Head of Programming I at Catholic Relief

Job Summary:

As a member of the Country Program (CP) Senior Management Team (SMT), you will provide strategic direction, leadership, and management of the Kenya programming portfolio to ensure the establishment and successful implementation of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. Your leadership, management and knowledge will ensure that the Kenya’s programs deliver high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming. As part of the CP’s SMT you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.                                                                                                                  

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the Country Representative (CR) provide strategic direction for the design of the Kenya Program’s strategic frameworks and plans, including the development of resource mobilization strategies to optimize the impact of programming interventions in line with regional and agency strategic priorities.
• Lead high-quality project design incorporating project management standards and MEAL methods, appropriate to scope, context and technical requirements of projects. Coordinate planning of activities across various projects from different sectors to ensure integration of program interventions and efficiency in implementation.
• Effectively manage talent, promote staff development, and supervise staff. Build strong and effective teams. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance assessment for direct reports. Developing staffing plans for projects and contribute to the recruitment process of senior project staff.  
• In collaboration with the CR and business development staff oversee the business development cycle to ensure effective positioning, quality proposal development, and effective leveraging.  
• 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. Ensure high levels of accountability, learning and knowledge management overseeing implementation of the MEAL policy, as well as cross-sectoral, cross-department, and agency-wide learning.
• Coordinate with CP operations leads to ensure strong management quality and program quality coordination including but not limited to appropriate project budgeting, human resource processes, staff safety and security, and efficient use and stewardship of organizational and program resources.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of appropriate partnerships and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Ensure technical assistance and capacity strengthening for project teams and partners in project management standards and related MEAL, protection mainstreaming, gender, business development and operational activities. Identify training opportunities, develop training curriculum and deliver trainings.

Required Languages – Oral and written English fluency is required

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 20% in country.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent 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
• Presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented
• Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity and inclusion including gender equality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent English writing skills.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience and abilities in capacity strengthening - developing curricula and facilitating trainings.
• Experience using MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, and knowledge sharing networks.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Project leads, MEAL Manager and others as determined

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: Country Representative, Head of Operations, Regional and HQ technical advisors

External: Donors, Church partners, Implementing partners, Government stakeholders

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Master's Degree in International Development, International Relations or relevant field.
• Minimum of five years of relevant field-based program management, at least three years of middle/senior management experience.
• Experience in the development of successful proposals, reports, strategic alliances, project design, project management, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience in partner capacity strengthening, staff development, training, and mentoring, as well as in team building and strategic planning initiatives. Experience working with Church partners a plus
• Experience in community development, community mobilization, or similar grassroots, self-help initiatives.
• Experience in project grants management, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, etc., preferably for projects funded by multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Experience with successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding.