Country: South Sudan
Closing date: 05 Nov 2016
Position Title: Program Manager II - WFP Project Manager
Department/Country: Juba, South Sudan
Position Type: Full Time
Band: D
FLSA: Exempt
Reports to: Head of Programs
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: CRS has been operational in South Sudan since 1983, focusing on community-based food and livelihood security through agriculture, health, peacebuilding, WASH, emergency relief, and savings and lending activities. CRS also helps strengthen organizational capacity of local institutions. As a result of the ongoing conflict in South Sudan, many households are experiencing a precipitous decline in access to and consumption of adequate nutritious food leading to a dire nutrition outlook especially for children under 5 years and pregnant and lactating women (PLW). The household food insecurity has had a significant impact on the prevention of acute malnutrition and management of moderate acute malnutrition, with many cases deteriorating to severe acute malnutrition. These new shocks are occurring against a backdrop of severe chronic food insecurity and persistently high levels of acute malnutrition and child mortality. Considering this deteriorating trend, CRS has entered into a Field Level Agreement (FLA) for general food distribution with WFP, that includes a Blanket Supplementary Feeding Program (BSFP) in Ayod County, Jonglei State. CRS South Sudan seeks a qualified and experienced WFP Project Manager (PM) to oversee the CRS food distribution program in partnership with World Food Program (WFP). The PM will lead four field distribution teams implementing a mobile food intervention in Ayod County.
Job Summary: The Project Manager will supervise four Field Team Leaders to ensure that WFP commodity is properly managed and distributed, to provide necessary reporting to CRS and WFP, and to ensure field teams receive the required logistical support. The PM will also supervise the Nutrition Technical Advisor and ensure high quality nutrition programming. The Program Manager will be based in Juba, with considerable field travel, and will report to the CRS Head of Programs.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leadership and Representation
• Provide strategic vision and leadership to the WFP Project Team
• Represent CRS and the project teams at all relevant donor and stakeholder meetings
• Participate in all strategic planning meetings and activities
• Provide regular updates to partners, country program leadership, and government and non-government coordination bodies as requested
• Establish and maintain good working relations with external agencies and organizations, local partner organizations, provincial and local government offices, and all stakeholders in the respective geographic areas
• Facilitate exchange of information and experiences;
Program Quality and Management
• Liaise with WFP to develop and implement monthly and weekly plans for the teams, and to resolve problems in a timely and efficient manner
• Coordinate team members’ travel to the field and ensure field teams have relevant and timely access to all necessary information, equipment and support
• Provide logistical backup for the distribution teams in the field
• Ensure, in consultation with the Head of Programs, project compliance with WFP and CRS standards and CRS principles of justice, solidarity, and subsidiarity
• Facilitate appropriate problem solving relevant to CRS programming activities
• Provide technical and managerial advice to the country program regarding the implementation of the FLA
• Train, manage, and monitor a team of four Field Team Leaders responsible for assessment, community relations/coordination, monitoring and evaluation, and oversight of all CRS programming activities in Jonglei State
• Work with CRS M&E staff to develop and implement monitoring systems, and ensure that M&E systems are properly implemented and reported by team members
• Manage the collection of field level data and reports, and ensure submission of timely reports and invoices to the Head of Programs
• Lead implementation of the MEAL policies and procedures that are mandatory for the emergency response
• Ensure project compliance with donor and CRS regulations
• Approve project expenditures, carry out regular budget tracking and take the lead on official requests for modifications when needed
Business Development
• In collaboration with the Head of Programs and Business Development Manager, identify and preposition for new funding opportunities
• Support the development of new project proposals (assessments, project design, writing, technical review, etc.)
Supervision
• Ensure annual performance planning and reviews of staff performance in keeping with CRS’ performance management system. Mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity and teamwork
• Ensure staff compliance with all CRS administrative and operational procedures and policies, as well as applicable donor regulations
• Identify training needs for team members under his/her supervision and support the development of Program Quality capacity building for team members and partners
• Hold regular meetings with project staff
• Assist staff in maintaining healthy relationships with local government, and cooperating organizations through regular contacts, visits and fulfillment of program requirements
General
• Ensure that CRS policies and regulations are followed by all team members; especially field security guidelines
• Coordinate with the Security Manager and Country Representative on security to provide any pertinent security information to the security manager and receive updates on a regular basis
• Participate in CRS meetings and workshops on strategic planning and agency-wide initiatives as requested by supervisor
• Travel to the field regularly to directly oversee program implementation
• Other duties as assigned by the Head of Programs
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
Emergency Competencies
• Communicates strategically under pressure
• Manages stress and complexity
• Actively promotes safety and security
• Manages and implements high-quality emergency programs
Program Manager Competencies
• Sets clear goals and manages toward them
• Collaborates effectively with staff and stakeholders
• Manages financial resources with integrity
• Applies program quality standards to project design and organizational learning
MEAL Competencies
• MEAL Management: Develops and manages MEAL budgets that support effective and quality MEAL systems, including ICT if appropriate.
• Monitoring: Facilitates the use of monitoring data during quarterly participatory reflection events and other fora with partners and other stakeholders to inform project decisions.
• Learning: Promotes the application of learning to improve program quality and to strengthen agency influence among external stakeholders.
• Analysis and Critical Thinking: Makes informed decisions based on: key findings, trends, comparisons between sub-groups, and by making explicit important assumptions.
• ICT4MEAL: Supports agency priorities in the use of ICT solutions to collect, manage, and analyze data based on feasibility in specific project contexts and a cost-benefit analysis.
Supervisory Responsibilities: 4 Team Leaders and 1 Nutrition Technical Advisor
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: CR, HoP, WFP Team Leaders and Nutrition Technical Advisor, WFP National Staff, CRS Operations Staff
External: WFP, UNICEF, other UN agencies, host country government ministries, NGOs, local partners and local community members.
Required Experience and Qualifications:
• Minimum 5 years’ experience managing humanitarian food programs, preferably with CRS and WFP
• Master’s level degree or equivalent in related field
• Minimum three years proven management experience
• Experience in supervising teams and in leadership roles in general
• Experience of living and working in difficult conditions
• Strong coordination and organizational skills
• Data management skills and experience
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills
• Extremely flexible, and have the ability to cope with stressful situations
• Ability to communicate and develop reports to a high standard in English
• Able to spend time in difficult field conditions
Required Foreign Language: N/A
Required Travel: Willingness to travel 50% of the time to remote areas of the country
Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
Equal Opportunity Employer
How to apply:
Apply online: http://bit.ly/2ds6Pes