United States onlyNote: This post is contingent on donor funding and donor approval of the candidate.
This is a remote position; CRS will only consider candidates who are based in countries where we have existing offices. CRS does not sponsor visas for telecommuting employees.
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.
About the Promoting Agricultural Volunteer Engagement & Support (PAVES) project
The FY24-28 Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Program consists of a suite of nine core Leader with Associates (LWA) Cooperative Agreements that have already been awarded. The PAVES project is an Associate Award Cooperative Agreement which coordinates with the Leader with Associate (LWA) implementing partners and assists USAID with various activities.
The PAVES project has two activity components: a subaward program and a knowledge management component.
Subaward Program: The PAVES project develops and manages a program of subawards to bring in new organizations, test innovative approaches to use F2F volunteers, draw from non-traditional sources of volunteers, address targeted agricultural sector problems, and develop the capacity of organizations to effectively implement agricultural sector volunteer programs. This program enables additional organizations and volunteers to participate in the F2F Program and provides valuable cross-fertilization and learning in volunteer program management and implementation.
Knowledge Management Support: The program of knowledge management supports learning across the global F2F program, including from PAVES sub-awardee activities. Activities may involve: a) sharing good practice and lessons learned in volunteer programs; b) organizing workshops and events for F2F staff and stakeholders; c) outreach activities; and d) evaluating volunteer programs and projects. Management of communications materials, websites, F2F social media, and related tasks are part of this component. Knowledge management activities are conducted in collaboration with the F2F community of practice.
Job Summary:
As Chief of Party I you will provide leadership and overall management of the PAVES project. 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 agriculture and livelihoods programming. You shall have overall responsibility for implementation of the PAVES Program and will be the principal point of contact for USAID for issues in planning and implementation.
As a senior leader you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.
Roles and Key Responsibilities:
- Lead all aspects of the development, implementation and consolidation of the PAVES project, including sharing how the project contributes to the thought leadership in the sector. Serve as the primary point of contact to USAID 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.
- Oversee the PAVES sub-awards program, knowledge management, and other components of the program.
- Lead workplan development, project reporting, overall program monitoring and evaluation, and coordination and representation of the Program with USAID and other stakeholders.
- Effectively manage programming 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.
- 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, and ensure the updating of such plans.
- Promote, uphold and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources. Ensure compliance with USAID grants, including financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration and reporting to USAID. 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 F2F partner organizations, including organization of review/planning workshops.
- 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.
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.
Supervisory Responsibilities
PAVES Chief of Party I manages two team members:
- Program Manager, Sub-award Program
- Program Manager, Knowledge Management Support Program
Key Working Relationships:
Internal – Director of Global Awards,Director of Global Operations, OverOps Financial Analyst, Core F2F program team, Senior Social Media Strategist, Knowledge Management and Learning team, Agriculture and Livelihoods team, among others
External – USAID AOR, directors of other F2F implementing organizations
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelors degree, preferably Master’s, in a subject relevant to international agricultural development (technical agriculture, business administration, international development, economics, rural sociology, etc.)
- At least eight years’ program management experience, preferably in international development.
- 5 years’ experience managing donor funds, including multi country grants.
- Strong knowledge and experience in budget management.
- 5 years of staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
- Experience coaching senior program staff.
Required Languages - English
Travel- Must be willing and able to travel up to 15% of the time.
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.
- Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.
- Ability to represent and present at high levels.
- Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.
***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.
