CRS is recruiting for 1 Position: (1) Sierra Leone Country Representative – International Position

If you are interested and your profile matches the requirements, please read the below job description, and follow the instructions to submit your application package.

About CRS:

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. 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 are accomplished through programs of emergency response, health (including malaria), agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding.

CRS/ Sierra Leone and Program Background

Catholic Relief Service (CRS) started work in Sierra Leone in 1963 carrying out the commitment of the Catholic bishops and the Catholic community of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. For over 57 years, CRS has been on the front lines in responding to emergencies and promoting health, education, agriculture, and urban resilience in Sierra Leone.

To date, the Country Program has a robust portfolio built around several major programs in Health, Agriculture, Nutrition, Education and Urban Resilience such as the USDA/McGovern Dole Food for Education and Nutrition (All Pikin for Learn) Program, Global Fund Malaria Program and COVID-19 Response Mechanism Project. In addition, the country program is working on several high-profile opportunities to improve water security in Freetown and support Freetown City Council to deliver its Transform Freetown strategy through slum regeneration.

Job Title:Sierra Leone Country Representative - (International Position)

Department:Country Programming

Reports To:        West Africa Regional Director

Country:CRS-Sierra Leone.

Duty Location:CRS Country Office, Freetown with travel up to 15-20%, consisting of one or two international trips per year and short trips within the country once per month.

Job Summary

As Country Representative you will lead, manage and advance the programming and operations objectives and the mission of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to serve the poor and vulnerable. Your strategic leadership will enable you to advance CRS’ reputation and impact while you proactively manage security and mitigate security risks and liabilities.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Champion and lead the vision, mission and strategy. Lead the design of medium and long-term goals. Ensure program and operations leads coordinate their objectives in alignment with the strategy.

• Ensure that all projects meet and exceed donor expectations and are designed and implemented for maximum impact and reach. Ensure the CRS program quality standards are adhered to per MEAL policy and procedures, are managed on time and on budget.

• Effectively manage senior programming and operations talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide coaching and mentoring for HOP and Head of Operations as well as other direct reports. Strategically tailor individual development plans and complete performance assessments for direct reports. Oversee the development of staffing plans for large and complex projects and the recruitment process of senior staff.

• Lead the development of strategic partnerships with national and international organizations that leverages resources, reputation, and expertise in line with CRS partnership principles. Ensure strong representation to key stakeholders, including Church partners, local and national government, US government and international donors.

• Manage and mitigate risk through monitoring national and regional issues that may impact staff and programming. Ensure all staff understand and adhere to CRS staff safety and security policies and plans and ensure the updating of such plans.

• Promote, uphold and model a commitment to the efficient use of agency and donor resources. Ensure compliance in operations functions. Provide oversight and analysis regarding monthly expenditures.

• Lead and direct the pursuit of strategic growth opportunities, prepositioning and capture planning.

• 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. Promote accountability, learning and knowledge management overseeing application of the MEAL policy, as well as cross-sectoral and cross-department learning.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international development, International Relations or a related field.

• 10 or more years’ experience managing complex relief and development programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience successfully managing a variety of complex, high-value projects from multiple international donors, including USAID, USDA, BHA, the Global Fund as well as major foundations, understanding of relevant donor regulations.

• Experience engaging partners, promoting local leadership and strengthening partnerships. Experience working with Catholic Church partners and faith-based institutions, a plus.

• Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment. Experience coaching and mentoring senior program staff.

• Experience with humanitarian response/emergency programming

• Ability to represent the agency at high levels.

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.

• Excellent 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/mentoring skills.

• Strong communications and presentation skills; able to develop tailored and persuasive messaging for varied audiences.

• Experience with humanitarian response/emergency programming

• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

Required Languages –English fluency required

Travel– Should be willing and able to travel up to 15-20%, consisting of one or two international trips per year and short trips within the country once per month.

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory Responsibilities: Head of Operations, Risk and Compliance Officer, Head of Programming, and Partnership Manager.

Internal: West Africa Regional Director, Deputy Regional Directors for Program Quality and Management Quality, Regional Finance Officer, Regional Business Development Manager, Head of Operations, Head of Programming, Business Development Specialist, Partnership Manager, and Regional Advisors. HQ OverOps : PIQA, IDEA especially PSOs for West Africa. Finance, GPR, MarCom and Audit.

External: BHA, USAID, USDA, European Union, The World Bank, Episcopal Conference of Sierra Leone, the Nuncio, Caritas Sierra Leone National Director and Diocesan Directors, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Health, National Malaria Control Program, CMM, Ministry of Agriculture, The Mayor of Freetown, Freetown City Council, local provincial and district government authorities, UN agencies such as UNICEF and WFP, peer NGOs.

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

***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.

By applying to this job, I understand and acknowledge that CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. Further, I understand that if I am a successful candidate, I will be subject to a comprehensive background check, and my personal/professional references will be asked to evaluate my behaviors related to safeguarding-related topics.

WOMEN ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.  CRS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

To apply for any of these positions please send up-to-date CV and a supporting letter, copies of relevant certificates to:

SL_HR@crs.org.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Also send a copy of your application package to the desk Officers, Ministry of Employment and Social Security,New England, and Extension Offices in Applicants’ Locations

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.

Closing date for the receipt of application packages is 16th December 2021.