The posting
Job Description
NOTE: This recruitment is contingent upon donor approval.
Job Summary
CRS seeks Chief of Party II candidates for the anticipated USDA Non-Emergency Food for Peace projects. These multi‑year, development-focused projects seek to combat chronic and acute malnutrition especially in children and mothers, strengthen early recovery and resilience, and support communities.
The Chief of Party II will provide vision, leadership and overall management of these large and complex projects to serve the poor and vulnerable. The incumbent’s strategic leadership, management and technical knowledge will ensure the delivery of high-quality programming and advance the position of CRS as a leading agency in the respective field. As a senior leader, the Chief of Party II will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.
CRS has worked in Kenya since 1965, building strong partnerships with the Catholic Church, national and county governments, civil society, communities and the private sector. CRS Kenya has extensive experience across agriculture and livestock, food and nutrition security, livelihoods and market systems, water and natural resource management, health and nutrition, and emergency response, with a longstanding presence in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). Recent programming includes the $146 million Kenya Nawiri activity in Isiolo and Marsabit, a multisectoral project linking nutrition, health and resilient livelihoods. CRS is also leading a USDA-funded Food for Peace emergency food security and nutrition program in Turkana and Marsabit, providing critical assistance while helping households move from crisis toward recovery and more resilient livelihoods.
Roles and Key Responsibilities
- Lead all aspects of the development, implementation and consolidation of the assigned project, including sharing how the project contributes to the thought leadership of the industry. Serve as the primary point of contact with the donor as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders.
- Ensure the project is designed and implemented to meet donor expectations in terms of timely and quality results and budget, including strategies for phase out and sustainability. Lead coordination efforts between program and operations leads to ensure CRS program quality standards are adhered to.
- Effectively lead senior programming and operations talent. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Oversee the development of staffing plans and the recruitment process of senior staff.
- Proactively manage and mitigate risk by monitoring national and regional issues that may impact staff and programming. Ensure all CRS staff safety and security policies and plans are regularly updated and all staff understand and adhere to these policies.
- Promote, uphold and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources.
- Ensure compliance with donor grants, including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration and donor reporting. Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors.
- Represent CRS programming in international circles, highlighting innovative work. Publish program results and deliver presentations. Oversee the development of communication strategies and materials, complying with donor and CRS’ branding and marketing requirements and procedures.
- Manage relationships with consortium partner organizations, including organization of review/planning workshops. Coordinate the roles and activities of staff from other consortium member organizations to ensure implementation is in line with CRS partnership principles.
- Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment to share ideas, solutions, and difficulties. Build the internal capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to deficiencies.
- Identify performance gaps and training opportunities for CRS and partner staff and ensure the design and delivery of high-quality training and technical assistance.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in international development, International Relations or a relevant technical area.
- Minimum of 8 years’ of relevant management and technical experience.
- Minimum of 7 years’ experience managing donor funds, including multi country grants. Excellent knowledge and experience in budget management.
- Minimum of 5 years’ of staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
- Experience coaching and mentoring senior program staff.
- Demonstrated experience of successful program management, including management of complex, high-value, multi-activity projects, with complicated logistics.
- Established leader in sector as demonstrated by peer reviewed publications, conference presentations etc.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in a related field.
- Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Ability to represent and present at high levels.
- Excellent knowledge of MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.
- Excellent strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
- Excellent relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Ability to strategically approach each relationship.
- Team leadership abilities with diverse and multi-disciplinary teams. Coaching/mentoring skills.
- Strong communication and presentation skills. Ability to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.
- Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented mindset.
Required Languages: Fluency in English is required. Fluency in a local language is a plus.
Travel: Must be willing and able to travel up to 35%.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Yes
Agency Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
- Personal Accountability – Consistently takes responsibility for one’s own actions.
- Acts with Integrity - Consistently models values aligned with CRS Guiding Principles and mission. Is considered honest.
- Builds and Maintains Trust - Shows consistency between words and actions.
- Collaborates with Others – Works effectively in intercultural and diverse teams.
- Open to Learn – Seeks out experiences that may change perspective or provide an opportunity to learn new things.
Agency Leadership Competencies:
- Lead Change – Continually looks for ways to improve the agency through a culture of agility, openness, and innovation.
- Develops and Recognizes Others – Builds the capacity of staff to reach their full potential and enhance team and agency performance.
- Strategic Mindset – Understands role in translating, communicating, and implementing agency strategy and team priorities.
What we offer
CRS offers U.S. based staff a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, life insurance, vision, and a generous retirement savings plan. Salary and benefits packages for successful candidates employed outside the U.S. are based on the country of employment/in-country office where the candidate will perform the role. CRS´ work culture is a collaborative, mission-driven culture committed to improving the lives of the poor throughout the world.
About Us
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Catholic Relief Services works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. Catholic Relief Services’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.
CRS is committed to safeguarding program participants, community members, staff and volunteers from all forms of exploitation and abuse. The successful candidate is expected to sign and adhere to CRS´ Code of Conduct.
CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people - especially children and vulnerable adults - to live free from abuse and harm.
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
General Requirements
CRS offers are contingent on the selected candidate’s ability to legally work where the position is to be performed. Every government has a unique set of work permit eligibility requirements. All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside a home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical clearance; some work permit processes require clearing a separate government administered medical examination.
CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.
