Program Director - DRIVE

Catholic Relief Services

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Job Description

Job Title: Program Director Reports to: Deputy Country Representative Programs

Department: Programming Salary Grade: 10

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 CRS Nigeria

CRS has been supporting program activities in Nigeria for over 30 years and has long-standing relationships with Church and non-Church partners and communities throughout the country. The Nigeria country program has a diverse funding base with projects in health, nutrition, food security and agricultural livelihoods, microfinance (SILC), emergency response and peacebuilding. CRS/Nigeria currently has over 210 national and eight international staff. With an FY22 annual budget of over USD $100 million, coupled with strong donor interest in supporting CRS’ work in the country, significant growth opportunities exist for the CP. The CP has been supporting emergency activities in the NE states since 2015 with offices in Damaturu, Maiduguri and Yola.

About DRIVE

The Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery in Vulnerable Environments (DRIVE) project is a two-year integrated multi-sectoral intervention funded under USAID/BHA starting in October 2024. Building on the experience and achievements of the Transitioning Households to Recovery from Vulnerability (THRIVE) project, DRIVE will provide a coordinated package of life-sustaining and life-building early recovery interventions to vulnerable but productive households in targeted communities of MMC/Jere. Working in partnership with the Justice, Development and Peace Commission( JDPC), DRIVE will target 22,000 households, both settled internally displaced people (IDP) and host community members. DRIVE will coordinate with and build the capacity of the Borno State Government ( BSG) to operationalize integrated early recovery interventions and strengthen community leadership in DRR, recovery and social cohesion.

Job Summary

The Program Director will lead and manage the DRIVE team, budget and program. S/he will develop DRIVE’s strategic direction and provide technical advice across all program components in the planning, design and implementation of DRIVE. S/he will lead the communication and engagement representation for CRS and DRIVE with relevant BSG ministries and agencies S/he will work closely with JDPC and their technical teams to develop staff capacity and ensure integration across organizations and objectives. The Program Director will oversee field-level program activities and ensure that CRS modalities are implemented correctly and that program targets are met. S/he is responsible for coordinating award management, budgeting and implementation tasks, liaising with USAID/BHA on program, budget and technical matters, and responding to other inquiries. S/he will lead coordination for DRIVE with other humanitarian and development actors in Maiduguri.

Responsibilities

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Manage key aspects of DRIVE project design, budget, start up, implementation and learning for CRS and JDPC.
• Serve as the key contact to USAID as well as public, private and non-government stakeholders.
• Lead on the design, set up of the Red Rose platform for DRIVE in JDPC. Organize technical training for the CAT, program, SCM and finance teams on CVA modalities, protocols and requirements. Support CAT and Red Rose problem solving and provide technical guidance.
• Provide assistance for developing budgets and support the CRS and JDPC teams to navigate routine operating challenges as they arise.
• Manage key project components, ensuring timely and quality results. Support project planning and manage capacity building activities for JDPC in coordination with the CRS ALLRIGHT project.
• Provide leadership to ensure CRS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures.
• Ensure project strategy and methodologies foster gender equality and social inclusion and that they are effectively implemented. Regularly identify and apply learning, refining approaches as needed to close gender gaps and promote social inclusion across project activities and the systems they contribute to.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise the CRS DRIVE team, program, operations and finance. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Contribute to the development of staffing plans and the recruitment process of senior staff.
• Promote, uphold and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources. Help ensure compliance with USAID rules and regulations, including all reporting and MEAL requirements, financial tracking and oversight of partner budgets, finance, administration and reporting to USAID.
• Engage with, plan and coordinate activities with key government agencies and stakeholders, BSA, NEMA and SEMA etc., in target sectors identified by DRIVE for collaboration and capacity building
• Lead coordination with key development and humanitarian partners. Represent CRS at meetings, workshops, and other events as required. Establish relationships with public and private sector stakeholders.
• Maintain relationships with key staff of JDPC in regard to area of responsibility. Contribute to coordination of the roles and activities of JDPC staff on DRIVE 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 recommend trainings and technical assistance.

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Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a livelihoods, agriculture or related technical area.
• 5 years’ senior management and technical experience of recovery programming in insecure locations.
• 3 years’ experience in managing USAID programs and funds. Knowledge and experience in budget management.
• Experience of setting up and running CVA activities using the Red Rose platform.
2 years’ experience of consortium-based program leadership in North East Nigeria.

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Required Languages – Fluency in English required

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 40%.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Very good strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills, with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Very good 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 and consortium partnerships.
Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

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Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience of successful management, including management of functions of complex, multi-activity projects.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.
Experience in MS Office package (Excel, Word, Power Point, Visio, Teams) and Oracle based budget management systems.

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Supervisory Responsibilities: Program Managers and Community Liaison Officer

Key Working Relationships

Internal - DCR Programs, DCR Operations, Head of Finance Abuja, DRIVE program sector leads, ALLRIGHT project team, Administration, Finance and Security teams in Maiduguri, CRS Baltimore program support.

External – USAID/BHA, ED JDPC, DRIVE sector team JDPC, coordination forums, INSO.

Safeguarding

CRS is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all people who interact with our work. We uphold the highest standards of safeguarding and expect all staff and partners to respect and protect the dignity and rights of everyone from any form of harm, abuse, harassment, or exploitation. All staff are required to follow CRS’s safeguarding policies and procedures and to complete mandatory safeguarding e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Agency-wide 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.

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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.
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.

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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 is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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