Project Director Employment Opportunity – Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

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Job Title:     Project Director (PM II)
Organization: Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: Head of Programs, CRS Uganda       
About CRS:
Catholic
Relief Services (CRS) is an international non-profit organization that carries
out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States (U.S) to assist the poor
and vulnerable overseas. Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission
and operations. We welcome as a part of our staff and as partners people of all
faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to
serving those in need.
About USAID 4Children Project:
Initiated
in September 2014, 4Children Keeping Children in Healthy and Protective
Families is a USAID-funded consortium of organizations led by Catholic Relief
Services (CRS) with partners IntraHealth, Maestral, Pact International, Plan
International USA and Westat. The project aims in part to strengthen and build
the evidence base for effective Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC)
programming through research and evaluation. Working with a team of leading
experts in child protection and OVC, the overall 4Children initiative will
design and implement assessments, evaluations and other special studies of new
and ongoing projects and portfolios.
Within
this larger 4Children initiative, Keeping Children in Healthy and Protective
Families (KCHPF) Uganda is as an operational research project funded by
USAID/Displaced Children and Orphans Fund (DCOF) that will support the
reintegration of approximately 600 children living in residential care back
into family-based care in order to evaluate the impact of a package of family
support interventions on successful reintegration. The package to be tested
will include reintegration case management support, a one-time reunification
cash grant, and a parenting training intervention. KCHPF will design a two-arm
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to specifically measure the impact of the
parenting program on reintegration success. During the main study phase, half
of the enrolled families (i.e., 300) will receive the Sinovuyo reintegration
parenting training while the control group will not receive this service. Both
the control and intervention groups will receive case management support
delivered by dedicated case workers along with the cash grant. KCHPF Uganda
will partner with local implementing partners to implement the case management
and parenting training interventions as well as support research activities.
The cash grant will be delivered by CRS Uganda. KCHPF program activities are
anticipated to start in August 2016 lasting through June 2019.
Job Summary: The KCHPF Uganda Project Director will be
responsible for overall leadership and project management, including oversight
of project activities, monitoring of timelines and outputs, ensuring adherence
to technical and financial policies, guidelines, and standards of excellence,
local implementing partner grant oversight, control and monitoring of project
activities and expenses, compliance with donor requirements, reporting and
external representation of the project. The incumbent will ensure project
resources are managed according to USG and CRS rules and regulations, and that
processes and results are documented in a timely manner. This position will
support the daily management and coordination of project staff, manage partner
relations, oversee communication and collaboration with USAID/Uganda and
USAID/DCOF, Government of Uganda (GoU) entities, Westat, short-term
consultants, as well as project implementing and research partners. This
position will oversee the initial technical, program, and operational set-up of
4Children’s presence in Uganda. Subsequently, the position will provide
technical leadership in the design, development, implementation, and monitoring
of activities to achieve the deliverables and outcomes of the project. The
Project Director will directly supervise the Project Officer, Project
Assistant, and MEAL Manager, and provide technical oversight of the local
implementing partners supporting case management and the parenting program. In
addition, the Project Director will coordinate with the KCHPF global team and
Westat to provide comprehensive oversight to the local research partner.
Key Duties and Responsibilities: 
1. Project Quality:
  • Ensure that the project execution is in line
    with the project’s vision and donor-approved work plan; that project plans
    are effectively implemented and aligned with CRS agency and country
    program policies and procedures; and that project objectives and results
    are fully accomplished and meet expected technical quality standards.
  • Oversee the planning of project activities
    and set appropriate performance targets ensuring adherence to technical
    standards, best practices, reporting time lines and donor guidelines are
    respected.
  • Work in close collaboration with the
    4Children core team, identify needs for technical assistance in a timely
    manner, develop scopes of work (SoW), and provide supervision of technical
    assistance.
  • Ensure key changes in program direction and
    focus are done in consultation with the KCHPF Family Strengthening and
    Child Protection Senior Technical Advisor, CRS Uganda Head of Programs,
    4Children Consortium focal points in particular Westat and Maestral
    International.
  • Work in liaison with project staff, provide
    guidance and technical oversight to implementing partners, government
    entities, and other collaborating agencies to ensure that objectives are
    achieved.
2. Monitoring,
Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning:
  • Oversee the in-country management of the
    KCHPF research component by liaising regularly with the KCHPF Research and
    Learning Advisor, Westat, and the local research partner to ensure data
    collection and analysis is completed on time and is of high quality.
