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 identify is at the heart of our mission and operations. We welcome as part of our staff and as partner’s people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and commitment to serving those in need.

Introduction

CRS seeks applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Program Manager for FANSER/GIZ phase 2. The candidate will be supervising three project officers under the project and will be expected to work very closely with partner managers from Women for Change and Caritas Chipata. He/she will report directly to the Project Director FANSER who is based in Petauke. He/She will be required to support the Project Director in budget maintenance.

FANSER

The Food and Nutrition Security, Enhanced Resilience(FANSER) project is an initiative of the “One World No Hunger” under GIZ for the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation. The project aims to improve the food and nutritional situation of 27,500 vulnerable women of reproductive age as well as 20,000 children under the age of two. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) proposes to contribute to the goal of reducing stunting in Eastern province by investing 2.55 million Euros of funding from the BMZ under the initiative. CRS will operate in 2 districts of Eastern province; Katete and Petauke from July 2018 to December 2020. The project will comprise of the following: Increasing dietary diversity for Women of reproductive age, adolescents and children under the age of 2 years; increasing behaviors related to WASH in all nutrition activities; and linking households to access to food programs available from within their communities.

Major Responsibilities

The Program Manager will be responsible for overseeing comprehensive and quality technical strategies for the project in line with CRS agency strategy. S/he will supervise three Project Officers (Nutrition, Gender & SILC), oversee and ensure the successful coordination of technical support activities under FANSER Project with assistance, as required, by FANSER partners; Caritas and Women for Change. The PM will take the lead in budget maintenance; budget monitoring and forecasting to ensure spending according to approved budget

Specific responsibilities include the following:

Strategic Leadership: Technical guidance

1.      Ensure that Project officers provide timely leadership and guidance, according to developed work plans, to Field Level staff. Ensure that timely training and lessons are being delivered in the field. The PM should design a supervision model for all Project staff including field level staff.

2.      Stay abreast of international and national relevant policy discussions and state of the art developments in quality standards and innovations, including donor strategies and guidelines, and disseminate information and foster discussion within FANSER project Materials Development and Dissemination

3.      In collaboration with PD and Project Officers, ensure identification of existing technical materials (from internal and/or external sources), review based on latest evidence and guidelines, and develop or revise curricula and other technical materials, as needed, with engagement of CRS technical advisors and in collaboration with GIZ.

4.      Oversee development of training materials and resources, including training agendas, to ensure that trainings are properly planned and resourced, while also ensuring that training materials and resources integrate messages related to agriculture, nutrition, savings, WASH and gender. Together with M&E advisor design tools to monitor the effectiveness of all trainings for intermediaries as well as project beneficiaries.

5.      Liaise with partners to plan appropriate technical training strategies, train trainers on FANSER curricula and tools, and oversee quality of cascaded trainings offered by partners under the program. This includes proper preparation for trainings by identified trainers. DIP Monitoring & Coordination.

6.      With Project officers and Field supervisors ensure technical objectives and results are fully accomplished and meet expected technical quality standards.

7.      Adequately prepare for periodic technical reviews with FANSER partners (via meetings, report review, site visits, etc.) and GIZ to ensure that the direction is in line with the overall FANSER strategy, and support changes in program direction and focus, based on observations and data generated through monitoring and evaluation.

8.      Promote and monitor integration of cross-cutting technical themes into program activities.

M&E and Learning

1.      Help Project Officers identify best practices and document practices for shared learning, while also identifying potential opportunities for operations research to test new and innovative activities.

2.      Working closely with the MEAL Manager, provide technical input into the design and implementation of formative research that may be undertaken as well annual surveys.

3.      Coordinate closely with other CRS technical staff to disseminate and share lessons learned between projects, Includes sharing within the country program and across the region and agency

4.      Support preparation and review of Donor reports prior to submission.

5.      Jointly with and/or in absence of the Project Director represent FANSER project in donor meetings and other relevant meetings.

I. Supervision and Mentorship

1.      Supervise team of three Project Officers, ensuring that Project Officers fulfill responsibilities outlined in annual work plans.

2.      Ensure that Project Officers provide quality, regular technical leadership to field-based field supervisors, health promoters and field agents, offering them technical leadership, guiding strategic direction, and monitoring individual work and outputs

CRS Competencies

These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each program manager to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

§  Sets clear goals and manages toward them

§  Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders

§  Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning.

§  Serves with Integrity

§  Models Stewardship

§  Cultivates Constructive Relationships

§  Promotes Learning

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Education and Experience

§  Master’s Degree in Rural development or related field or BSc with at least 2 years’ experience in a similar position.

§  Minimum of 4-5 years’ experience in program/project management with an international NGO, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in project management.

§  Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals.

§  Experience engaging with partner organizations

§  Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.

§  Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management system

§  Demonstrated ability with project grants management, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting.

§  Demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively with team of technical staff and partners.

§  Excellent analytic, organizational and computer skills.

§  Ability to work both independently and in a team.

§  Excellent English oral and written communication skills required.

§  Ability to work in a multi-cultural team with a high level of respect for local culture.

Personal skills

§  Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions

§  Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.

§  Good presentation and facilitation skills

§  Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

Travel Required: The staff will spend 50% of the time in the field with travel between Petauke and Katete.

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory: Will report to the Project Director, based in Petauke. Will supervise 3 project officers and technical supervision of partner staff.
External: Will represent CRS to the donor when Project Director is absent. Will also represent the project when need arises. Should be able to build good relationships with other government and non-governmental organizations working in the field of Food security and Nutrition.

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.

§  Trusting Relationships

§  Professional Growth

§  Partnership

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