Deadline: Ongoing
The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is currently seeking applications from the eligible applicants for the post of Chief of Party, USDA Food for Progress Project based in Burkina Faso.
CRS carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas.
Key Job Responsibilities
The Chief of Party will perform the following functions-
- Lead CRS and consortium member program staff and other stakeholders to ensure program’s strategic objectives and results are fully accomplished and meet expected technical quality standards.
- Ensure program activities and approaches adopt best practices in gender-responsiveness, protection, governance, and participant accountability.
- Provide a clear vision and plans for an innovative, integrated and comprehensive program
- Oversee regular technical reviews, ensuring best practices are followed and leading changes in program direction and focus as lessons are learned.
- In collaboration with program staff, provide guidance and technical oversight to consortium members to ensure that lessons are documented and disseminated.
- Oversee program’s monitoring and evaluation system, using data analysis as the basis for measuring performance. Ensure that M&E data/results are integrally linked with learning and programmatic adjustment as program plans evolve.
- Ensure integration of program interventions with other USAID-funded programs in the geographic target areas, and ensure appropriate linkages with other stakeholders.
- Coordinate with other ongoing projects to ensure consistency and avoid duplication.
- Manage program budgets, including tracking of financial and material resources.
- Ensure accurate and timely reporting of program finances and progress status, review actual financial performance against the budget, and explain variances on a regular basis.
- Ensure staff compliance with all USDA and CRS administrative and operational procedures and policies, as well as applicable donor regulations.
- Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors.
- Strengthen linkages with existing and potential partner agencies, in collaboration with CRS Country Representative and Head of Programming.
- In collaboration with CRS Country Representative and Head of Programming, manage relationships with the governments of Burkina Faso.
- 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.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must have-
- Minimum of a Masters in Development, Management, or a related field;
- Minimum 10 years of progressively increasing management responsibility in developing countries; including:
- previous Chief of Party experience, preferably in value chains, food security, economic growth, or related field
- significant experience specific to livelihoods development in a developing country context, preferably sub-Saharan Africa and/or working with agricultural populations
- Minimum 7 years managing commercial value chain programs with established cooperatives;
- Demonstrated experience in implementing and or facilitating access to financial products for the poor, and working with MFI;
- Demonstrated experience supporting development of business models and operations for farmer cooperatives;
- Demonstrated experience supporting market development, value added processing, and facilitating linkages to private sector actors;
- Prior management of significant ($15 million +) USDA or USAID funding required;
- Familiarity with and commitment to addressing gender equality in programming;
- Experience working in francophone Africa required – in-depth knowledge of the Sahel, and in particular Burkina Faso, 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 required;
- Strategic vision and capacity to oversee a complex program required;
- Public relations skills required;
- 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. Travel approximately 30%;
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, 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.
How to Apply
Applicants must create an online profile to apply for the position.
For more information, please visit CRS.
