
• Proven expertise in commodity management systems, logistics, and supply chain operations.
• Strong experience managing complex budgets, donor compliance, and financial oversight.
• 2 years of staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching senior program staff.

Preferred Qualifications

• Recognized leader in sector as demonstrated by peer reviewed publications, conference presentations etc.
• Experience working in Kenya or similar contexts (ASAL regions or emergency operations).
• Experience managing multi-partner consortia and partnership strengthening.
• Familiarity with Kenya government systems (e.g., NDMA, county governments).
• Recognized leadership in food security or humanitarian response.
• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.
• Demonstrated experience of successful program management, including management of complex, high-value, multi-activity projects, with complicated logistics. 
• Demonstrated expertise in commodity management and food aid logistics
• Strong knowledge of USG compliance frameworks and donor regulations.
• Ability to represent and present at high levels.
• Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Strong 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. Coaching skills.
• Strong communications and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

Required Languages: English (required 

Travel: include percentage of required travel, if applicable. Could be stated as Must be willing and able to travel up to 30 % to field locations, including remote ASAL counties. 

Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

• Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions. 
• Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission.  Is considered honest.
• Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
• Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
• Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.

Agency Leadership Competencies:

• Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
• Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.