Kenya: Head of Programming - CRS Kenya

Head of Programming – CRS Kenya

About CRS:

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need.

Background:

2015 will mark CRS’ 50th anniversary in Kenya. Over the years, CRS has implemented numerous humanitarian and development programs with the support of the Kenyan Conference of Catholic Bishops and other civil society partners. CRS operates in Kenya under the terms of a bilateral agreement with the Government of Kenya.

CRS Kenya has an approved Strategic Program Plan (SPP) for the period 2013- 2018 with three Strategic Objectives: 1) Targeted vulnerable populations have sustainable livelihoods; 2) Targeted vulnerable populations have enhanced health; and 3) Vulnerable communities have improved their resilience to disasters and conflict. In addition, the SPP has identified two Intermediate Results that cut across all SOs: 1) Improving beneficiary accountability, and 2) Strengthening the capacity of local partners.

CRS Kenya has a diversified program portfolio in several sectors including Health, HIV/AIDS, Agriculture, Justice and Peace Building, Micro finance, Water and Sanitation, Emergency Response, and Global Solidarity. The program portfolio contains approximately 20 projects including a number of

consortium-managed projects with an annual budget of around $6.5 million dollars, implemented by 15 local partner organizations. The programming unit employs 55 Kenya national staff and 3 international staff.

Current funding sources to the country program include CDC, USAID, Gavi Alliance, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, USAID, GHR Foundation, Financial Sector Deepening, Keurig Green Mountain, and private donors.

On October 1 of this year, CRS Kenya assumed responsibility for the agency’s programming in Somalia.

Primary Functions:

The Head of Programming is responsible for the quality and scope of the CRS Kenya program portfolio, providing oversight of programming interventions, new project development, and ensuring that the necessary staff and systems are in place to develop and implement high-quality programs.

CRS Kenya is engaged in several complex consortium relationships, as well as integrated programming. The HOP must ensure timely and pertinent communication and coordination with other departments especially with the Head of Operations and consortium members. The HOP must give special attention to make sure the relationship with our partners is consistent with partnership principles and give special focus to nurturing CRS’ relationship with the local church. In collaboration with the Country Representative (CR), the HOP must aggressively pursue growth of the country program.

Specific Responsibilities:

I. Program Quality and Management

· Provide management oversight for ongoing programs.

· Ensure that all projects are guided by CRS Kenya, EARO and agency strategic plans.

· Ensure program quality through implementation of project review systems, the agency’s MEAL policy, and staff/partner development.

· Assist program staff to use appropriate project management tools to plan, review and track progress on project implementation as well as on the utilization of project resources.

· Support program staff in the planning of project activities and the establishment of high quality performance targets, ensuring adherence to technical standards, best practices and donor guidelines.

· Oversee the internal review process of all project proposals and ensure project format, design and quality are in compliance with agency/donor standards and program quality principles, East Africa Regional Office (EARO) guidelines and the CRS ProPack.

· Work with program staff to ensure that all programming documents (Annual Program Plans, project proposals, reports, etc.) are of the highest quality.

· Work with program staff to ensure CRS interventions are integrated wherever appropriate in order to increase impact.

· Support the coordination of action plans and activities to ensure complementarity and consistency in the various interventions and to eliminate duplication and waste.

· Ensure that activities are compatible and in compliance with CRS Guiding Principles, and ensure that staff are trained accordingly.

· Ensure that gender sensitivity is taken into account in day-to-day operations as well as in program interventions and with partners.

· Develop and supervise humanitarian response projects as needed.

II. Budgeting, Financial Planning and Reporting

· Work with the Country Representative, program staff and finance department to ensure compliance with CRS and donor regulations and requirements for financial accountability and project reporting.

· Ensure appropriate budget planning and tracking, and financial reporting of CRS public and private projects.

· Collaborate with Head of Operations to ensure project managers are trained on budgeting and finance tools and systems to increase their capacity to adequately track project expenses.

· Monitor burn rates closely with the project managers to ensure that spending in the projects are consistent with the budgets.

· Maintain a schedule for reporting of all publicly and privately funded projects and ensure regular, timely and accurate reports.

· Review and submit required reports including donor and private fund narrative reports, quarterly performance indicator tracking tables, baseline and evaluation reports, as well as others needed/required by the local government, donors, the region or headquarters.

III. Coordination and Communication

· Ensure transparent coordination mechanisms and regular information-sharing with relevant staff.

· Actively participate as a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and contribute to strategic planning and decision-making for the country program.

· Encourage active and open dialogue among program staff and with operations staff.

· Oversee regular programming and coordination meetings between the programming and management quality departments.

· Ensure systems are in place for the proper documentation of meetings and timely circulation of resulting information/outcomes.

· Promote the documentation and sharing of lessons learned/best practices.

