Please note that this position is contingent upon award of the funding opportunity and donor approval of candidacy.
About CRS
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. 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.
CRS began working in Somalia in 1961 responding with food to assist flood victims and established its first office there in 1964. Today, CRS continues to respond to the urgent needs of the Somali people through meeting their immediate needs (food and water); providing essential services (health, nutrition, and protection); creating and rehabilitating critical infrastructure (latrines and wells); restoring productive assets and purchasing power to build resilience and promote long-term, sustainable solutions; and ensuring peacebuilding activities to transform intercommunal conflict.
About the Program
This position is dependent on CRS winning an award from SSF. CRS anticipates a forthcoming solicitation from SSF under the Phase III Conciliation workstream, focusing on peacebuilding and social cohesion in target communities within the Hirshabelle, Galmudug, and Banaadir federal member states of South-Central Somalia, with complementary activities related to governance, stabilization, and climate change adaptation. If successful, CRS anticipates a 5 year project implemented alongside a consortium of local Somali partners.
Job Summary:
As Team Leader, you will provide leadership and overall management of the Somalia Stability Fund (SSF) III Conciliation project to serve the poor and vulnerable. Your 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 peacebuilding field. As a senior leader you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks; lead representation with donors, government officials and key stakeholders; and ensure all aspects of program and management quality. You will ensure strong performance by the CRS team and partners while creating a culture of respect, equity, diversity, inclusion, transparency, accountability, and Integrity.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
- Lead all aspects of the development, implementation and consolidation of the SSF III Conciliation project, including sharing how the project contributes to the thought leadership of the industry. Serve as the primary point of contact to SSF 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. Ensure coordination between program and operations leads. Ensure the CRS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
- Effectively manage project-based programs and operations staff. 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 project staff.
- In coordination with Somalia Security manager, manage and mitigate risk through monitoring national and regional issues that may impact staff and programming. Ensure all staff understand and adhere to CRS staff safety and security policies and plans.
- Promote, uphold and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources. Ensure compliance with SSF contracts, including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration and reporting to SSF. Approve program expenditures, budget adjustments, and cost modification requests to donors.
- Oversee the development of communication strategies and materials, complying with donor and CRS’ branding and marketing requirements and procedures.
- Coordinate relationships with consortium partner organizations, including organization of review/planning workshops. Contribute to coordination of the roles and activities of staff from other consortium member organizations in implementation in line with CRS partnership principles.
- Create and maintain proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the 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.
Basic Qualifications
- Masters degree in International Development, International Relations, peacebuilding, governance, or another relevant technical area. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
- Minimum of 5 years experience in relevant field-based project management and technical experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years experience managing donor funds, including multi country grants.
- Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching senior program staff.. Strong knowledge and experience in budget management.
- Experience in managing moderately complex projects preferably with an international NGO.
- Demonstrated commitment to respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion including gender equality.
Required Languages – Fluent English required. Proficiency in Somali is strongly preferred.
Travel– Based in Mogadishu, Somalia. Must be willing and able to travel in-country up to 50%, with occasional travel to Nairobi.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
- Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
- Team leadership abilities with diverse/multi-disciplinary teams. Coaching skills.
- Strong communications and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.
- Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results oriented.
Preferred Qualifications
- Recognized leader in sector as demonstrated by peer reviewed publications, conference presentations etc.
- Demonstrated experience of successful program management, including management of complex, high-value, multi-activity projects, with complicated logistics.
- Demonstrated successful program management under contracts mechanisms; experience with SSF or other multi-donor funds is a plus.
- Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.
- Ability to represent and present at high levels.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Fluency in Somali is strongly preferred.
- Strong understanding of context in South-Central Somalia. Experience managing development/humanitarian programming in this context is desirable.
- Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.
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.
Key Working Relationships:
Internal: Somalia Country Manager, Somalia Head of Programming, Kenya/Somalia Head of Operations, Kenya/Somalia Country Representative, Regional leadership and technical advisors
External: SSF Team; Implementing Partners’ Senior Leadership; Appropriate government leaders at Federal, State, Regional, and/or District Levels; Community Leaders and Civil Society Actors; Senior Leaders of Peer Organizations (for coordination) ; Coordination Bodies and Technical Working Groups
***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. 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.
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.