Senior Project Officer/Team Leader- Changing the Way We Care (CTWWC) (Ref.2018/078)

Department: Programming

Band: 7

Reports To: Project Director

Country/Location: Kenya/Kisumu

About Catholic Relief Services:

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) 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.

CRS has worked in Kenya since 1965. Over the years, CRS’ focus shifted from direct relief and food distributions to a comprehensive development program that works with partners and enhances local capacity. CRS Kenya programs now support care reforms, children affected by HIV, and community-based efforts to increase household incomes, improve family health and sanitation, and enhance agriculture livelihoods

Background:

CRS, with partners Lumos and Maestral International, will work closely with Department of Children Services (DCS) and other care reform actors to implement programming and interventions to support care reform in Kenya. Kenya has been selected as one of three countries, together with the Republic of Moldova and Guatemala, to implement the initial phase of Changing the Way We Care (CTWWC) initiative. CTWWC is an initiative that aims to leverage existing strengths and efforts of key stakeholders as well as address identified gaps to move Kenya away from reliance on residential care facilities and towards stronger family-based care.

Job Summary:

The team leader will provide overall leadership of the county level program, working in close coordination with the overall project and technical leadership team in support of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. This leadership will follow the program cycle and will be in line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements, and good practices, as well as be aligned to globally recognized best practice principles of family-based child care. Project management skills and knowledge of the subject matter will ensure that the overall country program (CP) delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of this CTWWC initiative at county and national levels. This position is also expected to eventually liaise with other project counties in Kenya as they come on board.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Lead implementation of the CTWWC initiative in assigned county ensuring that the activities are executed in line with the government care reform strategy, consortium-approved work plan and CTWWC policies and procedures.


• Set and monitor appropriate performance targets and ensure that project objectives and results are fully accomplished and meet expected technical quality standards in line with the CTWWC technical agenda and monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) framework.


• Forge and manage dynamic partnerships with DCS, UNICEF and local implementing partners, as appropriate, during key stages to ensure that their insights and experiences inform approaches and interventions and to support program quality, and that partners are fully bought in to the process of reform in the assigned county.



• Provide leadership, guidance and technical oversight to ensure a cohesive and productive team approach and conducive working environment for the county level team.




• Oversee the preparation of required project narrative reports, quarterly performance data in line with set reporting timelines and CTWWC guidelines.




• Contribute to development and dissemination of advocacy materials, learning pieces, case stories, peer reviewed journal articles as well as other documentation needed/required by the local government, CTWWC consortium, donors.




• Contribute to the identification, documentation and dissemination of CTWWC results in various forms and fora, including media stories, lessons learned, case studies, etc., evaluations, peer reviewed articles, and presentations and support learning exchanges among the stakeholders, Gok entities, and other programs within Kenya.




• Ensure CTWWC and staff compliance with all CRS/CTWWC administrative, operational, and financial procedures and policies, as well as applicable to the donor regulations.




• Manage team dynamics and staff well-being by providing coaching, mentorship, and individual supportive supervision informed by individual performance and development plans, including ensuring opportunities for ongoing training and learning within and amongst the team




• Contribute to the recruitment of staff and consultants, and complete performance and development management for direct report staff.




• Represent CTWWC program at the county level, including attending meetings on behalf of the CTWWC, making presentations at professional meetings and conferences on the matters related to CTWWC.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

· Degree in Sociology, Project Management, International Development or in a related degree in the field of Social Science. Master’s degree is added advantage.

· Minimum of five years’ work experience in project management, ideally in the field of care reform, child protection or community health or social protection and preferably for a non-governmental organization.

· Good understanding of various Government of Kenya child protection and rights legal and policy frameworks, guidelines and strategies.

· Good understanding of grant management, especially from foundations, USAID and other donor funding.

· Proven staff management and supportive supervision experience.

· Experience working with child protection structures and stakeholders especially the Department of Children’s Services, local implementing partners at various levels and strengthening community partnerships.

· Ability to contribute to the development of programming concepts and interventions and technical proposals.

· Experience engaging with and writing for a range of audiences, including governments and policy makers, and the public (National and public) in English.

Skills and Abilities

· Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.

· Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with local stakeholders. Strong writing skills in professional English, level of proficiency should allow the candidate to serve as primary author of high-quality written reports to donors with minimal revision.

· Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented.

· Attention to details, accuracy and timeliness in executing assigned responsibilities with minimal supervision.

Supervisory Responsibilities (if none, state none):

Supervise CTWWC county-based staff (administratively) - Case Management and Reintegration Officer, HES Officer, Advocacy and SBC officer, Parenting and Youth Officer and Driver.

Required/Desired Foreign Language: Ability to clearly communicate in written and spoken English and Kiswahili. Knowledge of local language of the county is an added advantage.

Travel Required: Travel as will be determined

Key Working Relationships:

Internal: CTWWC staff, Health, Education and Social Services Unit, CRS Kenya MEAL Unit, Management Quality unit, CRS Kenya Head of Programs.

External: Local Implementing Partners, GOK, UNICEF, faith-based organizations, Kenya Society of Careleavers, relevant private sector entities, local communities, beneficiaries, donors and other stakeholders.

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

• Accountability & stewardship

• Builds relationships

• Develops Talent

• Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Strategic Mindset

MEAL Competencies:

• Track portfolio and project MEAL requirements – both CTWWC MEAL Policies and Procedures (MPP) and donor requirements.


• Work with MEAL staff and partner staff to implement the MPP and CTWWC MEAL requirements applicable to your projects.


• Complete the annual MEAL procedure self-assessment for your project and develop action plan to advance MEAL practice.

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