Job Vacancy at Catholic Relief Services (CRS) – Zonal Coordinator (Sierra Leone)

If you are interested and your profile matches the requirements, please read the below job  descriptions, 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: Zonal Coordinator

Department: Global Fund

Reports To: Health Program Manager – Global Fund

Country: CRS-Sierra Leone.

Duty Location: CRS Field Office – Bo (Southern Province) with travel up to 30% to project  locations.

Job Summary:

As one of the leaders for the Global Fund project Field Operations, will facilitate the achievement of project  objectives through coordinating, relationship building, with all district government and non-government  strategic partners in Health, Education, local councils, agriculture, traditional leaders at all levels, and  reporting on all project activities and providing technical guidance and advice to staff and implementing  partner(s) advancing Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) work serving the poor and vulnerable. Your coordination  and relationship management skills will ensure that the project for which you are responsible applies best  practices and constantly works towards improving the impact of its benefits to those we serve.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Organize and lead the implementation of all assigned project activities as outlined in the detailed  implementation planin line with CRS program quality principles and standards, donor requirements,  and good practices.
• Ensure learning properly accompanies project activities throughout the project cycle. Support  accountability through coordinating project evaluation activities and guiding partners in their efforts  to reflect on project experiences. Analyse implementation challenges and report any inconsistencies  and/or gaps to inform adjustments to plans and implementation schedules.
• Coordinate and oversee working relationships with all local project stakeholders and serve as the liaison between them and the project team to mobilize local actors and promote project activities  and impact.
• Supervise and perform ad-hoc inspections of various processes and resources at project sites to  ensure timely project activities implementation and adherence to established process standards and  procedures. Ensure proper tracking of resource use for project activities through periodic budget  reviews and follow-up with and assistance to implementing partner.
• Support and coordinate capacity building andtechnical support activities to ensure assigned project  activities are implemented per project guidelines and standards.
• Coordinate provision of any logistical and administrative support to staff and partners.
• Ensure project documentation for assigned activities is complete with all required documents and is  filed per agency and donor requirements. Assist with preparation of trends analysis reports and  documentation of case studies and promising practices

Other Specific Responsibility:

• Under the overall supervision of the Global Fund Project Director and directly reporting to the  Program Manager, the Zonal Coordinator will serve as a team member and responsible to support  and ensure implementation of all Global Fund NFM3 and C-19RM project activities in an assigned  Zone. A Zone is made up of 3 or more districts. In particular, the Zonal Coordinator will support and  monitor implementation of IEC/BCC (Mass Media and Community Outreach) by Sub Recipients as  well as the implementation of national surveys under the Global Fund grant.

Support implementation and Coordination

• Ensure objective selection of clubs when sampling.
• Coordinate with Program Manager, M & E Coordinator and the Global Fund NFM3/C-19RM Project  Director to report on barriers to implementation in the field and provide inputs to problem solving.
• Participate in and coordinate with SRs to report progress during DHMT monthly coordination  meetings.
• Actively seek to understand the main interventions being promoted by other development actors in  assigned operational area and ensure coordination.
• Compile, analyze and present zonal level information on BCC/IEC activities for reporting of program  progress.
• As part of risk management, verify implementation and review SRs reports to ensure accuracy of  reports and field operations.
• Consistently use recommendations from trip reports to structure partner capacity building.
• Capture and report on program challenges, major decisions, lessons learned, and best practices  gathered from monthly DHMT coordination meetings.
• Provide a copy of the agreed monthly summary data as part of their report to the CRS M&E  Coordinator.
• Identify and report on any gaps or weakness in BCC and mass media reporting and monitoring  systems.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Research

• Monitor Sub-Recipients (SRs) at a district level to report to M&E officer on program implementation.
• Conduct monitoring visits to project implementation sites:
• Observe 10 School and 15 Community Health Clubs every month
• Observe outreach activities, verify supporting documentation
• Provide supportive supervision, sharing observations
• Document observations during visits and make recommendations
• Consistently conduct entry meetings prior to monitoring SRs explaining objectives
• Consistently conduct exit meeting/ debrief with key SRs staff to share and validate findings and  recommendations
• Systematically ensure the timely and quality reporting by SRs in operational area.
• Monitor the use of standardized CRS reporting forms and suggest adaptations as required.
• Monitor and document BCC/IEC activities implemented through the media (Radio, TV etc.)
• Support the conduct of surveys (small- and large-scale studies)

Capacity Strengthening of Sub Recipients

• Support the development of program implementation and monitoring tools and lead the roll out of  the tools in assigned districts.
• Support the Project Staff to facilitate capacity building sessions with the SRs especially in reporting  and project implementation.

DHMT Support

• Work closely with District Medical Officers and other key partners to ensure that BCC and outreach  activities are included in the planning and management of for the districts
• Ensure linkages between PHU staff and / or CHWs (or CBPs) with SHC and CHC as appropriate
• Linkages between DHMT, SRs, and other partners

Representation

• Establish strong working relationships with SRs, DHMTs and other stakeholders.
• Participate in District Health Management coordination meetings, technical working groups and  general meetings.
• Represent the program at various levels as delegated by supervisors.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirements:

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred.
• Minimum of five years’ experience in data collection and/or capacity strengthening.
• Experience in financial statement preparation, budgeting, and grant reporting
• Experience with the Global Fund, UNAIDS, Rollback Malaria or Stop TB a plus
• Ability to work to meet deadlines in multiple tasking environments.
• Significant field experience working with other partners
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, organized and detail oriented.
• Strong analytical skill.
• Willingness to work additional hours during critical implementation periods.
• Ability to develop effective systems considering organizational effectiveness and impact on people.
• Excellent planning skills.
• Demonstrate creative approaches to problem solving.
• Excellent independent judgment and decision-making skills.
• Ability to effectively interview and solicit information from individuals with varying educational and  socio-economic backgrounds and levels, as well as ethnic and linguistic backgrounds.
• Ability to work independently and objectively maintaining the highest standards of integrity in job  performance.
• Flexible and easily adaptable to change.
• Ability to work in and promote a team environment/concept.
• Strong computer skills (Excel, Word).

Required Languages - List languages required to perform the job

Travel - Must be willing and able to travel up to 30% to project areas

Key Working Relationships:

Supervisory Responsibilities (Behaviour Change Field Agents, CRS Partner SRs)

Internal: GF Project Director, Program Manager, MEAL Manager, Grant Manager, ICT4D Officer and Senior  Project Officer

External: District Medical Officer, DHMTs, Schools, Program Sub Recipients and Other Partners

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:

[email protected].

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 11th February 2022.