About CRS

CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

Background:

CRS has been working on behalf of Afghan families since 2002, with hundreds of experienced Afghan staff working in offices across the country. We provide emergency relief, inclusive education, improved agricultural techniques, and other life‐enriching services to tens of thousands of households. The country’s long conflict has left many families displaced and impoverished, but the war’s end in 2021 has opened the exciting possibility of reaching many previously inaccessible communities.

CRS is currently implementing programs in the provinces of Bamiyan, Daykundi, Ghor, Herat, and Kabul, and is exploring additional expansion. CRS maintains five (5) main offices in the country as well as several sub-offices that support the direct implementation of program activities. With over 200 staff, the Country Program is growing to meet new needs throughout the country.

Over the last several years, the drought, conflict, political transition, earthquakes, and increase in returnees from Pakistan have led to significant and urgent multisectoral needs as well as widespread food insecurity across the country. CRS continued to provide emergency support through MPCA, WASH, shelter, education, and livelihoods support. Meanwhile, some areas of the country are increasingly in need of longer-term development support, which CRS pursues in a locally-led and community-driven manner.  Lastly, CRS works to expand and strengthen its capacity to catalyze outcomes at scale, through more intentional SBC-informed approaches, and through the engagement and coordination of other actors to influence expansion of activities, strategies, and outcomes.

Job Summary:

You will contribute to providing strategic direction and management of the Country Program’s (CP’s) programming complementing the Head of Programming (HOP) efforts at ensuring the establishment and successful implementation of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. Your management and programming skills will ensure that the CP delivers high-quality programming and continuously works towards improving the impact of its programming.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Complement the HOP in providing strategic direction for the design of CP strategic frameworks and plans, including resource mobilization strategies to optimize the impact of programming interventions in line with regional and agency strategic priorities.
• Lead where appropriate and contribute to high-quality project design incorporating project management standards and MEAL methods, appropriate to scope, context and technical requirements of projects. Coordinate planning of activities for particular projects to ensure integration of program interventions and efficiency in implementation.
• 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 creating and maintaining the proper conditions for learning. Help establish a safe environment for the sharing of ideas, solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to small deficiencies. Promote accountability, learning and knowledge management as part of the implementation of the MEAL policy.
• Coordinate with CP operations staff to ensure appropriate project budgeting and efficient use and stewardship of project material sources.
• Coordinate the identification, assessment and strengthening of appropriate partnerships and the appropriate application of partnership concepts, tools and approaches. Oversee strong planning and execution of capacity sharing for new local partners.
• Contribute where needed in the business development cycle to ensure quality proposals per agency and donor standards.
• Coordinate technical assistance and capacity strengthening for project teams and partners in project management standards and related MEAL, business development and operational activities. Help identify training opportunities, develop training curriculums and deliver trainings.

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.
• Demonstrated financial management and planning skills.
• Team leadership abilities
• Presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented
• Able to live in an environment where everyday comforts are not readily available.
• Ability to function well in a stressful environment, stay focused, and maintain sufficient work life balance with limited options for downtime activity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent English writing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to represent the organization at coordination meetings with donors, local government, UN, and other international NGOs.
• Experience with emergency proposals and strategy design. Familiarity with policies, procedures, and priorities of USAID, UN agencies and Caritas agencies preferred.
• Experience implementing market-based approaches in emergency programming.
• Experience managing local partnerships and facilitating intentional capacity sharing.
• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• Some experience and abilities in capacity strengthening – developing curricula and facilitating trainings.
• Experience using MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, and knowledge sharing networks.

Required Languages Fluency in English including very strong written and oral skills required. Dari or Pashto language abilities a plus.

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 50% from assignment location to other CRS provincial offices in Herat, Ghor, Daykundi, and Bamiyan, as well as to Kabul for coordination meetings and potentially to new provinces as CRS explores expansion. Occasional international travel may be required.

Supervisory Responsibilities: MEAL Technical Advisor; Basic Needs and Services Program Manager; additional supervisory responsibilities to be confirmed.

Key Working Relationships: 

Internal: Head of Programming, Program Managers, Agriculture/Livelihoods Technical Advisor, Alternative Livelihoods Technical Advisor, Watershed/DRM Technical Advisor, Safeguarding Technical Advisor, SBC SPO, Heads of Offices, Head of Operations, Finance Manager, Procurement Manager, Human Resources Manager, Humanitarian Response Department (HRD) and regional technical advisors.

External: Key coordination forums, donors, government ministries.

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or relevant field.
• Minimum of 5 years work experience in a program management position with progressive responsibilities for an international NGO. Experience working in emergency response programming and/or basic needs and services programming a plus.
• Good experience in project grants management, including project design, proposal writing, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, report writing, etc., preferably for projects funded by multiple public donors, including USAID.
• Experience with successful business development activities capturing public and/or private donor funding.

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.

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.

Protection Acknowledgment: CRS prohibits all forms of abuse and exploitation towards children and vulnerable adults. As a professional candidate, you commit to adhering to the Agency’s policy on protection, rights and dignity of children and vulnerable adults and to safeguard them from abuse and exploitation as defined in CRS’ Safeguarding Policy.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.