Deputy Chief of Party Water Infrastructure Specialist at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Job Ref Code: I4577
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Reports to: Chief of Party

Background

• CRS is bidding for a multi-million-dollar, multi-year USAID/Nigeria Water for Agriculture Program. This program seeks to develop and implement interventions that will sustainably increase water availability and management, towards increasing agricultural productivity in in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states of Nigeria
• This effort will contribute to CRS' agriculture and livelihoods signature program area and ongoing efforts to promote resilience, recovery and development within Nigeria and neighboring countries around the Lake Chad Basin.

Job Summary

• The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) / Infrastructure Specialist will support the Chief of Party (CoP) in delivering the Water for Agriculture Program; including providing oversight on operations and programmatic aspects of the program
• S/he will specifically lead the technical, operational and management aspects of the water infrastructure program sub-component
• The DCOP / Infrastructure Specialist will support relationship management with USAID/Nigeria, the Government of Nigeria at the Federal, State and local levels; partners; and external stakeholders.

Specific Job Responsibilities

• Directly oversee development / rehabilitation, operation, quality control, usage, cost recovery and maintenance of water infrastructure working closely with relevant government Ministries and Departments (MDAs).
• Oversee institutional partnerships; lead on due diligence exercises, organizational capacity assessments and capacity development of participating organizations and departments.
• Ensure institution of and compliance with comprehensive agreements / arrangements that inform pricing of services, scheduling modalities, operational and maintenance of water infrastructure and implementation of quality controls.
• Support the CoP to provide overall technical, operational and programmatic direction of the program including staff management, coordination with consortium partners, program implementation, financial management, and liaison with other governmental and non-governmental interventions in the targeted localities.
• Contribute to ensuring coordination between program and operations teams. Contribute to ensuring the CRS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
• 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.
• 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.

Key Working Relationships:

• Supervisory: Water for Agriculture Program Managers and Sectoral Team Leads
• Internal: Consortium Partners; CoPs and Project Managers of other CRS projects; Support Departments including Operations etc.
• External: Government Ministry Agencies (MDAs); UN agencies; Peer agencies (NGOs) and Community Representatives.

Agency Wide Competences (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 Accountability and Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning
• Committed to Continuous Improvement and Innovation
• Has a Strategic Mindset

Qualifications and Skills

• Mandatory: Master's in Water Management, Irrigation Engineering or relevant field;
• At least 5 years of practical experience in designing and implementing agriculture irrigation interventions, water retention storage for irrigation / livestock use activities, and water management systems.
• International project management experience particularly in agriculture / water management programs funded by institutional donors.
• 3 years experience managing donor funds. Knowledge and experience in budget management.
• Prior experience managing large assistance projects of a similar size and scope.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, other donor-funded projects and stakeholders, local organizations, and partners.
• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.
• Experience managing programmatic and financial reporting requirements.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.

Personal Skills:

• 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.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.
• Required Foreign Language: English fluency, including excellent oral and written skills, required. Proficiency in Hausa or Kanuri preferred.
• Required Travel: To field locations in Nigeria
• Work Environment: Office environment in the field (Adamawa State).