Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an International non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 99 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs, therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to programs in every country in which CRS operates. CRS re-established presence in Nigeria in 2000 and has been a continuous leader in the development and humanitarian response within Nigeria - focusing on the three Strategic Program Areas of Agriculture, Health and Emergency Response.
We are recruiting to fill the position of:
Job Title: Project Director - FASTER
Ref No: 200000NB
Location: CARO-NG - Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
Job Type: Full-time
Job: Chief of Party
Organization: Catholic Relief Services
Schedule: Regular
Shift: Standard
Project Background
Faith-based Organization Capacity Strengthening for Universal HIV Services (FOCUS) is a five-year Cooperative Agreement funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The goal of FOCUS is to provide technical support and capacity building to faith-based organizations and networks, ensuring they effectively contribute to planning and delivering responses to the HIV and AIDS epidemic, and documenting successful approaches. Led by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), FOCUS builds an understanding of how to leverage the faith-based community's contributions at subnational and national levels, reinforcing mutual responsibility and country-driven leadership. Under FOCUS, CRS implements the Faith-Based Action for Scaling up Testing and Treatment for Epidemic Response (FASTER) project, and provides support to the South Africa Treatment Surge.
FASTER's overall goal is to ensure that all children and adolescents living with HIV know their status, enroll in treatment, and attain viral load suppression. FASTER helps achieve FOCUS objectives by creating an enabling environment where public health, civil society, the private sector and FBOs can accelerate normative pediatric HIV case finding, testing, linkage to care and treatment, adherence support and retention by strengthening and streamlining joint coordination and provision of pediatric HIV service delivery.
FASTER is being implemented through four country programs in Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, working above site to address critical policy, guidance, and operational gaps hindering HIV program goal attainment, and supporting in-country efforts to operationalize key guidance and improve program quality at critical service delivery sites. CRS as the prime recipient of the FASTER award implements the project in collaboration with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) in all four countries.
Job Summary
- The FASTER Nigeria Project Director will provide the overall leadership and management of the implementation of FASTER in Nigeria, including activities, deliverables, ensuring adherence to technical and financial policies and standards of excellence and monitoring project activities and expenses, donor compliance and reporting, consortium coordination and external representation.
- She/he will be responsible for the daily management and coordination of FASTER Nigeria staff, oversee communication and collaboration with CDC-Nigeria, Government of Nigeria entities, FASTER consortium members, STTA providers, Implementing Partners, CSOs and private/commercial stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of the project.
- She/he will oversee the technical, program and operations for FASTER in Nigeria, and will provide technical leadership implementing and monitoring project deliverables and outcomes. With the support of the FOCUS global team, the Nigeria Project Director will provide technical support to implementing partners in the priority actions.
- Additionally, she/he will facilitate the day-to-day project implementation process to ensure project outputs are provided as per the agreed work plan.
Specific Job Responsibilities
- Program Planning, Coordination, Communications and Reporting
- Lead FASTER in Nigeria to respond to CDC/country mission's overall goals in line with FASTER's efforts to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic in country.
- Lead coordination and planning of project goals and objectives for the FASTER project in Nigeria (including the annual Country Operational Plan submission as applicable, Continuing Application, Annual Progress Report) and ensure collaborative approach among partners.
- Provide Technical and Programmatic oversight to ensure the achievement of project objectives.
- Lead the development and timely completion of annual SOWs, workplans, indicators, and budgets for each local partner and CRS.
- Ensure Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) efforts are consistent with FASTER results and compliant with CDC and CRS policies.
- Manage and mitigate risk. Ensure compliance to the grant agreement including oversight of partner budgets, finance and administration, and reporting to the donor.
- Coordinate relationships with consortium partner organizations. Contribute to coordination of roles and activities of staff from consortium member organizations in implementation in line with CRS partnership principles.
- Manage 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.
- Document and ensure appropriate application of programmatic best practices.
- Utilize and develop appropriate tools to track program performance (site capacity assessment tool, regular financial analysis, treatment initiation, adherence monitoring/patient retention, etc.).
- Together with CDC Activity Manager and CRS team, conduct periodic technical reviews, site visits and monitor progress towards achievement of program objectives.
- Ensure necessary technical assistance and training is provided to partners to develop capacity to implement HIV/AIDS support activities as per the grant requirement.
Strategic Planning:
- Lead efforts at program innovation; foster regular discussions with key stakeholders as appropriate; design program modifications as needed.
- In coordination with the global FOCUS team, lead in-country communication efforts, including a communications plan to include focus on communicating the project's identity, necessary protocols, development of promotional materials.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Daily management and coordination of FASTER Nigeria staff
Required Foreign Language:
- Excellent written and spoken English.
Required Travel:
- Ability to travel up to 50% of the time
Key Working Relationships:
- Internal: Global FOCUS Project Director and team, other FASTER country Project Directors, Deputy Regional Director/Management Quality, Deputy Regional Director/Program Quality, Country Representatives, RTA for HIV, Country Representatives, Heads of Operations, and Security Managers/Focal Points.
- External: CDC; other donors, partner staff, Government of Nigeria.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:
- MBBS / MD plus Master's degree in Public Health, Community Development, Social Sciences, Health or related discipline. PhD preferred.
- Minimum 7 years of experience in HIV/AIDS programming
- 5 years of staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching senior program staff.
- Minimum 5 years in the developing world in project management positions with progressive management responsibilities.
- Experience working in pediatric HIV programming.
Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff):
- 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.
- Integrity
- Continuous Improvement & Innovation
- Builds Relationships
- Develops Talent
- Strategic Mindset
- Accountability & Stewardship
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.
- Experience with implementation and reporting on USG public grants; Demonstrated knowledge of USG regulations. Preferred experience managing HRSA/CDC awards.
- Experience engaging partners and strengthening partnerships. Knowledge of CRS partnership strategy a plus.
- Strong background in program implementation; experience in hiring, supervising and training local personnel; systems and office set-up; budgeting and financial management
- Ability to work both in a team and independently and the ability to transfer knowledge through formal and informal training
- 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.
Note
- 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 is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
