Head of Programming

Job Title: Head of Programming – Nepal

CRS Standard Job Title: Head of Programming I
Reports To: Nepal Country Manager
Base Country/Location: Nepal/Kathmandu

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.

Country Background:

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 Nepal started has its operational presence in Nepal in response to the 2015 earthquake with emergency support to over 30,000 homes and communities to rebuild and recover across Gorkha, Palpa, Okhuldungha, Kavrepalanchok, Kaski, Chitwan, Tanahu, Makwanpur and Lamjung districts. CRS Nepal is leveraging its earthquake reconstruction track record to help inform longer-term Government of Nepal policies and strategies for Homes & Communities and Disaster Risk Reduction. In partnership with the National Housing and Settlements Resilience Platform (NHSRP), CRS is helping build the capacity of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Agency (NDRRMA) at the national and provincial levels.

Job Summary:

As a member of the Nepal Country Program (CP) Senior Management Team, you will provide strategic direction, leadership, and management of the CP’s programming to establish strategic priorities and lead growth aligned with the Country Program Strategy as well as to ensure the establishment and successful implementation of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. You will play a critical role in ensuring the capacity of staff and local partners is strengthened to implement high quality programming. Your leadership, management and knowledge will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

Responsibilities

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the Country Representative (CR) for Nepal provide strategic direction for the design of the CP strategic frameworks and plans, including the development of resource mobilization strategies to optimize the impact of programming interventions in line with regional and agency strategic priorities.
• In coordination with resource mobilization staff oversee the business development cycle to ensure quality proposals per agency and donor standards. Provide BD expertise in positioning, capture planning and proposal preparation for specific opportunities with institutional donors (government and inter-governmental award issuing organizations, as well as foundations, corporations and other awarding non-governmental organizations). Track and analyze new opportunities and CRS’ competitive position within the marketplace**[1].
• Lead high-quality project design incorporating project management standards and MEAL methods, appropriate to scope, context and technical requirements of projects. Coordinate planning of activities across various projects from different sectors to ensure integration of program interventions and efficiency in implementation.
• Ensure high quality documentation of learning and donor reports; including related processes to supporting learning including partnership reviews, program reflections and learning events.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance assessment for direct reports. Contribute to developing staffing plans for projects and to the recruitment process of senior project staff.
• 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. Promote accountability, learning and knowledge management overseeing implementation of the MEAL policy, as well as cross-sectoral and cross-department learning. Coordinate with CP operations leads to ensure appropriate project budgeting and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.
• Oversee the identification, assessment and strengthening of appropriate partnerships and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches. Support and guide identification of partners and negotiation of CRS’ role on proposal consortia, ensuring a competitive position for CRS that adheres to the agency’s partnership principles and strategic directions**.
• Ensure technical assistance and capacity strengthening for project teams and partners in project management standards and related MEAL, business development and operational activities. Identify training opportunities, develop training curriculums and deliver trainings or learning opportunities.
• Oversee DHoP to lead consistent streamlining of safeguarding, protection, gender and equity into all program activities, including staff recruitment and training.

Required Languages – Fluency in written and spoken English required. Fluency in written and spoken Nepali is preferred. Additional local languages are a plus.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel a minimum of 25% of the time to field offices and to communities where we work. Some limited regional international travel may be included for trainings or networking events.

Supervisory Responsibilities Deputy Head of Programs, Project Director, National Coordinator Project Managers, and Technical Advisors.

Key Working Relationships:

Internal-Nepal: Country Manager, Business Development Specialist, Head of Operations, Finance Manager, Human Resources Manager and Communications Manager.

Internal-ASIA & HQ: Deputy Regional Director- Program Quality (DRD-PQ), Regional Business Development Manager (BDM), Regional Technical Advisors, and HQ Departments/Technical Advisor (TAs).

External: Nepal-based donor representatives, partner staff, consultants, others as per situation.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent 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
• Presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented

**CRS Global Standard Job Description from Business Development Specialist II per Nepal operational context.

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Capacity to balance competing priorities and managing the needs of multiple teams/offices.
• Experience in watershed management, carbon programming, disaster risk management and/or value chain Program expertise is preferred.
• Experience in overseas program management leading diverse teams is preferred. Previous Head of Programs experience is a plus.
• Experience with successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding. Experience with successful private sector engagement is a plus.
• Experience in mentoring, coaching and workforce strategic development is a plus.
• Knowledge of Government of Nepal operational context and experience with successful Government partnership, coordination and capacity/system strengthening is a plus.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience and abilities in capacity strengthening – developing curricula and facilitating trainings.
• Previous experience with United States Government (USG) proposals/projects.
• Excellent English writing skills.
• Experience using MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, and knowledge sharing networks.

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or relevant field is required.
• Minimum of five years of relevant field-based program management, at least three years of middle/senior management experience.
• Experience in the development of successful proposals, reports, strategic alliances, project design, project management, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience in partner capacity strengthening, training, and mentoring, as well as in team building and strategic planning initiatives. Experience working with Caritas Internationalis/Caritas Nepal and Private Sector partners is a plus.
• Experience in community development, community mobilization, or similar grassroots, self-help initiatives.
• Experience in project grants management, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, etc., preferably for projects funded by multiple public donors, including USAID.

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.

Note: Final hiring decisions may be contingent upon ability to secure necessary visas.

***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.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

Note: All positions requiring residence or frequent travel outside their home country must undergo and clear a pre-employment medical examination.

CRS talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people – especially children and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse and harm.

CRS welcomes candidates from the countries and regions in which we work. In the event the successful candidate is an expatriate, the anticipated duration of the assignment is informed by a term limit, based on the type and level of the job and the needs of the agency.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Info

Job Identification: 3001135
Job Category: Program Management
Posting Date: 12/08/2023, 02:32 AM
Locations: CRS Nepal Country Office Bakhundole, Kathmandu, NP (On-site)
Job Schedule: Full time
Job Shift: Day