Chief of Party I at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

As Chief of Party, you will provide leadership and overall management of the anticipated health systems strengthening project for program sustainability in Nigeria. Your leadership, management, and technical knowledge will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming and advance the position of CRS as a leading agency in the implementation and management of public health systems quality improvement, strengthening monitoring and evaluation, surveillance, and health information systems. 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 project, including sharing how the project contributes to the thought leadership of the industry. Serve as the primary point of contact to CDC-PEPFAR as well as public, private, and non-government stakeholders. 
• Ensure the project is implemented to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results and budget, including strategies for phase out and sustainability. 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 – including technical advisors in areas of Health Information Systems, Surveillance, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Continuous Quality Improvement. 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 CDC-PEPFAR grant regulations, including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration, and reporting to CDC-PEPFAR. Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors.
• Oversee the development of communication strategies and materials, complying with donor and CRS’ branding and marketing requirements and procedures.
• Coordinate relationships with consortium partner organizations, including organizing review/planning workshops. Contribute to the coordination of the roles and activities of staff from other consortium member organizations in the implementation in line with CRS partnership principles. 
• Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing 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.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience in successful program management, including management of complex, high-value, multi-activity projects with complicated logistics. 
• 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.
• Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the capacity to see the big picture and the 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Recognized leader in sector as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, etc.
• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.

Required Languages - English

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 50%. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international development, International Relations, or a relevant technical area. PhD preferred.
• 7 or more years’ relevant management and technical experience.
• 5 years’ experience managing donor funds, including multi-country grants.  Strong knowledge and experience in budget management.
• Experience in health program implementation – particularly health systems strengthening, health information systems, surveillance, M&E, and health service delivery quality improvement.
• Experience as a chief of party or senior expert advisor.
• 2 years of staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching senior program staff.