Deputy Chief of Party I, INECD at Catholic Relief Services (CRS): (Deadline 13 November 2023)

Deputy Chief of Party I, INECD at Catholic Relief Services (CRS): (Deadline 13 November 2023)

Deputy Chief of Party I, INECD

Rwanda (On-site)

JOB DESCRIPTION

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.

Job Summary:

The Inclusive Nutrition and Early Childhood Development (INECD) activity l promotes nurturing and responsive care practices, especially in the areas of health, functioning, nutrition, and early childhood development (ECD) for caregivers and children. Specifically, the activity aims to improve health and nutrition outcomes among women of reproductive age and adolescents and improve infant and young child feeding practices. It also aims to address child development gaps and significant unmet physical rehabilitation and assistive technology (rehab/AT) and social inclusion needs for infants and children. The activity will focus on community-level service delivery, community-health facility linkages and district level capacity development, as well as address issues of inclusion and participation, including access to programs and services for children and adults with disabilities, in line with Government of Rwanda priorities.

As Deputy Chief of Party-I, you will work as part of a team on a large project and provide oversight of a key function of the Inclusive and Early Childhood Development (INECD) project to serve the poor and vulnerable. Your management and technical knowledge will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming. As a senior leader you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.

The DCoP will supervise a team of cross-sectoral technical advisors and will promote effective coordination of program activities with local government stakeholders, implementing partners, local civil society organizations and other donor-funded programs in the targeted districts. The DCoP will ensure the quality, timeliness, and efficiency of outcomes and activities and will ensure local government and partner training and technical assistance needs are responded to appropriately.

 The DCoP will be responsible for overall program technical quality, including the use of continuous quality improvement to inform learning and adaptation. The DCoP will also be responsible for ensuring strong and effective integration of Inclusive Nutrition and ECD activities and close coordination of program interventions and technical approaches with other donor-funded/government programs in the target districts.

The DCOP will provide technical leadership for the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) to the Inclusive Nutrition and ECD programming. Your management skills and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality MEAL programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Manage a key aspect of the development, implementation and consolidation of the INECD project. Serve as a point of contact on area of responsibility to USAID as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders, when needed.
• Manage key functions of the project to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results and budget. Contribute to ensuring coordination between program and operations leads. Contribute to ensuring the CRS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures. Make frequent visits to the field to check the progress made and propose recommendations to the CoP and management team for improvement. Provide support to MEAL team in defining a strategy to identify and document case studies, best practices, lessons learned and ensure that project data are shared with different teams to support in decision-making.
• Develop standards and strategies for assessing and improving project administrative management systems and ensure their implementation.
• Provide Technical Assistance in the process of elaborating and coordinating inclusive and integrated nutrition and ECD approaches by providing supportive supervision to the Technical Advisor in planning and implementing these approaches.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Contribute to the development of staffing plans and the recruitment process of senior staff. Assure that INECD technical advisors have necessary knowledge and apply best practices, including standards set by government, in their management of project approaches.
• Effectively lead and support the INECD MEAL team to implement all MEAL activities throughout relevant project cycles – project design, start-up, implementation and close-out – to ensure efficient and effective implementation in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and national and international good practices. Ensure project team and partner staff use the appropriate systems and tools.
• 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.
• Promote, uphold and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources. Help ensure compliance with USAID grants, including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration and reporting to USAID.
• Maintain relationships with key staff of consortium partner organizations in regard to area of responsibility. Contribute to coordination of the roles and activities of staff from other consortium member organizations in implementation in line with CRS partnership principles.  Assure full integration of the different components of the project, regularly convening technical teams along with consortium members for planning and consultation. Coordinate with implementing partner(s) and sub-recipient organizations to improve the quality of the program and the achievement of targets.
• 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.
• Coordinate with other CRS Rwanda programs to ensure best synergies between existing programs and INECD activities.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in International Development, International Relations or a relevant technical area.
• 5 years’ relevant management and technical experience.
• 5 year’s experience managing donor funds.  Knowledge and experience in budget management.

Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching.

Required Languages – • Oral and written fluency in English.

Travel –  Must be willing and able to travel up to 40% to the field.

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 sectors including in integrated multisectoral projects.
• 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 REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff) 

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. 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.

• 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
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.
• Accountability & Stewardship

Supervisory Responsibilities 

The DCOP will directly supervise 6 technical advisors based at CRS and have dotted line technical support to partner technical advisors.

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal: Chief of Party, Rwanda SMT, INECD Program staff and CRS Country Program Operations Staff

External: INECD consortium members, Local Civil Society Organizations implementing INECD, INGO and LNGO working in nutrition, ECD and disability and inclusion, GoR institutions at central and decentralized levels.

***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.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Note:  All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.

CRS' talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Apply Now

Job Closing date: 13th November 2023

JOB INFO

Job Identification: 3001007

Job Category: Chief of Party

Posting Date: 12/10/2023, 19:55

Degree Level: Master’s Degree

Job Schedule: Full time

Job Shift: Day

Locations Catholic Relief Services-USCCB Rwanda Program Nyarugenge-3rd Floor, Chadel House #KN 78 st/ 2 Street, Kigali, Kigali, P.O.Box:65 KIGALI , RW (On-site)

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