Program Quality Manager

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 has worked in Kenya since 1965. Over the years, CRS’s focus shifted from direct relief and food distributions to a comprehensive development program that works with partners and enhances the local capacity. CRS Kenya programs now support care reforms, children affected by HIV, and community-based efforts to increase household incomes, improve family health and sanitation, and enhance agricultural livelihoods.

Background

CRS, representing a consortium of international non-governmental organizations, local implementing partners and research institutions is leading the USAID Nawiri Program, a USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) funded 8-year Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) in Isiolo and Marsabit Counties of Kenya. The overarching goal of this activity is to sustainably reduce persistent levels of acute malnutrition in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). The multi-sectoral activity uses a local system and institutional strengthening approach.

Job Summary:

You will be responsible for ensuring effective systems and processes are in place for continuously improving the quality of implementation and the impact of the Nawiri program. You will ensure application of CRS and BHA program quality standards and support consortium staff in the application of these standards. As the program enters Year 6, this will include an emphasis on sustainability and exit strategies. In addition, you will lead the preparation and submission of donor reports.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

Program Quality

• Ensure that the Nawiri program is implemented in line with CRS program quality standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Coordinate the identification of the priority areas for program quality, develop and implement related standard operating procedures (SOPs) and action plans.
• Coordinate with consortium partners on the implementation of Quality Assurance (QA) measures to improve the quality of Nawiri interventions and to enhance impact. This includes priority strategies in Sequencing, Layering and Integration (SLI) and sustainability.
• Oversee technical assistance and capacity strengthening activities in program quality for consortium staff, including design and delivery of innovative training and accompaniment on CRS Program Quality standards.
• Work closely with MEAL team to strengthen the consortium’s timely use of data, information and learning to make informed decisions to improve the quality of the program.
• Support the integration of innovations and best practices across Nawiri interventions.
• Collaborate with Nawiri Senior Management Team and other staff to plan, prepare and co-facilitate Program Review meetings.
• Make frequent visits to the field to monitor the implementation of workplans and propose recommendations to the Chief of Party, deputy Chief of Party – Programs, and other Nawiri staff.
• Maintain the program issues log and follow up on outstanding actions.

Donor reporting and requirements

• Maintain Nawiri’s reporting calendar and coordinate with the different technical teams
• Lead the development, review, and timely submission of high-quality reports and other requirements to the donor and other stakeholders, such as weekly briefs, quarterly and annual reports.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or in one of the program’s sectors required. Additional experience may substitute for some education.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in relevant field-based project management experience required, with preferably at least 2-3 years working in Health, Nutrition, WASH and/or Resilience.
• Experience in managing moderately complex projects, preferably with an international NGO.

Required Languages – Excellent spoken and written English. Kiswahili language a plus.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 50 %.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to make sound judgment and decisions and offer innovative solutions.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Good presentation and facilitation skills.
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented,

Preferred Qualifications

• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, preferably for grants from multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality technical proposals and reports.
• Demonstrated ability to write and edit high quality program reports, including in collaboration with multi-sectoral and/ or multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience engaging with partner organizations.
• MEAL skills and experience required.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information management systems.
• Experience in application of CRS and USAID program quality standards a plus.

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 – None

Key Working Relationships

Internal – Chief of Party Nawiri, Deputy Chiefs of Party Nawiri, other senior management team members and project staff of Nawiri, Head of Programming, program managers and regional Program Quality staff and technical staff from CRS Head Quarters

External – local partner program staff, BHA, Government

***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