· Maintain communication with Regional Technical Advisors, Deputy Regional Director/PQ and Headquarters staff as appropriate.

· Ensure co-ordination between CRS Kenya program and EARO for RTA visits and proposal review.

IV. Supervisory Responsibilities

· Provide leadership and support to the hiring and development of a highly-skilled workforce aligned to CRS values.

· Supervise staff in the program unit to ensure efficient and quality implementation of project activities and development of new initiatives.

· Mentor and coach staff and assist them to develop performance and development plans in line with the CRS Performance Management System.

· Work with the Country Representative and program staff to identify key training needs, and proactively seek and promote appropriate training opportunities for staff.

· Work with HR and program staff to develop and use standardized job descriptions and performance review.

· Oversee the enhancement of project managers’ capacity in proposal development, project management and monitoring and evaluation

· Ensure that programming staff are cognizant of country program, regional and agency strategies, along with general and sectoral program quality principles.

· Ensure that in-house training skills and expertise are shared among staff.

· Work in close coordination with other department heads to promote a team approach that involves programming staff at all levels whenever possible/appropriate.

V. Fundraising and Proposal Development

· Identify program priorities and actively develop a plan for program growth which features active engagement with partners, CP staff, regional/HQ technical advisors, and the business development team.

· Work with CR, the Business Development Manager, program staff and relevant regional and HQ staff to strengthen relationships with existing and potential donors.

· In collaboration with the CR, provide vision and guide the process of growth based on agency/region/country strategic frameworks and plans, including the development of CRS fundraising strategies and alliances and the identification of potential funding sources and strategic opportunities to expand the program’s focus, reach and influence.

· Lead/supervise the preparation of proposals for CRS program strategies/interventions.

VI. Partnership and Church Relations

· Work with CR to ensure effective collaboration between CRS and the local Church are consistent with the CRS partnership principles.

· Ensure staff are cognizant of these principles and that these are reflected in the work and relationships of CRS in Kenya.

· Ensure that CRS program managers and field staff maintain productive relationships with the Church and other implementing partners and provide them with support throughout the project cycle.

· Maintain strong partner relations and lead the identification of diverse and new potential partners.

· Contribute to the development of new Memorandum of Understanding with dioceses and review of the existing ones.

· Identify and support the development and improvement of partner capacity, both programmatic and administrative.

· Develop and implement strategies for improving the capacity of CRS staff to enhance partner capacity.

· Contribute to the core SiS team on the roll out of the SiS initiative with HQ support.

VII. Representation

· Working with the Country Representative, represent the country program to government officials, Church officials, partners, NGOs and UN agencies.

· Assume primary responsibility for preparing plans for high level donor, USG, CRS, or other VIP visits to CRS projects.

· Revise and update country briefing materials and host public relations events. Take the lead in making presentation to visitors.

· Maintain and/or develop productive relationships with key individuals in relevant government ministries, local Catholic Church, other churches, USAID, counterpart institutions and NGOs, international and local NGO community, UN Missions, other donors, etc.

· As required by the Country Representative, serve as a spokesperson to the public, including local and international media outlets and journalist, regarding CRS programs and activities.

VIII. Security

· Participate in the development, implementation and monitoring of security protocols.

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

Head of Programming Competencies:These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each HOP to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

· Builds and leads effective teams

· Supervises and develops staff

· Focuses on quality

· Leads growth in programs

Key Working Relationships:

Internal:Country Representative; Head of Operations; other department heads; program staff; support staff; Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality; regional technical advisors (RTAs), various HQ departments.

External:Consortium and other partners, especially Caritas; government ministries; local church; USAID; UN agencies; local bilateral institutions; local/international NGOs.

Personal/Professional Skills:

· Excellent supervisory skills,

· Strong analytical and organizational skills.

· Ability to work independently, but also coordinate effectively as part of a team.

· Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.

· Strong computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point).

Qualifications

· Master’s Degree or equivalent in relevant technical field, international development or related field.

· Minimum five years in a management position with proven leadership in supervising senior staff, with international or intercultural experience (preferably in a developing country).

· Minimum three years living and working in a developing country.

· Minimum three years’ experience of NGO project management, including proposal writing and project review processes.

· Demonstrated ability in project grants management, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, etc.

· Ability to lead a multi-cultural team with a high level of respect for local culture.

· Ability to represent the agency in high level meetings with donors, local government, etc.

· Experience with institutional strengthening and partnership building.

· Commitment to work with local church and capacity to work closely with, and support them.

Physical Requirements/Environment:The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya, which is the headquarters of the CRS/KE program. The position requires approximately 35 percent travel within Kenya, in areas with limited amenities, as well as attendance at regional conferences and workshops when requested.

Foreign Language:None required but Swahili will be an added advantage.

CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

EOE/M/F/D/V

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