  • Work in close coordination with the 4Children
    Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team, develop
    and implement strong MEAL systems, using CRS tools and resources to
    maximize project impact on project participants in alignment with USAID
    M&E policies and CRS MEAL policies and procedures.
  • Work in liaison with the Program Officer and
    the project-based MEAL Manager to ensure that data are used and analyzed
    as the basis for process documentation, program planning, learning and
    orientation and program performance measurement.
  • Prepare and submit required donor project
    narrative reports, quarterly performance data, as well as other reports
    needed/required by the local government, donors, the region or
    headquarters.
  • Oversee the identification, documentation and
    dissemination of project results in various forms, including media
    stories, lessons learned, case studies, etc., and support learning
    exchanges among USG implementing partners, GoU entities, and other
    programs both within and outside of Uganda.
3. Partnership and
Representation:
  • Work in close collaboration with the CRS
    Uganda Country Representative, Head of Programs and the 4Children
    Consortium, act as primary program contact to USAID/DCOF and other local
    and international stakeholders responsible for addressing all program
    matters.
  • Engage 4Children consortium partners as well
    as local implementing and research partners as appropriate, during key
    stages in the project cycle for their insights on the appropriateness of
    program approaches and interventions and to support program quality.
  • Build and manage dynamic partnerships with
    the GoU, project implementing partners, other USG development projects,
    civil society, learning institutions, UN agencies, and the donor community
    in Uganda and externally as need arises.
  • Oversee the relevant scopes of work,
    associated budgets, sub-agreements and grant management of all KCHPF
    Uganda local implementing and research partners (estimated three in
    total).
  • Work in close conjunction with the finance
    and administration teams, develop, implement and monitor capacity building
    plans to address any organizational capacity gaps for local implementing
    partners, as needed.
  • Work closely with local implementing and
    research partners to ensure timely and quality advance tracking and
    liquidation;
4. Management and
Administration:
  • Oversee the project’s financial management,
    as per the project budget, including review and analysis of monthly budget
    comparison reports, preparation of quarterly forecasts, local partner
    grant management, and timely submission of annual expenditure analysis
    reports.
  • Ensure staff and project compliance with all
    CRS administrative, operational, and financial procedures and policies, as
    well as applicable to the donor regulations.
  • Coordinate with operations staff for
    purchasing and inventory control as per CRS/donor requirements. Lead,
    manage and supervise staff to meet project objectives.
  • Mentor and coach staff to ensure high levels
    of motivation, commitment, capacity, and teamwork.
  • Ensure Performance and Development Planning,
    coaching and appraisals of staff performance are conducted in keeping with
    CRS’ performance management system, addressing any issues of
    underperformance as appropriate.
  • Actively participate in the recruitment of
    project staff and the selection and coordination of consultants, and
    support to project implementing partners as needed on project-related
    recruitment.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 
 
  • The applicant should hold a Master’s degree
    in Sociology, Social Work, Public Health, International Development, or a
    related field.
  • At least eight years’ experience in programs
    focused on OVC and/or child protection programming; experience with
    parenting/family strengthening programs, case management approaches and
    social service systems strengthening strongly preferred.
  • Broad working knowledge and technical
    capacity in child protection programming, including an understanding of
    the issues facing separated children and families in vulnerable contexts;
  • Significant experience in managing or
    conducting operational research a plus, including both quantitative, and
    qualitative data collection and analysis.
  • Familiarity with USG rules and regulations
    and experience managing USAID projects in Africa;
  • Excellent project management skills with the
    demonstrated ability to successfully supervise, manage and coordinate
    staff and consultants to meet and report on project objectives in a timely
    manner.
  • Excellent administrative, planning, budgeting
    and financial management skills, including the ability to prepare and
    analyze work plans and budgets.
  • Previous experience with grant management,
    institutional strengthening, and capacity building – particularly of local
    implementing partners – as well as working in partnership or consortia.
  • Strong critical thinking, creative
    problem-solving, and organizational skills.
  • Strong written and verbal communication
    skills in native-level English required.
  • Demonstrated proactive leadership ability in
    diverse environments and under pressure, as well as supervisory and personnel
    management experience.
  • Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office
    suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
  • Ability to travel within Uganda on a regular
    basis (estimated 25-30 percent). Willingness to travel outside of Uganda
    to attend conferences, workshops or other related activities.
Agency-Wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff): These are
rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff
member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired
results.
  • Serves with Integrity
  • Models Stewardship
  • Cultivates Constructive Relationships
  • Promotes Learning
How to Apply:
All
suitably qualified and interested candidates should apply online at the web
link below.
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