Position Title: Project Director for Women-ASPIRE
Position Type: Full-Time
Department: Program Impact & Quality Assurance (PIQA)
Job Location: Baltimore, MD or a Project Country
Band: D
FLSA: Exempt
Reports to: Director of Global Grants, PIQA
Note: This position is contingent upon donor approval of funding
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.
Job Summary:
CRS is seeking a Project Director for a 5 year UNITAID-funded project, called Women-ASPIRE, to expand access to intermittent preventive treatment in pregnant women with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) in 4-5 countries in Africa in order to reduce malaria in pregnancy. Project activities are designed to be tested and evaluated to generate evidence on feasibility for scale-up in countries recommending IPTp and to inform policy recommendation through for instance the World Health Organization. Project activities will use a combination of strategies at community and health facilities, including the private sector.
The Project Director will provide the vision and overall leadership to the program team. S/he will be responsible for overseeing the overall management of the project including the quality of programmatic implementation (including monitoring, evaluation and learning) and administrative elements of the project, including the coordination of all consortium partners, and monitoring the budget. S/he will also serve as the primary point of contact to UNITAID as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders. The Project Director is expected to coordinate with the Ministry of Health (both the malaria and maternal health departments), UN agencies (e.g. WHO, UNICEF, etc.), in-country donors, regional health and economic networks, local and international NGOs, and others to ensure that activities complement ongoing initiatives and adhere to country and global standards. The Project Director is responsible for ensuring that project results are achieved on time and on budget, including strategies for phase out and sustainability; and that the budget is consumed as planned, in compliance with UNITAID and CRS policies and procedures.
The Project Director will be a senior leader responsible for leading all aspects of the development, implementation and consolidation of the Women-ASPIRE Program, including ensuring that the project contributes to the thought leadership of the industry and positions CRS as a leading agency in malaria prevention. The Director is also responsible for leveraging this position for future growth within this sector for the agency.
The candidate will operate within the organizational structure of CRS while coordinating the roles and activities of staff from other consortium member organizations in the implementation of the program interventions. The successful candidate will also be responsible for representing Women-ASPIRE to major stakeholders, especially UNITAID and relevant ministries within the countries.
Specific Job Responsibilities:
Program Quality
- Oversight and strategic leadership for all project activities
- Overall implementation and management of the project as well as the achievement of the project’s strategic goals and objectives, and intermediate results, in a timely and cost-effective manner.
- Lead the planning of project activities and set high quality performance targets ensuring adherence to global and national malaria technical standards, best practices and donor guidelines.
- Lead quarterly technical review of implementation plans for the project and ensure appropriate actions are taken to meet implementation timelines and commitments.
- Ensure that processes are anchored in CRS ProPack methodologies, Integral Human Development (IHD), the Justice Lens, the Gender Lens and CRS Partnership principles and that CRS and implementing partners are accountable to beneficiaries.
- Ensure that CRS’ Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) principles are in place in all operating countries and that appropriate forms, procedures, and tools for data collection and analysis are used as the basis for measuring, documenting and reporting of project performance and outcomes.
- Ensure that M&E lessons learned from results of program monitoring and evaluation are incorporated into the design and execution of program activities to meet stated objectives and needs of the beneficiary populations
- Ensure project activities are rigorously tested and generating evidence to support global recommendations to implement IPTp, and scale up of successful interventions
- Promote sustainability of project activities with effective networking, linkages to other programs, capacity building of project staff, and institutional strengthening of implementing partners and community-based organizations.
Management
- Directly responsible for the coordination of two consortium partners and overall activities in four to five countries
- Ensure staff compliance with all CRS administrative and operational procedures and policies, as well as applicable donor regulations, including accurate and timely submission of work plans, reports, and other documents.
- Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donor.
- Review and analyze budget comparison reports to ensure that spending and program implementation are aligned; analyze the progress toward program goals and against burn rates and take necessary steps to ensure proper management of budgets.
- Ensure adherence to financial guidelines and maintain transparent systems and records.
Representation and Communication
- Represent the project and manage strategic relationships with two consortium partners, UNITAID, and external stakeholders
- Act as primary contact to UNITAID and other local and international stakeholders, and be responsible for addressing all program matters.
- Serve as the team lead for the project and ensure strong communication and coordination with and between all team members and partners as a means to effectively achieve program objectives
- Represent CRS at external meetings with international and domestic stakeholders.
- In specific instances, prepare and deliver presentations of the project ongoing activities, challenges/opportunities, and results achieved.
- Strengthen linkages with existing and potential partner agencies.
- Oversee the development and implementation of program communication strategies and materials, including compliance with donor’s branding and marketing requirements as well as CRS marketing and communication procedures.
- Collaborate effectively and regularly with regional/HQ management and technical advisors, especially with regards to sharing and reviewing important communication with UNITAID.
Human Resources
- Manage recruitment portfolio for the program in collaboration with Human Resources, PIQA and CRS country program management; orient, and support the professional development of supervisees, providing timely, respectful feedback.
- Supervise, coach and mentor a team of CRS and consortium staff to meet program objectives.
- Conduct periodic reviews of staff performance in keeping with CRS’ performance management system and mentor staff to ensure high levels of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork.
- Oversee the management of the relationship with partner organizations, ensure regular communication and organization of review/planning workshops.
- With program staff, lead the identification of performance gaps and training needs of CRS and partner staff and ensure the design and delivery of high quality training, technical assistance, and administrative and financial support to all partner agencies, including the selection and coordination of consultants.
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 Learnin
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Direct supervision of program managers in 4-5 countries, and program management unit staff supporting all countries
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Country Representatives, Deputy Regional Directors, Heads of Programming and all program staff, particularly unit managers, Senior Technical Advisor – Malaria, Regional and HQ technical advisors, HQ specialists (in PIQA & IDEA), Director of Global Grants.
External: UNITAID staff, other consortia representatives, implementing partners, government organizations especially the Ministry of Health, UN agencies, financial donors, representatives from for-profit and other non-profit organizations, industry experts.
Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in public health or related field.
- Strong technical experience and knowledge of malaria programs and activities. Advanced knowledge of Malaria In Pregnancy/IPTp a plus
- At least 10 years of experience managing or overseeing large-scale, multi country, multi-year projects in Africa. Previous Project Director (or Chief of Party) experience strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated knowledge of generating evidence for demand creation, through applied learning, rigorous knowledge management and innovation.
- Experience working on community-based and private sector projects is a plus
- Experience collaborating with international bodies, host governments and local partners to implement development projects.
- Knowledge of CRS Partnership strategy and Partner management experience an advantage.
Personal Skills:
- Proven leadership, and ability to build and motivate diverse and talented teams
- Proven experience in building and maintaining institutional linkages
- Ability to work to meet deadlines in multiple tasking environments
- Excellent organization, planning and analytical skills; detail oriented
- Ability to think critically, effectively manage change and problem solve
- Excellent communication and inter-personal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively across multiple countries, with demonstrated strength in relationship management
- Ability to be flexible, persistent, and diplomatic and to gain respect among staff, local community leaders, partners, as well as local government ministries and donor organizations.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a multi-cultural team; be self-motivated and accountable for program implementation and work independently if needed.
Language:
Fluency in written and spoken English and French is required.
Travel:
up to 30%
Disclaimer Clause:
This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties and responsibilities associated with this position.
Note:
Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. or work location country, at the time of application.
CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
EOE
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