🇸🇱 Job Vacancy @ Catholic Relief Services (CRS) – Field Operations Manager

CRS JOB ADVERT – INTERNAL/EXTERNAL 

CRS is recruiting for X1 Position: – Field Operations Manager 

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 is accomplished through programs of  emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding.

CRS/Sierra Leone and Program Background 

Catholic Relief Services (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 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.

Program Background  

CRS Sierra Leone is implementing the fifth phase of the McGovern-Dole (MGD) “Lan for u future” project  funded by the United State Department of agriculture (USDA).

In September 2022, the ‘Lan for u future’ project was approved for four years, with a coverage of 5 chiefdoms  (Kamukeh, Wara Wara Bafodia, Diang, Kalian, Nieni) of Koinadugu district and 10 chiefdoms (Dembelia Sinkunia, Kebelia, Sulima, Wollay Barawa, Morifindugu, Mongo, Nyedu, Neya, Delemandugu, and Kulor  Saradu) of Falaba district, in the north of Sierra Leone.

The program aims to; improve literacy of school age children by building teachers and school administrators’  skills and knowledge, by improving teachers’ attendance and their access to school supplies and improved  literacy instruction materials.

It is also meant to improve students’ attentiveness by increasing access to food and improving nutrition and  health practices to reduce hunger and absences. Improve students’ attendance by providing nutritious meals,  take home rations and presenting parents with economic incentives and address cultural practices that may  be detrimental to school attendance. Increase use of health and dietary practices by increasing students and  communities’ knowledge of health and hygiene practices, by training food preparers on safe food preparation  and storage, by increasing access to clean water and sanitation, by increasing access to deworming  medications, and by increasing access to the requisite food preparation.

The project works with the MBSSE both in Freetown and in Koinadugu and Falaba Districts, Caritas Makeni,  Teach for Sierra Leone (TFSL) and the University of Makeni (UNIMAK)for the training of teachers. Additionally,  the project is working with the Nutrition unit of the District Health Medical Teams (DHMT) and Mother Support  Group with Caritas Makeni as the only subrecipient implementing the health and nutrition activities.

Job Title: Field Operations Manager 

Department: Program Quality MGD project 

Reports To: Deputy Chief of party with Matrix to Hoops 

Country: Catholic Relief Services Sierra Leone Program 

Duty Location: CRS Field Office must be willing and able to trave up to 20% to Freetown & Field 

Job Summary:  

In collaboration with the Senior Program Manager provide strategic oversight to the following operational  functions-Human Resources (HR), Logistics, Procurement, Administration, Fleet, Information and  Communication Technology (ICT) and Audit – in support of the Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) mission to serve  the poor and vulnerable. You will promote stewardship of resources, help ensure principle compliance,  proactively identify risk issues, and lead operational improvements in line with organizational policies.

Roles and Key Responsibilities: 

• Manage or coordinate operations functions – systems, processes and staffing – that meet CRS  standards, donor requirements, and local regulations and support high-quality programming.  Collaborate with programming leads to ensure appropriate operational needs in line with financial  plans and proper stewardship of material sources.
• Coordinate and monitor day-to-day operations to ensure support services are delivered with high quality in an efficient manner. Identify and help address challenges that affect the proper stewardship  and optimal utilization of program assets and resources (financial, human, and material). Proactively  manage security and mitigate security risks.
• Effectively manage talent and supervise. Manage team dynamics and staff well-being. Provide  coaching, strategically tailor individual development plans, and complete performance management  for direct reports. Monitor and assess performance to ensure adequate capacity for successful support  of high-quality programming.
• Provide guidance on internal processes for approving expenses, monitoring spends, and making  budget adjustments in line with operational needs and with donor requirements.
• Contribute to effective staffing of the Field Office needs and adherence to HR systems, policies and  practices that support a high-performance culture, staff development and retention. Help assure  quality personnel administration and a work environment that truly reflects the agency’s guiding  principles.
• Coordinate with internal compliance for periodic systems checks, review and assessment of  operations policies and procedures. Coordinate response to issues that emerge from internal and  external audits and provide guidance to implement improvements at field level.
• Help maintain the proper conditions for learning – a safe environment for the sharing of ideas,  solutions, and difficulties and the capacity to detect, analyze and respond quickly to small deficiencies.  Identify capacity-strengthening needs and provide guidance for project teams and partners, which  includes cross-departmental learning.

Typical Background, Experience & Requirement  

Education Requirements 

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Finance, Accounting, or a relevant field. Masters  preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years work experience in finance, human resources, logistics, or administration  office/support level position with progressive responsibilities.
• Additional education may substitute for some experience; additional experience may substitute for  some education.
• Proficient in MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio), Web Conferencing Applications, and  information and budget management systems.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Management experience a plus. Experience with an NGO preferred.
• Understanding of financial systems, including budgeting and budget/expense analysis experience  preferred.
• Knowledge of Sun Systems and vision accounting software or similar financial reporting software is a  plus.
• Knowledge of multiple public donors’ regulations, including USDA/USAID, a plus. • Staff management experience and abilities that are conducive to a learning environment a preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Good strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills and ability to make sound  judgments and decisions.
• Good relations management abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organization codes of ethics. • Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented and results-oriented.

Required Languages – English

Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 20% to Freetown and the field.

Key Working Relationships: 

Supervisory Responsibilities: (HR Officer, Procurement Officer, Fleet Officer and Admin Officer)

Internal: Senior Program Manager, Chief of Party, Deputy Chie of party, Head of Operations, Senior  Operations Manager, Head of Programming, Country Representative.

External: District stakeholders, Bank officials etc.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)  

Based on the mission, values, and guiding principles of the agency, CRS competencies are to be  exemplified by all staff in fulfillment of his or her respective roles and responsibilities.

• Integrity 
• Accountability and Stewardship 
• Builds Relationships 
• Develops Talent 
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation 
• Strategic Mindset

***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. 

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.  

To apply for this position please send up-to-date CV and a supporting letter, copies of relevant  certificates to email, [email protected]

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 8th October 2024.