Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in more than 90 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local partners to implement its programs.

CRS has been working in Haiti since 1954, implementing a variety of programs ranging from emergency response to sustainable development depending on particular needs and dynamics within the country. CRS’ current portfolio focuses on urban development, agricultural production and value-chains, quality education, health, and Disaster-Risk Reduction.

CRS seeks a Chief of Party for a five-year, estimated $30 million USDA Food for Progress (FFPr)-funded project in Haiti. This project will focus on integrated crop management and farm to market systems, and is expected to make contributions to lowering risks for smallholder farmers, increasing agricultural productivity, and expanding domestic, regional, and international trade of agricultural products.

The Chief of Party will be responsible for the achievement of strategic objectives, intermediate results, and performance expectations through adherence to high standards of programmatic and management quality.

Major Responsibilities:
The Chief of Party will provide the vision and overall leadership to the FFPr consortium. S/he will be responsible for overseeing the overall quality of programmatic implementation (including monitoring, evaluation and learning) and administrative elements of the project, including the coordination of all consortium partners and budget monitoring. S/he will also serve as the primary point of contact to USDA as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders. S/he will be responsible for ensuring compliance with USDA regulations and requirements, including oversight of consortium partner budgets, finance and administration, and reporting to USDA. S/he will directly supervise key program staff.

Specific Job Responsibilities include:

Leadership and Program Quality:
1) Lead CRS and consortium member program staff and other stakeholders to ensure program’s strategic objectives and results are fully achieved and meet expected technical quality standards.
2) Lead the project in-country Steering Committee (SC) comprised of implementing partner representatives that will oversee project activities and ensure an integrated approach in accordance with the project design.
3) Ensure program activities and approaches incorporate best practices in gender-responsiveness, protection, governance, and accountability to participants.
4) Provide a clear vision and plans for implementing an innovative, integrated and comprehensive program
5) Oversee regular technical reviews, ensuring best practices are followed and lead changes in program direction and focus as lessons are learned.
6) In collaboration with program staff, provide guidance and technical oversight to consortium members to ensure that lessons are documented and disseminated.
7) Oversee program’s monitoring and evaluation system, using data analysis as the basis for measuring performance. Work with MEAL and technical staff to ensure that M&E data/results are integrally linked with learning and programmatic adjustment as program plans evolve, and coordinate with MEAL staff to contract and coordinate with external agencies to ensure quality mid-term and final evaluations.
8) Ensure integration of program interventions with other USG-funded and other key programs in the geographic target areas, and ensure appropriate linkages with other stakeholders.
9) Ensure the delivery of quality training, technical assistance, and administrative and financial support to all partner agencies and government, including the selection and coordination of sub-grantees and consultants.
10) Coordinate with other ongoing projects to ensure consistency and avoid duplication.
Management and Administration:
1) Manage program budgets, including tracking of financial and material resources
2) Ensure accurate and timely reporting of program finances and progress status, regularly review actual financial performance against the budget, and explain variances as needed.
3) Ensure staff compliance with all USDA and CRS administrative and operational procedures and policies, as well as applicable donor regulations.
4) Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and related requests to donor.
5) Liaise as needed with monetization staff and consultants
Representation and Advocacy:
1) Provide leadership and oversight to the consortium, ensuring that sub-recipients accomplish their aims and fully meet their assigned scopes of work and sub-award terms, and ensuring all members of the consortium work cooperatively and productively to achieve project objectives.
2) Serve as primary contact to USDA for the project, taking responsibility for addressing all program matters, collaborating with the CRS Country Representative on overall donor relationships.
3) Strengthen linkages with existing and potential partner agencies, in collaboration with CRS Country Representative and Head of Programming.
4) In collaboration with CRS Country Representative and Head of Programming, manage relationships with the government of Haiti.
5) Oversee program communication strategies, in collaboration with CRS Country Representative and Head of Programming, including compliance with donor’s branding and marketing requirements as well as CRS’ marketing and communication procedures.
Human Resource Management:
1) Lead, manage, and supervise a team of CRS staff, as well as consortium staff, to meet program objectives.
2) Conduct periodic reviews of CRS staff performance in keeping with CRS’ performance management system and mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork.
3) Manage recruitment portfolio for the program, in collaboration with CRS country program management, to ensure optimum service delivery through recruitment of competent and qualified staff.
Competencies

Program Management Competencies
Sets clear goals and manages toward them; focuses on ensuring progress toward programming goals with the engagement of key staff and stakeholders.

Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders; uses CRS values to facilitate involvement of strategic participants for collective decision-making.

Manages financial resources with integrity; promotes and models efficient budget management in keeping with CRS and donor guidance.

Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning; utilizes CRS approaches, standards, technical resources, and tools to ensure high-quality and innovative programs.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)
These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.
• Serves with Integrity
• Models Stewardship
• Cultivates Constructive Relationships
• Promotes Learning

Qualifications and Skills:
• Minimum of a Master’s in Development, Management, or a related field;
• Minimum 10 years of progressively increasing management responsibility in developing countries; including:
o previous Chief of Party experience, preferably in value chains, food security, economic growth, or related field;
o significant experience specific to livelihoods development in a developing country context, with strong preference for experience in Haiti and prior work in agriculture
• Prior management of significant ($15 million +) USDA or USAID funding required;
• In-depth knowledge of Haiti strongly preferred.
• Proven leadership and inter-personal skills and ability to build and motivate diverse teams.
• Proven experience in managing complex consortium or partnership relationships in a participatory way;
• Strategic vision and capacity to oversee a complex program;
• Familiarity with and commitment to addressing gender equality in programming;
• Experience supporting development of business models and operations for farmer groups preferred;
• Experience supporting market development, value added processing, and facilitating linkages to private sector actors preferred;
• Public relations skills;
• Ability to work well both in a team and independently;
• Cultural sensitivity, patience, and flexibility;
• Demonstrated personal accountability and drive to serve others;
• Understanding of and experience with faith-based organizations, local church structures, and accompaniment and capacity-building principles in local partnerships desired;
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally as required (approximately 25% of the time);
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook;
• Native or near native English oral and written communication skills, as well as native or near native skills in oral and written French, required. Creole skills highly desirable though not required.
Physical Requirements/Environment: Based in Port-au-Prince requiring approximately 25% travel.

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

Interested parties should submit a Cover Letter with their CVs no later than September 30, 2015 to haiti.recruitment@crs.org

CRS is currently seeking candidates for election to the position of Chief of Party for a project submission in progress.