Deputy Chief of Party, Commodity Operations & Compliance

*This post is contingent on donor funding and donor approval of the candidate.

About CRS:
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. 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.

Background:

CRS Sudan will be implementing an emergency food security program to address acute food security shocks in Sudan. The project will serve as a food pipeline for affected populations in Central and West Darfur.

Job Background

The Deputy Chief of Party for Commodity Operations & Compliance (DCoP/COC) will oversee management of commodity compliance activities, including food monitoring and follow up with Consortium partner(s). He/She will directly oversee and manage the project Food Monitoring Unit (FMU), directing food monitoring teams in planning and conducting end-use checks, warehouse checks, document checks and distribution monitoring within the project operational area. The DCoP/CMC is further responsible for initiating feedback and recommendations back to partners, in addition to following up on corrective actions.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:
Strategic planning and coordination

• Coordinate with the country program as well as project partners to achieve high levels of commodity compliance through technical oversight and guidance; consortium-wide learning; and effective management of human, material and financial resources as per USAID regulations.
• Ensure that visions and plans for program implementation are innovative and are in line with project policies and strategies.
• Address bottlenecks and scale up best practices to achieve high quality program implementation.
• Work with the Chief of Party and the Deputy Chief of Party – Program Quality in drafting narrative input into USAID reporting.
• Coordinates with partners to plan monthly FMU activities.
• Ensure CRS and partners maintain full compliance with USAID regulations.

Overseeing Food Monitoring Activities and Follow-up Actions

• Ensure that the CRS and partner(s) meet on a regular basis, identify lessons learned, solve problems and harmonize approaches where possible.
• Provide technical oversight and supervision to Food Monitoring Team Leaders.
• Oversee commodity monitoring activities, supervising, planning and coordinating five field-based monitoring teams
• In collaboration with partner(s), design and facilitate regular program learning events with consortium partners, ensuring that lessons of sound practice are documented and disseminated learned through program implementation and review.
• Develop and implement a regular feedback mechanism to respond to food monitoring findings on commodity management and ensure corrective actions.

Liaison

• Support Chief of Party to liaise between project teams and other stakeholders from Government, USAID, international agencies and NGOs, project Consortium partners, EARO and CRS HQ.
• Support partner organizations in orienting regional government officials to the project and its activities and linking partners more closely with regional administrations.
• Serve as Chief of Party in his/her absence as requested.
• Perform other duties related to the implementation of the project or assigned by supervisor.

Basic Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in International Development, International Relations or relevant field.
• Minimum of seven years of relevant field-based program management, at least three years of middle/senior management experience.
• Minimum of five years’ experience managing donor funds, including strong knowledge of USAID and USG grant regulations and procedures.
• Prior management of USAID funding required; knowledge of Title II or IDA policies and procedures preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in consortium management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a technical team in two or more of the following areas: early warning analysis, nutrition, gender, protection/safeguarding, inclusion (disability, youth), environmental impact, and/or MEAL.
• Experience in the development of successful proposals, reports, strategic alliances, project design, project management, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience in partner capacity strengthening, staff development, training, and mentoring, as well as in team building and strategic planning initiatives. Experience working with Church partners a plus

Required Languages – Fluent written and spoken English is required; fluent written and spoken French is preferred.

Travel – Must be able and willing to travel in Sudan up to 50%, including remote field locations.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Proven skills, knowledge and experience in USAID program areas of emergency food distribution, program monitoring and evaluation, commodity management, consortium management, logistics.
• Minimum three years’ experience in Africa in a senior position that demonstrates mentoring national staff to achieve program results.
• Exceptional English writing skills and the ability to capture, synthesize and report out consortium learning to CRS and the broader food security community.
• Demonstrated ability to work both strategically and at an appropriate level of detail to lead a complex program and consortium, excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent partnership skills and the ability to interact effectively with donors, collaborating agencies, and local partners demonstrated through close work experience with international PVOs.
• Demonstrated capacity to understand the current best practices and challenges while coordinating to implement program strategies through a participatory approach.
• Computer literate, with strong knowledge of MS Office applications, spread sheets, database programs, and statistical software packages.
• Personal qualities include flexibility, persistence, and ability to work well with people and cross-cultural skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment.
• 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

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Supervisory Responsibilities: Commodity Operations Manager, PDP Manager, Risk and Compliance PM II, and Government Liaison PM I.
Internal: Chief (and Deputy) of Party, CRS Country Representative, CRS Head of Programs, CRS Head of Operations, partner Program Managers.

External: Primarily Program Managers of Consortium Members and Technical service providing agencies
Others consist of Consortium members, USAID, GoE, other stakeholders.

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.

If applicable**: Work Conditions/Environment Conditions**

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 prioritizes candidates who are citizens/ permanent residents of the countries where we have CRS offices.

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.