Head of Operations, Republic of Congo Full Time

Background:

CRS has worked in Chad since 1984. Responding to the country’s strategic needs, CRS implements resilience, stabilization, livelihoods, economic strengthening, emergency response, child protection and social cohesion programming. Strengthening of local partners is also a key focus in all programs through both stand-alone and integrated capacity strengthening projects. Currently, CRS works out of its main office in the capital city of N’Djamena, and field office in Bol, and will open soon field offices in Farchana and in Adré, supporting cross-border operations to Darfur.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) began its programming in the Republic of Congo in 2017 at the invitation of the country’s Catholic Conference of Bishops and with a specific intent to provide emergency assistance. CRS Congo currently focuses on health, emergency response, livelihood, education, and WASH programming with its largest project working with malaria prevention as the Principal Recipient of the Congo’s Global Fund Malaria grant. Other projects are funded by USAID (BHA) and Gavi.

Job Summary:

As a member of the Country Program’s (CP) Senior Management Team, you will provide leadership and management of the operational functions – Finance, Human Resources (HR), Supply Chain Management (SCM), Administration, Information and Communication Technology, Security and Audit – in support of the Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) mission to serve the poor and vulnerable. You will promote stewardship of resources, ensure principled compliance, proactively manage risk, and lead operational improvements including from a Climate Action lens. As part of the Senior Management Team you will proactively manage security and mitigate security risks.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the CP strategic planning and programming by providing input on needed investments in operations capacity – systems, processes and staffing – that meet CRS’ standards, donor requirements, and local regulations and support high-quality programming. Represent CRS, as needed.
• Plan, integrate, coordinate, and monitor day-to-day operations to ensure all support services are delivered with high-quality in an efficient manner. Address issues where operations support needs to be adapted for complex programming. Oversee the piloting of new operations initiatives that require the setting of new standards and systems
• Collaborate with programming leads to ensure appropriate project expenditures in line with financial plans and proper stewardship of material sources. Promote effective use of CRS ERP systems for budget management and oversight. Anticipate, identify and address challenges that affect the proper stewardship, risk, and optimal utilization of program assets and resources (financial, human, and material).
• Lead the operational aspects of a country program’s Climate Action strategy with support from the SMT including: implement action plans and monitor progress, prioritize entry points and investments for operational efficiency and the reduction of GHG emissions and waste.
• Promote safeguarding at the country program level. Ensure quality implementation of CRS safeguarding policy and principles across operations at both CRS and partner level. With support from technical advisors, ensure capacity building efforts and technical guidance to CRS staff and partners, in line with CRS principles and standards, donor guidelines, and industry best practices.
• Oversee Health, Safety, and Security management. Ensure all staff understand and adhere to CRS staff safety and security policies and plans and ensure the updating of such plans.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management for direct reports. Monitor and assess performance to ensure adequate capacity for successful support of high-quality programming. Contribute to staffing plans and recruitment process of senior staff.
• With the Country Representative oversee the preparation of annual budget plans and grant/project budgets to ensure they reflect maximum operational efficiency and budgetary compliance and mitigate risks. Set and provide technical oversight of internal processes for approving expenses, monitoring spending, and making budget adjustments in line with operational and programmatic needs and with donor requirements.
• Ensure the program is adequately staffed to meet CP needs and HR systems, policies and practices support a high-performance culture, staff development and retention. Assure quality personnel administration and a work environment that truly reflects the agency’s guiding principles.
• Oversee compliance with agency and donor requirements and local laws and regulations through periodic systems checks, review and assessment of CP’s operations policies and procedures. Act as lead contact and responder to issues that emerge from internal and external audits and provide recommendations and guidance to implement improvements.
• Create and maintain the proper conditions for learning. Establish a safe environment for the sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to small deficiencies. Provide capacity strengthening guidance for project teams and partners, which includes cross-departmental learning.

Required Languages – English and functional French

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 25 %.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Finance Manager and Operations Team

Key Working Relationships:

Internal:All CRS Chad Staff, Country Representative and Head of Programming/Cameroon, DRD/PQ, DRD/Operations, RFO and other Regional Technical Advisors.

External**:** CRS ChadPartners (local and international)

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 work collaboratively
• Team leadership abilities
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in International Development, Business Administration, Finance or relevant field required.
• Minimum of 5 years work experience in a management position with progressive responsibilities. Experience with an international NGO and experience outside country of origin preferred.
• Additional experience may substitute for some education; additional education may substitute for some experience.
• Understanding of financial systems, including budgeting and budget/expense analysis experience. Knowledge of accounting and financial reporting software highly preferred.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of multiple public donors’ regulations, including USAID, highly preferred.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Knowledge of Supply Chain and office administration/management issues.
• Ability to represent the agency at high levels
• Proficient in MS Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and information and budget management systems.

Tagged as: Catholic Relief Services, Congo