Head of Programming II at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Req Number: I4897
Location: Abuja
Position Type: Full Time
Reports to: Country Representative
Department: CARO
Supervisory Responsibilities: Eight direct reports including CoPs, Heads of Unit, Business Development, Coordinators for program implementation and program quality

Job Summary

• As a member of the Nigeria Country Program (CP) Leadership Team (LT) and Senior Management Team (SMT), the Deputy Country Representative/Programs will provide overall strategic direction, leadership, and management of the CP's programming to ensure the establishment and successful implementation of large and complex programming serving the poor and vulnerable.
• Your leadership, management and knowledge will enable the CP to deliver high-quality programming and continuously work toward improving the impact of its programming. As part of the LT, you will support the Country Representative and Security Manager to proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.

Roles and Key Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the Country Representative (CR) provide leadership and strategic direction for the design of Nigeria's strategic frameworks and plans, including the development of resource mobilization strategies to optimize the impact of large and complex programming interventions in line with regional and agency strategic priorities. Represent and promote CRS.
• Lead high-quality project design with innovative approaches that incorporate project management standards and MEAL methods, appropriate to scope, context, and technical requirements of large and complex projects. Contribute to establishment of new project management standards. Lead planning of activities across projects from different sectors to ensure integration and efficiency in implementation.
• Effectively manage senior programming talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring for HOP I and/or Deputy HOP. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessment for direct reports. Contribute to developing staffing plans for large and complex projects and to the recruitment process of senior project staff. Contribute to Global HOP orientation and training program.
• 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. Promote accountability, learning and knowledge management overseeing application of the MEAL policy, as well as cross-sectoral and cross-department learning.
• Coordinate with regional and CP operations leads to ensure appropriate project budgeting and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.
• Lead the business development cycle of increasingly complex, strategic, and competitive growth opportunities from intelligence gathering and positioning to proposal development to learning and marketing to ensure quality proposals per agency and donor standards.
• Lead 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, business development and operational activities. Identify training opportunities, develop training curriculums and deliver trainings.

Basic Qualifications

• Master's Degree in International Development, International Relations or relevant field.
• Minimum of 10 years work experience in a program management position with progressive responsibilities for an international NGO, including at least three years with successful performance in a Head of Programming or similar program leadership position.
• Strong experience in project grants management for large and complex projects, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, etc., for projects funded by multiple public donors, including USAID.

Required/Desired Foreign Language:

• English.

Travel Required:

• 50% travel to project sites across the 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 with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams. Coaching/mentoring skills
• Presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented

Preferred Qualifications:

• Substantial experience with successful business development activities capturing significant public and private donor funding, including serving as a proposal coordinator for a DFAP.
• Excellent English writing skills.
• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Experience working with Church partners a plus.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching and mentoring senior program staff.
• 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.
• Proven experience/Significant experience managing Global Fund a plus.
• Commitment to gender sensitive programming and management.

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
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Builds Relationships
• Develops Talent
• Strategic Mindset
• Accountability & Stewardship

Key Working Relationships:

• Internal: Regional Director, Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality and Growth, Regional, Africa-wide, and HQ Technical Advisors, other programming staff including HoPs and DCRs from other CPs, Programming Unit Heads, Head of Finance.
• External: Church (Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria -- CCFN, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria -- CSN, Diocesan and other implementing partners, etc.), USG (USAID, CDC, etc.) and other donors, Government of Nigeria (National Planning Commission, relevant Ministries, etc.), consortium partners (current and potential), NGO network members, and civil society.