Program Manager II – Risk and Compliance Manager

*This post is contingent on donor funding and donor approval of the candidate.

About CRS:

CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ 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 protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

Background:

CRS Sudan will be implementing an emergency food security program to address acute food security shocks in Sudan. The project will serve as a food pipeline for affected populations in Central and West Darfur.

Job Summary:

As a member of the project team, you will manage the commodity risk and compliance monitoring unit in El Geneina. You will facilitate achievement of the program objectives by coordinating and reporting on commodity risk and compliance monitoring activities, providing operational and technical guidance and advice to the monitoring team, and implementing partner to advance CRS’ work in serving the poor and vulnerable. Your communication, coordination and management skills, and knowledge will ensure that risk and compliance monitoring activities apply best practices and constantly work towards improving impact of the the program benefits to the participants. In liaison with CRS Field Office and the project senior management team (SMT), you will ensure day-to-day managerial support for the risk and compliance staff in Al Geneinia. You will plan for and arrange team building activities to ensure team cohesion.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Coordination and implementation of commodity management risk and compliance monitoring activities

• Coordinate and supervise activities of the commodity risk and compliance monitoring unit. Directly supervise the Senior Project Officers (Commodity Risk Monitoring Team Leaders) and the Project Officers (Compliance monitors) to ensure they have necessary support produce quality results.
• Oversee and manage the risk and compliance activities to ensure effective implementation of the project minimum standards
• Coordinate the development of and review FDP monitoring plans by the monitoring teams and refines them into workable weekly and monthly plans based on the food distribution rounds (cycles) and partner activity implementation schedules.
• Prepare and share weekly/monthly monitoring plans tied to food distribution rounds with consortium partner, and the DCop (Commodity Operations and Compliance);
• Ensure safety and security of the monitors by considering security issues in coordination with CRS Security Focal Point, Field Office Managers and the DCop (Commodity Operations and Compliance) prior to approving field monitoring travels.
• Liaise with Senior Project Officer for project Operation, Primary Distribution Point (PDP), and Field Office Management food dispatches and distribution monitoring.
• Oversee the related commodity risk and compliance monitoring activities for CRS and implementing partner. Ensure project monitors and consortium partner staff use the appropriate systems and tools in monitoring food dispatch and distribution and reporting.
• Develop monitoring plans, and ensure they are implemented based upon risk model developed through the project ICT4D system and other relevant monitoring and reporting tools.
• Ensure relationships with partner are managed professionally and respectfully by the monitors.

Capacity Support and Learning

• Provide input for and co-chair regular technical working group meetings including with partner to discuss relevant commodity issues, discuss learning, share challenges, and ensure partner commodity management practices meets USAID/BHA regulations and the project minimum standards.
• Ensure that project minimum standards for commodity management, GACAP (Generally Accepted Commodity Accounting Principles) and donor principles are adhered and implemented during risk monitoring data collection in the field and commodities handled in line with those standards.
• Champion learning with CRS and partner monitoring teams. Analyze and evaluate the project commodity risk monitoring data following commodity management minimum standard. Proactively identify issues and concerns and use participatory processes to overcome operational obstacles.
• Facilitate technical trainings covering logistics, commodity and distribution required for FDPs to meet project minimum standards.
• Ensure that adequate control procedures are in place at FDPs to minimize risk of food commodity misappropriations.
• Collaborate closely with the Operation and Program Quality teams in identification of corrective actions to bring commodity management in compliance with USAID/BHA regulations, project minimum standard and other commodity management principles.
• Act as a key resource person in project design and proposal development, gap-filling and taking on growth responsibilities, as needed.
• Support the identification of staff capacity and technical assistance needs of partner organizations and capacity strengthening and required interventions to support quality project implementation.
• Help identify, assess, and strengthen partnerships relevant to food assistance and food security, applying appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches.
• Maintain contact with the relevant government entities and consortium partner, UN agencies and other humanitarian organizations.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervises Risk Monitoring Team Leaders and Project Officers for Compliance, coordinating their activities and ensuring that monitoring standards are in place.
• Oversee performance management of the risk and compliance Monitoring unit, including Team Leaders and Risk and Compliance Monitors; and
• Provide necessary capacity building opportunities to risk monitoring team leaders and Risk and compliance monitors, ensuring that they are abreast with CRS (CRS Supply Chain Handbook) and USAID regulations (Regulation 11) relating to commodity management and accountability and project Minimum Standards for Commodity Management; and
• Train risk and compliance monitors on use of the project commodity monitoring system and use of the risk model for monitoring activities.
• Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, contribute to the recruitment process of project staff, and complete performance management for direct reports.

Basic requirements

• Master’s degree in international development, International Relations, Management, Economics, and related fields required.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant field-based experience in coordinating or managing complex projects required with an international NGO or UN agency.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education.

Required Languages – Fluent written and spoken English is required; fluent written and spoken Arabic is preferred.

Travel – Must be able and willing to travel up to 30%, including remote field locations.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong planning, coordination, prioritization, and time management skills
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Good communication and relationship management skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented
• Experience in managing logistics teams, including senior roles at managerial level
• Experienced in team development and capacity building.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven supervisory experience and ability to manage large teams.
• Knowledge of USAID/Title II rules and regulations.
• Excellent technical knowledge and experience in humanitarian food assistance programming and monitoring.
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills and attention to details.
• High degree of initiative, integrity and accountability.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to write reports. Skill in report writing.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Skill in the use of computers and software related to the job.
• Strong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills with ability to make sound judgment.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to work effectively with culturally diverse groups.
• Proactive, results-oriented, and service-oriented

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory: Directly supervises Senior Project Officers in-charge of Commodity Management Risk Monitoring and Project Officers for compliance.

Internal: Works closely and in collaboration with Project Managers i/c risk and compliance monitoring, project PQ team, and Operation unit, and PDP/Logistics unit.

External: Working relationship with implementing partner and government stakeholders.

Agency REDI Competencies (for all CRS Staff):

Agency competencies clarify expected behaviors and attitudes for all staff. When demonstrated, they create an engaging workplace, help staff achieve their best, and help CRS achieve agency goals. 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.

• 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.

If applicable**: Work Conditions/Environment Conditions**

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, 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.

CRS prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.